Annual Cobo dog shows reel in the masses

By Jennie Miller
C & G Staff Writer

DETROIT — Diane Ingram, owner of the Doggy Deli in Clinton Township, attracted a steady crowd at her booth during the Detroit Kennel Club’s 100th and 101st Dog Shows at the Cobo Convention Center March 1-2, where Ingram displayed her chewy, all-natural handmade dog biscuits.

Ingram and her husband, Bruce, participate in close to 40 dog shows a year to help promote their business, but they especially love the Detroit show.

“It brings in a variety of people and gives us great exposure,” said Ingram, the owner of four dogs. She started a business after experimenting in her kitchen while making treats for her pets.

Some 2,500 dogs representing 169 breeds were on display at Cobo last weekend, along with a myriad of vendors selling their wares, from dog food to kennels, T-shirts to jewelry, and from magazine subscriptions to custom artwork.

The DKC’s annual shows are among five “benched” dog shows in the country, which means breeders, owners and their dogs must remain in the building and on display for the public to view, touch and ask questions, making it a unique and popular event.

One of the Doggy Deli’s regular customers, Wendy Sellars of Grosse Pointe Woods stopped by the booth March 1 to say hello to Ingram as she and her nieces, Kelly Markwardt, 13, and Ashley Markwardt, 14, of Almont passed by on their way to check out the Labrador retrievers and the Dachshunds.

“We come every year to the dog show,” Sellars said, adding that all three are animal lovers. “We like to watch them perform.”

Excitement mixed with a bit of nerves was what Carol Sheridan of Applegate was feeling as her 6-month-old spinoni Italiani, named “Gracie,” was competing in the show. Sheridan has been showing dogs for 30 years, and although she participates in events like the one at Cobo practically every weekend, this one is special to her.

“It’s the only benched show in Michigan,” Sheridan said. “I like the fact that I can talk to a lot of different people about my breed.”

Jere Marder of Valpairaiso, Ind., had just finished grooming her Old English sheepdog, Winston, and chatted with her peers while they waited for the competition to begin. Although the process has become routine for Marder after 30 years in the business, she has never lost her deep passion for dogs.

“They’re great companions,” Marder said. “They make you laugh, and they keep you active.”

Julie Musiol of West Bloomfield sat in the bleacher seats with her daughter, Gigi, 5, and her son, Spencer, 6, watching the Bouviers des Flandres in the ring. Already the owners of a mixed breed rescue dog, the Musiols hope to add the exotic-looking dog to their household in the near future.

“We try to come to this show every year,” Musiol said. “You get to touch the dogs and talk to the breeders — it’s very personal.”

Bill Stebbins of Howell has been participating in dog shows for the past 40 years, 24 years as a judge. He got lured into the world of dog shows after purchasing a Great Dane puppy, who eventually became No. 2 of its breed in the country.

“Most of the people who are in this at any level — judges, breeders, showers — most of us are in it for the love of the dogs,” Stebbins said. “I think the Detroit show is the best show in the country for families who want to get a dog but they’re not quite sure what breed they want to get, and they come here and pick the minds of the breeders.”

For Tom Weigand, owner of Winning Image, a portrait and artwork company for pet owners and breeders, with a studio in Bernville, Pa., the DKC show was just one stop on his whirlwind tour of dog shows across the country.

“We’re on the road all the time,” Weigand said, noting that he was recently in Denver and Chicago, and next will travel to Nashville to promote his business. “This is the only one we do in Michigan. It’s a good show. It’s a lot of fun. People are excited to be here.”

Purina sponsors the dog shows, which include special events such as agility trials; a pet therapy program; Dog Scouts of America; Leader Dogs for the Blind; terrier racing; Michigan Veterinary Specialists’ programs on animals and arthritis, and first aid and CPR for pets; Michigan Technical Rescue Operations Team; training and herding demonstrations; the Canine Care Merit Badge; the Parade of Sighthounds; and breed seminars.

For more information, visit www.detroitkennelclub.com.

Awesome pawsome

Pet lovers have a lot to look forward to as the annual Pedigree & Whiskas Pet Show is all set to leave its paw marks in the city


DUBAI WILL once again be hosting the 20th annual Pedigree & Whiskas Pet Show on February 16th — an event that has easily become the region's most festive day for dog and cat lovers alike.

