Marion Handlers stood at the ready on Saturday, preparing to walk their dogs into the ring at the Dan Emmett Kennel Club’s Harding Classic. Nearly 1,000 dogs and 134 breeds competed in the annual Dan Emmett Kennel Club Inc. dog show Friday and Saturday at the Marion County Fairgrounds. The Marion Kennel Club dog show is today and Monday.

Riley, a Yorkshire terrier, gets a little brush up before being shown by his owner Jackie Kuk, of Jefferson. They would soon find out if their canine friends could stand up to the rest. Grooming, obedience, and in some cases even the length of the dog’s hair could make or break their score. Show chairman John Zimmerman said this is a profession for many of these handlers who spend their weekends traveling to shows and showing other people’s pets. It’s among the sights that can be seen at the Marion County Fairgrounds this weekend. There were 976 dogs entered into Saturday’s show, which featured 134 different breeds. They competed in obedience and confirmation, which measures how well each dog stands up to the specific traits of its breed. The two-day Dan Emmett show concluded on Saturday while the Marion Ohio Kennel Club show will be at the fairgrounds today and Monday. Hours will remain 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and cost is $3. Such a show takes a commitment of time and preparation. Caleb Osborne, 14, said the most difficult part is the rushing around and grooming before showing the dogs. For seven years he’s helped his grandmother, club member Rita Plough, handle the dogs. They specialize in handling dachshunds. “It’s fun when you really get the hang of it,” he said. “When you do a good job it all pays off.” Sometimes, Osborne said, showing dogs takes accepting that another dog may be better than yours. “You can’t help that,” he said. “You do your best to groom and make your dog look nice.” Zimmerman said doing well takes both time and effort. He said several clubs sponsor mentoring programs and shows such as the Harding Classic feature talks on how to do well. For dog owner Leslie Honeyman, a Troy resident, the show was a bit of a reunion with a pastime she grew up with. Honeyman, who switched from German shepherds, got out of the dog show circuit for a number of years after a family member became ill. She said returning is kind of like learning all over again as she works her way up to showing her own dogs again. She described the dog showing experience as exciting, exhilarating and proud no matter how the dog finishes. “It can also be nerve-wracking,” she said. For those who want to get into showing dogs, Zimmerman suggested making sure to find a reputable breeder and pay close attention to the dog’s genetic traits. Honeyman said there is a time commitment as well as a financial one as she said there are some handlers who may make $300 per weekend for each dog. “You have to know what you are getting into,” she said.

Since Good Dog Hotel and Spa is well known for their excellent grooming and training techniques, we thought that this article would be interesting for all “Good Dog fans”!! This past weekend the Dan Emmett Kennel Club held their annual dog show in Marion County. Dogs were being judged on their appearance and obedience level. Nearly 1000 dogs entered and there were at least 134 breeds! For the people that would like to spend their Monday watching dogs in show, The Marion Ohio Kennel Club show will be at the fairgrounds from 8am to 6pm.
Article Courtesy of Veronique Brown