Volume 3

Volume 3, Issue 3

International Parti Poodle Gazette

July 2007

UKC MICHIGAN CLASSIC

FIRST EXPERIENCE AS AN EXHIBITOR AT A DOG SHOW

Author: Bob Katz

Bob with Merry and Pippin

In the midst of severe depression and following several attempts at mutual suicide/homicide, two empty nesters from Michigan made a drastic grab at life and traveled 1200 miles to bring home two new Standard Poodle puppies (Merry and Pippin). Since then, the Prozac has been put away, the razor blades are gone, and the puppies have filled our lives with fun, love, and countless enjoyable hours.

(Note from Bob’s wife Kathy: Please realize my husband is writing this and I take no responsibility for melodramatic content.)

It was a dark and stormy Friday night when we left the safety of our home to do battle at our first United Kennel Club show in Kalamazoo (UKC Michigan Classic). Everything that could went wrong that night: it took us three hours to pack, we had to return to the house to pick up our lawn chairs, I blew up the tires on our new collapsible cart due to over-inflation at the Flying-J, and a detour we encountered on I-94 resulted in a two-hour parking lot. If it were not for the pre-paid entry fees and the fact that Kathy and I had not done anything together since our daughter was a toddler, we would have turned around and gone home.

Saturday morning arrived with the promise of a new day. The sun was shining, the clouds were gone, and we made it to the fairgrounds without mishap. We were able to park next to the building entrance so unloading and set-up inside was a snap. The tragic blowup of the cart tires from the previous night turned into a memory that now brings a smile on the retelling.

Merry and Pippin were the only multi-colored Poodles at the show so it was easy to see whom we had to beat. We had entered them in the multi-colored Standard Poodle Puppy Classes – six months to one year, male and female. The competition was fierce and relentless and, in the end, they shared top honors. Merry won Best of Winners in Show One, and Pippin won Best of Winners in Show Two. Even though their only competition was each other, the day was a lot of fun.

Bob and Kathy with Gina

Sunday morning felt different. The air was thick with the portent of events yet to unfold. Could Merry and Pippin possibly make it through the day with their glorious reputations unsullied and untarnished? Only time, the list of entrants, and the judges would tell. As I walked up to the entry table, my heart sank. Who in the #&!@ allowed other multi-colored Poodles to enter the UKC Michigan Classic? It was an outrage! I described this blasphemy to Kathy, but as usual she thought I was overreacting. When will this woman see my side?!?! I was alone, and I was scared. Our competition was formidable. A very pretty brown and white female was entered in the female puppy class against Merry. In addition, two multi-colored females were entered in the breeder/handler puppy class.

I slowly turned my head. When I saw Pippin’s competition, emptiness filled my chest. Three months his junior and twice his size, Maverick was a handsome, well-developed black and white parti who towered over Pip.

I grabbed my Little Man by the collar and looked into his eyes.

“We’re in trouble, Boy,” I said. “You could get hurt out there. He’s a monster. Look at him!”

Pippin licked my face and calmly replied, “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll stay away from him. Just like you’ve always taught me: Stick and Move. Eye of the Tiger. I’ll be OK.”

Pip paused for a second, tilted his head, looked me square in the eyes, and went on in a reassuring tone.

“Remember. How many times has Mom told you? Size doesn’t matter. It’s how you move that counts.”

The boy had a point, but there was something I knew I had to tell him. My throat went dry.

“I really believe that, Pip,” I said, “But there’s something you need to know. I’ve never told you this before, and I’m not trying to be cruel, but you can’t stack! For the love of God, Boy! Standing for examination is not your strong suit! You turn yourself inside out when the judge gets close.”

Pippin laughed and shook his head.

“Not to worry,” he replied confidently, “I got the moooves! I track like I’m on rails, and no one, I mean NO ONE, is more animated than me in that ring!” With that he jumped in the air, performed a complete 360 and landed in a perfect stand, with head held high, tail erect like a victory banner.

Pippin looked at me and winked.

As Kathy led Pippin away to the show ring, he said over his shoulder, “This one’s for you, Dad. I’ll make you proud.”

