Authors: David and Denise Spotila
Brookside Casa Standard Parti Poodles

We left our home in Barnett, Missouri, at daybreak on June 13, 2007 and headed to our first United Kennel Club Premier dog show in Kalamazoo, Michigan. We arrived in Kalamazoo in the early evening and, upon checking into our hotel, spotted two beautiful Standard Poodles and a tiny little parti Poodle. It was amazing how we could immediately put names to the dogs but not to the owners! It was great to meet the people at the end of the leash. Sara Gessner of Pioneer Poodles had Ben and Joker in tow, and Kelsey Wolf had the adorable little parti Buster in her arms.

We had entered our two-year-old male, multi-colored Standard Poodle Rollin in the senior class and two littermate female pups in the multi-color puppy class. Unfortunately, Ala had drooled the whole trip and was in dire need of a bath. Bathing her using an ice bucket to rinse was not fun, but the job was accomplished by about 11 p.m. on Wednesday evening.

We arrived early at the show site on Thursday morning and stood in line to get inside grooming space. Temperatures were in the 90s and securing indoor space was a must.

Shortly after setting up, I met Michelle Golding and her beautiful little Poodles. Michelle and Sara, along with Kelsey, were showing in the Top Ten competitions (Poodles in each size in both multis and solids) that morning. There was an air of excitement as all the Top Ten groups were getting their dogs ready.

After settling our dogs in their crates, we went to watch the competition. 

After watching the Top Ten Poodle groups, we entered the United Retriever Club (URC) Specialty (Standards only, both multi and solid colors) and were ready to show later that afternoon. We also had the opportunity to visit with Sara Bingham and Michelle Crawford, both of whom were visiting from England. Bob and Kathy Katz had also arrived with their beautiful multi-coloreds and had set up indoors next to Michelle. Gina and Lina of Riversedge/Mosiac Standard Poodles arrived and also entered the URC Specialty with their gorgeous multi and solid-colored Poodles. Everyone was excited to meet and put faces to names.

Rollin had no competition in his senior class, and my two female pups competed against each other most of the weekend. Dave and I had a great time and we can’t wait until next year to compete with a little more experience under our belts. Everyone we met was helpful and friendly. What fun to line up and try for a group picture! We made new friends and finally got to meet people with whom we had communicated for well over a year.