More than 30,000 visitors and 1,000 dogs are expected to attend the event, hosted by Nad Al Sheba Racing Club, in a day full of entertainment and fun for the entire family.

The Pet Show offers a complete line up of activities and competitions such as Pedigree classes as well as a fun obstacle course for the four-legged friends.

In these highly competitive events, dogs will be vying for prizes in categories such as Best In Show, Best Puppy In Show, and Crossbreed Best In Show.

As intelligence and discipline is tested, one of the most popular segments of competition will prove to be Dog Most Like Owner. In personality as well as appearance, judges will have the task of choosing Dubai’s greatest duo.

As in previous shows, there will a Kids Zone full of recreational games, demonstrations, and a Craft Village with stalls selling a multitude of goods promoting animal care. Children are encouraged to attend the event and learn all about how to maintain a happy and healthy pet.

Due to popular demand in recent years, there has been a refocus on cat care in the Whiskas Tent that will be set up displaying several rare cat species as well as other informative activities. Cat owners are discouraged from bringing their felines to the show due to safety concerns, but those who are willing will have the opportunity to make an adoption.

"The Pedigree and Whiskas Pet Show aims to raise the awareness levels of responsible pet ownership and educate people on the joys of animal companionship, all in a setting that is fun and interactive for the whole family," said Maya Theodory, pet care manager at Mars, the show's sponsors.

While the event is free of charge, patrons who choose to enter their dogs in competition will be charged a nominal fee of Dh30.

Proceeds from the event will benefit charities such as K9 Friends and Feline Friends, whose purpose is to shed light on proper pet care as well as to find adequate homes for Dubai’s growing orphaned pet population.

K9 and Friends currently have 122 dogs in need of a proper home, most of whom were rescued after they were abandoned. The charity stresses the importance of saving these dogs — animals they say bring companionship and love to people all over the region.

It is important to note that the Pet Show is not aimed solely at pet owners, rather it encourages all pet lovers to join in on the activities in support of a worthy cause. For individuals who love dogs but simply lack the resources and space to own and maintain one, a programme has been designed to give participants the opportunity to spend time with a dog once a week. Sponsor-a-walk will have booths set up throughout the arena for anyone who is eager to join.

As excitement grows in anticipation of the 20th anniversary of the Dubai Pet Show, event organiser Maya Theodory is amazed by its remarkable evolution.

"It shows how much Dubai is changing and how much enthusiasm there really is for pets in the Middle East," she says.

EVENT DETAILS

Event: The 20th annual Pedigree & Whiskas Dubai Pet show

Date: Saturday, February 16

Time: 8am - 6pm

Venue: Nad Al Sheba Racing Club

Entry: free; Dh30 registration fee for competitions

Pets allowed: Dogs (No Cats)

For more information go to www.dubaipetshow.com

Hairy Hamish goes from hamster wheel to cinema reel after in his own Great Escape

WHEN five-year-old Sarah Stokes smuggled Hamish the hamster to the cinema, little did she know he’d end up starring in his own Great Escape.
Excited by the screening of Alvin & the Chipmunks, the restless rodent jumped out of his owner’s bag and disappeared beneath the hundreds of seats in the darkened cinema.
The Pangbourne schoolgirl was so worried about telling anyone about returning hamster-less after Hamish’s illicit trip out that it was not until three days later that mum Holly Stokes realised he was not in his cage.
It was only after a top-to-bottom hunt through the house that young Sarah plucked up the courage to own up to smuggling Hamish to the movies.
After a flurry of phone calls to the Showcase cinema in Winnersh, staff found Hamish scurrying beneath the screen.
Mrs Stokes said: "We all thought he had escaped from his cage and was lost in the house but a few days later Sarah admitted she had taken him out for an adventure.
"Sarah's done a few things before but nothing to rival this."
She added: "Someone told me they have rat poison in places like the cinema so I thought he would have been dead but it seems they were animal lovers there."
Igor Geyer, duty manager at the Showcase, said: "I thought it was quite fun to find the hamster.I picked him up and put him in a box with plenty of paper to make him feel safe and comfortable.
"It was quite nice to have him as a pet for a short while but I'm glad we were able to unite the little girl with her hamster."
Hamish is now safely locked in his cage at hom.
"He's absolutely fine," said Holly.
"But Sarah is under threat of death from Rachel if she ever touches him again."