Show time

Long before becoming a champion he was a hero.

Instyle Goes to Paris, a 2-year-old standard poodle, won American Kennel Club champion status during Saturday’s Cook Inlet Kennel Club show at the Alaska State Farigrounds. When not training for competition, Instyle is a full-time service dog for his owner, Judy Paris of Seattle.

Paris has had recent brain surgery and is prone to seizures. Her poodle can sense when a seizure could strike — up to five minutes before — and will prompt Paris to sit or lay down.

“He’s saved my life I don’t know how many times,” she said, adding that because of her surgery, she can’t take any blows to the head. Falling from a seizure could be life-threatening.

But Saturday was Instyle’s day, Paris said.

“He’s beautiful and he’s way smart. I can’t even talk yet I’m so happy,” she said. “When he won, I was in tears. He’s the all-around best guy ever.”

This weekend’s event featured three shows for the Valley-based Cook Inlet Kennel Club, said club president Carolyn Tolson. Although attendance was down about 100 dogs this year, the quality of the animals and handlers was excellent.

“It’s down a little bit, but I think that’s a national trend,” she said. “I think the economy has something to do with that.”

One owner not dissuaded to make the trip to for the AKC-sanctioned show was Brian Erickson, who traveled to Palmer from Michigan to compete with a 2-year-old Yorkshire terrier. Keeping the petite breed’s signature flowing long hair in top shape is constant work, he said.

“They take a lot of work, that’s for sure,” he said. “For a show dog, after the show I have to wrap (the hair) to keep the ends from breaking off. That’s what keeps it long and flowing.”

Erickson has been a lifelong dog lover and began showing about five years ago. To win and be an AKC champion “is what everyone’s hoping for,” he said. “The dog works hard. It’s all about the dog.”

Earning that coveted champion status may be in the future for Indie, a 6-month-old Mastiff owned by Stacie Watson of Anchorage. Although a pup, Indie weighs in at a hefty 85 pounds. Shows like the Inlet Kennel Clubs are important for spectators to learn that there’s more to showing dogs than “just running around in circles,” Watson said.

“It’s a lot of work. It’s a lot of scissoring and combing,” she said, adding that Mastiffs are “the gentle giants” of the dog world. “They have the most wonderful dispositions. They’re awesome with kids.”

Bringing her dogs to shows like this weekends is an opportunity to socialize with other dog owners, Watson said.

“You try to better the breed,” she said. “You want to improve temperament, structure. … And, they’re totally regular dogs. They love it. There are dogs that love it and dogs that don’t. I wouldn’t do it if the dogs didn’t love it.”

Showing dogs can be serious competition, but also generates much fun for dogs and their owners, said Hanna Butcher, a 9-year-old Anchorage girl doing her first show.

Her dog Eva, a 6-month-old black Schipperke, at times wanted more to play with the other dogs then run the arena, said Anne Butcher, Hanna’s mother.

Competing in the junior division, Hanna Butcher was judged on her handling ability. While nervous, she said her hours of practice paid off.

When not competing, Eva “is a regular dog. She’s our pet, mostly,” Anne Butcher said. “If the dog didn’t like it, we wouldn’t be doing it. We think she’s the most beautiful dog in the world.”

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.