Show Dogs in Douglas County
| 2016 Q1 | story by BOB LUDER | photos by STEVEN HERTZOG
Mark Schroeder with Gage
Mark Schroeder applies the foamy, white froth to the long, shiny, golden hair as gently as if he were giving a first shampoo to a newborn.
His fingers dig in slightly, moving in tight circular motions over the back, sides and underbelly, careful not to miss a single spot. This ritual is followed by a soft, gradual, warm rinse which leads to a blow-dry and brushing out of excess, shedding hair.
The recipient appears unfazed by it all—no sudden, unwanted movements, no vocalizations, not as much as a change in facial expression. This is a routine shared at least once every two weeks during the winter months, once a week during the sweatier summers.
Gage was ready for his close-up.
Truth be told, Gage, an exquisite-looking Golden Retriever, might not have many more close-ups left in his future. At age 4, he’s already received his Grand Champion for conformation—conforming to the highest judged standards of his breed at a series of dog shows—having compiled his points for such a distinction in very quick and impressive fashion.
Mark Schroeder with Gage
Championships are awarded to dogs that have passed through a process of selection at dog shows. Dogs are judged based on their breeds and qualities that show they’re closest to the ideal in terms of breed standards, such as coat color, texture and luminosity. Other traits judged include bone structure, height, weight, even pigment of skin on their noses.
3 Generations of Champions
Gage (being shown by professional handler Cortney Corral) in Best of Breed at the Golden Retriever Club of America National Specialty, October 2015
The more dogs that compete in a certain breed at a show, the more points are up for grabs. Kennel clubs of different countries have different point structures and requirements. The American Kennel Club requires a competitor must acquire 15 points to be designated “champion,” and included in those 15 points must be at least two “majors, which are larger shows with more entrants.”
“(Gage) went from his Champion to Grand Champion in a month,” Schroeder says. “That’s impressive.”
Once you’ve reached Grand Champion status, to show Gage further and “campaign” him for more titles would end up being quite costly.
“Gage is our first show dog, and he’s probably done,” says Debbie Schroeder, Mark’s wife and partner in all activities involving Gage and their other Golden, 5-year-old Suki. “It’s just our choice. After Grand Champion, you can continue to show him. But, we’ve already taken him to shows in Dallas, Ashville, N.C., Arizona, Utah, Michigan.
“If we wanted to campaign him, we could. But to do that is thousands of dollars. To get a dog to Westminster (Kennel Club Dog Show, the most prestigious dog show in the U.S.) would cost around $100,000.”
It’s not as though the Schroeders intend to stop working with Gage altogether. He and Suki, who are not related, both already have titles in obedience and field competitions, and Mark says he’s currently working with Gage for more field titles. Debbie is working with Suki on a tracking title.
“We don’t have lives,” Mark says. “We have our dogs.
“Have you ever seen the movie, “Best In Show”? It’s definitely over the top … but, it’s really not too far off.”
During the week, Mark works in medical sales. Debbie is a nurse. But the weekends are all about the dogs.
“I’ve always had Goldens,” Debbie says. “Mark had some Brittanys. At first, we just got dogs out of newspapers. But then, we started studying breeds.”
Debbie says she’s drawn to Goldens largely because of the fragility of the breed. One in five Goldens dies of cancer. In fact, Debbie’s first Golden succumbed to that fate. The caregiver in her makes her want to care for those at-risk in their health.
“I was looking for the purest breed,” she says. “I got Suki first. Then, the owner told us about Gage, whom he’d shown as a puppy.”
The Schroeders have, in Mark’s words, been “weekend warriors” with their dogs ever since, taking them to shows, working with them in the field or giving them baths at Pawsh Wash, a dog-grooming and pet store in west Lawrence. They belong to the Kansas City Golden Retrievers Club, Golden Retrievers Club of America and Hunting Retrievers Club.
“It’s a commitment,” Debbie says. “You can never just drop everything and go. You always have to take into account the dogs.”
