Local kennel club hosts first Open Show nationally
The American Kennel Club welcomed new dogs and new breeds to the first Open Show at Milford’s own Mispillion Club June 18.
The Open Show allows novice dogs and handlers to gain experience on the competition circuit in a learning environment. Puppies aged 4 to 6 months were welcome for the first time, as were breeds that are in line for full American Kennel Club (AKC) recognition (Miscellaneous Class and Foundation Stock Service Class).
This means people could see the new and rare breeds, like the Pumi, Catahoula Leopard Dog and Cane Courso.
Of 400 breeds worldwide, the AKC currently recognizes 170 and adds several each year.
AKC Vice President Robin Stansell said the AKC chose Delaware because the date available and the Mispillion Club is well organized. The event was also geared toward attracting new exhibitors.
“We want people to know that these events exist,” said Stansell. “It’s not just on TV.”
There were Conformation, Obedience and Rally events at the Open Show, but no championship points were awarded.
The AKC will refine the open shows into an official event by July 2012, which will have official awards.
Approximately 25 canines participated in the Delaware show.
Calvin and Gale Moore of Charles County, Md. said they drove several hours to give their boxer puppy, Pitch, more experience in showing. Gale Moore compared the new learning experience to kindergarten for dogs.
Best in Show was awarded to Whimsy (registered as Abiqua Abrand), a Pumi owned by Kathy Donovan of Seaford.
Donovan said her parents never let her have a dog, and her husband, perhaps hoping to discourage her, said she could if she planned to show it.
Donovan agreed and is now recording secretary for Mispillion Kennel Club and secretary for the Hangarian Pumarian Society.
Best Puppy award went to Salty Dog’s Jewel, a Catahoula leopard dog belonging to Bonnie and Jonathan Ashford of Dover.
The AKC Good Sportsmanship award went to chairwoman for Match Show Terri Dove.
The AKC Companion Animal Recovery also awarded a $2,000 contribution to Shore K9 Search and Rescue, Inc., supporting their search and rescue canines and their volunteer handlers.
Shore K9 is based in Harrington and operates in Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C. The teams recover missing people, primarily through wilderness search and tracking and trailing.
President Lisa Nyland said they locate missing people, live and deceased, from drownings to cold cases.
“Teams like this are integral to these things,” said Stansell, who presented the check on behalf of the AKC’s philanthropic group.
The AKC/CAR has donated more than $3 million since 2002, and Stansell said a record number of applicants requested funding this year.
Nyland said the volunteer group is often self-funded, but the donation helps greatly to cover liability insurance and tracking equipment.
For more information on the Mispillion Kennel Club, call 302-856-2199 or go to www.MispillionKC.org.
