Detroit Kennel Club

Yesterday, I went to a dog show in Detroit. A friend of mine, a dog-lover, invited me to attend with her and her family. This is the kind of show we always see on TV, fluffed poodles and jumping retrievers. We had an early start and got into town around nine in the morning. We prowled the rows where the dogs were getting primped and were allowed to pet and talk dog talk (ie baby talk) with the purebreds. Borzois, poms, goldens, beagles, afghan hounds, welsh corgis (that's Ein from Cowboy Bebop!), shelties, border collies, terriers, great danes, dalmatians, french bulldogs, whippets, setters, westies. Think of every purebred you know, and then some - they were all there at the Cobo Arena. There were areas designated for poop and pee, rings for the performances and judging, stalls with dog paraphernalia, food stalls (I bought some famous Mackinaw Island fudge, had yummy ice-cream, and a Philly Cheese and Steak sandwich) and balloons.

My favorite show was the border collie herding ducks. The owner, from Iowa, couldn't bring sheep so she used ducks. She explained how border collies are one of two breeds that uses the eye to control cattle/duck movements. Maddie, her border collie, understands commands that tell her to go clockwise or anti-clockwise, knows how to direct her ducks up and down a slide into a little tub (makeshift pond), and appreciates a good soak in the tub once the ducks are safe in their pen. Herding is hard work! Maddie has such power that sometimes she only needs to tilt her head slightly and the ducks start moving. I loved watching her body movements, the slinking, head-near-the-ground, stance as she walks slowly behind the waddling ducks, or the quicksilver bolts round the ducks to push them in the direction she wants. Once, when her owner was walking towards the audience to answer a question, Maddie got up to follow, but her owner just moved her hand and said "stay" and Maddie immediately dropped to the ground and waited.

I was amazed at the patience of the dogs while they were being washed, blow-dried and hair-sprayed. No fuss, just endless patience, and a couple even went to sleep after their long preps. I caught many signs of affection between dogs and owners and wished I had a sweet westie, or a little welsh corgi. If I had the land, I would love to have a border collie. My friend and her family are partial towards the borzois, very aristocratic and lean dogs.

I left the show with a stuffed welsh corgi and the following pictures.

Posted by Monoceros at March 21, 2004 10:03 AM