“You already have, Little Man,” I said to myself, watching as he swaggered off to his first challenge.

The rest of the day is a blur and replays in my mind like an old spliced and tattered black and white newsreel from the balcony matinees on Saturday afternoon.

Yes, indeed. Pippin was victorious over Maverick in a closely contested battle for Best Multi-colored Male Poodle Puppy six months to one year. Merry lost a heartbreaker to the brown and white female. In the Winners class, Pippin avenged the family name and took Best of Winners honors over the brown and white female. All of this took place during the first show on Sunday.

With the brown and white female not staying, the second show played out with much less drama. Pippin won his puppy class over Maverick. Merry took Best Female and Best of Winners over Pippin.

Well, that’s the way I remember the UKC Michigan Classic. Every word is true. If you don’t believe me, just ask Pippin.

Pippin and I can’t wait to fill you in on the UKC show from Whitmore Lake.

Don’t forget, we love you . . . and remember, “Believe in the Power of the
Puppies.”

Bob with his special Poodles.

UKC MICHIGAN CLASSIC

AN ADULT’S POINT OF VIEW

Author: Kathy Katz

The following description is the adult’s recollection of what took place at the UKC Michigan Classic in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Hosted by the K9 Fanciers of Michigan, there were two shows on March 10, 2007 and two shows on March 11th. Additionally, there was a show Friday evening that Bob and I did not attend because of work.

As Bob stated, this was our first time as exhibitors at a dog show, and we had entered our two multi-colored Standard Poodle pups Merry and Pippin, both ten months old.

Bob and I belong to a parti Poodle Google group and had contacted list member Gina from Rivers Edge Farm in Michigan to see if she would be attending the Kalamazoo show. She was very helpful explaining show procedures and informing us what classes to enter. She was taking three of her Standard puppies to the show for socializing and showing: I was relieved to know someone would be there from the forum, plus it was an added bonus that we would be able to meet her in person.

On Saturday, there were only our two multi-colored Poodles; however, on Sunday there were a total of six multi-colored Standards being shown. We also saw one solid white Standard Poodle who was there both days. Bob gave the results of our dogs in his version of the shows. Without all of his drama, I agree that our first UKC showing experience was a very nice one.

The people were friendly and we had lots of compliments on Merry (Te-Awa’s Misty Mountain Merry) and Pippin (Te-Awa’s Northern Ranger). I was surprised at the number of people who asked what breed of dogs we had. Upon discovering they were Standard Poodles, they commented on how much better they liked them than Poodles in fancy clips – continental and English saddle. Our pups were in somewhat of a lamb clip, but we are still working on doing it correctly. People especially like the color of our Poodles – Merry is a black and white parti and Pippin is a black and white tuxedo. We get this type of remark whenever we take our dogs in public. Many people do not know the history behind the Poodle and the reason for the traditional American Kennel Club show clip.

Kathy grooming Merry

After Bob and I arrived at the show and set up, I was approached by a man who told me to go to the entry booth because of a mistake on our entry forms. I thought, “Oh, no! What did I do wrong?” The entry booth did not have our numbers or information on the table where the pre-entries’ arm bands were located. I was told I had filled out the pre-entry forms incorrectly. After telling the woman I had contacted her and followed her instructions, the mistake was promptly rectified, and we were good to show. On both days, the show went at a fast pace, and I was quickly in and out of the ring. Our classes were over before noon. I wish it had gone at a slower pace so I would have had time to think about what I was doing. I had trouble stacking our pups and am sure my nervousness traveled down the lead to the pups. The judges were very forgiving and very nice: one of the judges gave me a few pointers.

Bob and I need a lot more practice. On March 31-April 1, 2007, we plan on attending the George Alston Show Handling Clinic put on by the Ann Arbor Dog Training Club in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I sure hope these two old dogs can learn some new tricks!

Our first dog show was definitely an enjoyable learning experience. We had lots of fun and plan on showing again. I believe our pups had a good time too; they did not seem to get overly stressed. There is a lot of support for novices at UKC shows and they are a great place to get started.