Man’s Best Friend
Lifelong commitments, fixations, perhaps even a few healthy obsessions, with dogs appears to be a popular pastime in the Lawrence area. One need only gaze upon the busy and constant traffic in and out of Pawsh Wash and the frenzied activity inside on a daily basis to know this is true. The business is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week, and it needs about all that time to accommodate all who patronize it, whether they choose to wash and groom their animals themselves, or have one of the staff do it for them.
Grooming
“We run a lot of specials during the week,” says Emily Brickey, a manager at Pawsh Wash the last four years. “On Sundays, we do a 2-for-1 deal on self-service. We have a mid-week special where we do a $10 wash.
“By far, our busiest day of the week is Friday, when we do $5 nail trimming. One day, we did 90 nail trims.”
Brickey says Pawsh Wash, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, typically schedules 30 dogs per day, and that doesn’t include walk-ins.
She says the more serious dog owners are about showing their pets, the more they seem to want to do the washing and grooming themselves.
“They tend to know more about what they’re doing,” she says. “People who show their dogs know exactly what they want done.”
Many Lawrence-based owners of show dogs also have attended obedience and conformation classes offered monthly by the Lawrence Jayhawk Kennel Club (LJKC), which has offered such classes for 45 years. At present time, the club has 49 members with around 49 different breeds.
“We have a number of owners who have won national specialties,” says Vickie Jacobs, secretary of the LJKC. “One owner received a Group 1 at the Westminster Dog Show.
“We also have club members who have therapy dogs, do agility, obedience, conformation, tracking, lure coursing, barn hunts and carting.”
Jacobs says LJCK obedience and conformation classes meet at the Douglas County Fairgrounds every Wednesday night from February through most of May. The club also meets once a month for general meetings, and during the summer it puts on picnics and hosts a lure coursing fun meet. During general meetings, the club offers a number of programs to the public.
Michaela with her golden, Sam
All in the Family
People show their dogs for all sorts of reasons, but many, make it a family affair.
Toni Martin has shown her family’s 4-year-old Golden, Sam, for the last couple of years, taking him to dog shows in St. Louis and points east and north. Sam has two “minors” and one “major” to his credit. But now, it’s time for Martin’s 9-year-old daughter, Michaela, to literally take the lead. Michaela is training to become a junior showman, and Toni is hoping she’s ready for a big dog show later this year in Lawrence.
“The two are inseparable,” Martin says of Sam and Michaela. “These dogs are such tremendous companions. They transition from show life to family life so well.”
Michaela has spent hours upon hours with Sam—whose fancy show name is Kelore’s Kaptain My Kaptain, after the Kelore Kennel in Michigan where he was born—in the family’s yard working on presentation and conformation skills.
“I have to make sure the lead (leash) is always pointing toward me and on my left,” Michaela says. “We’re always doing that a lot around here, gating, standing, speed, circumference.”
Toni says, “You have to have full knowledge of breeds, especially your own breeds. It’s a lifestyle, so you use the same word commands whether it’s during show or around the house. You just make it fun.”
That’s certainly been the case for Meagan Kiser and Ben Grace, an engaged couple in their late 20s who have made grooming and training Meagan’s two Belgian Tervurens, Ariel and Belle, a big part of their lives as a couple.
Belgian Tervurens are mid-sized animals that share many of the same traits as Shepherds. They’re very elegant and stately in appearance, with short, thick black and mahogany hair, and sharp ears that point straight to the sky—at least they do if they’re show-worthy. They’re known as excellent herders of geese and sheep. In Europe, many serve as police dogs.
“I grew up with one,” Kiser says. “My parents and I fell in love with the breed. I’ve always loved dogs. I grew up in Florida and Colorado, and I fell in love with dogs when I got a Lab and Tervuren when I was about 6.”
Belle is 7, and Kiser has been showing her since she was about 1½. Ariel, Belle’s offspring, is 1 and still a little youthfully exuberant to excel at conformation showing.
Showing Tervurens, especially locally, can pose challenges. The way the conformation points system is set up, dogs have opportunities to earn more points the more dogs are entered in their breed. Problem is, Kiser and Grace have found there aren’t many people in this area that show Tervurens. In fact, Grace says the couple will enter Ariel in some competitions, even though she isn’t ready, just to boost numbers and points potential for Belle.
“I know Belle has one major,” Kiser says. “To become a champion, you have to have another major, and to win a major around here is hard because you have to have at least five dogs in competition, and there aren’t many around.
“She probably has 8 to 12 points. I want to accumulate points so that we can breed her.”
Grace says pure-bred puppies of a champion can get from $1,200 to $1,500.
The other challenge is that, as a young couple (Kiser just recently graduated from the University of St. Mary, in Leavenworth, with her physical therapy degree), they can’t afford to show Belle all around the country, so they stick mostly to area shows in Lawrence, Kansas City and St. Joseph.
“Maybe in a few years we’ll travel more when we have some money,” Grace says.
Until then, Kiser and Grace will continue working with their dogs at home, practicing sitting and staying, and getting used to people, being petted and being judged.
“We don’t do conformation stuff every day,” Grace says. “We spend more time doing agility. Agility is easier to practice at home, and Belle likes the running around. In fact, we might get back into doing more agility shows.”
While Kiser and Grace adore their dogs and love spending time with them, they’re the first to admit they’re not quite as engulfed by the whole spectacle of dog shows as most of the peers they run into regularly at local shows.
And, Kiser is quick to point out that loving the Tervurens does have its limits.
“The dogs definitely won’t be in the wedding,” she says with a laugh.
60 Comments
Porn site
whoah this blog is magnificent i love reading your posts. Keep up the good work! You know, lots of people are looking around for this info, you can aid them greatly.
I have seen that smart real estate agents all around you are Advertising and marketing. They are acknowledging that it’s not only placing a sign post in the front property. It’s really in relation to building relationships with these suppliers who sooner or later will become customers. So, when you give your time and efforts to encouraging these dealers go it alone — the “Law connected with Reciprocity” kicks in. Good blog post.
Can I just say what a relief to uncover a person that truly understands what they are talking about over the internet. You actually understand how to bring a problem to light and make it important. More and more people should look at this and understand this side of the story. I was surprised that you are not more popular since you most certainly have the gift.
Usually I don’t read post on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing style has been amazed me. Thanks, quite nice article.
Very good post. I’m experiencing many of these issues as well..
you’re really a good webmaster. The site loading speed is incredible. It seems that you are doing any unique trick. In addition, The contents are masterpiece. you have done a magnificent job on this topic!
Great information. Lucky me I recently found your site by chance (stumbleupon). I have saved as a favorite for later!
Everyone loves it whenever people get together and share ideas. Great site, continue the good work.
magnificent issues altogether, you just gained a logo new reader. What may you suggest in regards to your publish that you made a few days ago? Any sure?
My brother recommended I may like this website. He used to be totally right. This submit actually made my day. You can not consider just how a lot time I had spent for this information! Thank you!
Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular post! It’s the little changes which will make the biggest changes. Thanks for sharing!
Greetings! Very helpful advice in this particular article! It’s the little changes that will make the largest changes. Thanks for sharing!
I seriously love your website.. Very nice colors & theme. Did you create this site yourself? Please reply back as I’m attempting to create my own personal website and would like to find out where you got this from or what the theme is called. Appreciate it.
I really love your site.. Excellent colors & theme. Did you build this website yourself? Please reply back as I’m looking to create my own personal site and would love to know where you got this from or exactly what the theme is named. Thank you.
Having read this I thought it was really enlightening. I appreciate you spending some time and effort to put this information together. I once again find myself spending a significant amount of time both reading and posting comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile.
This is a great tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere. Simple but very accurate info… Thank you for sharing this one. A must read post!
Sex
Sex
Generally I do not read post on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing style has been amazed me. Thanks, very nice post.
I’m really loving the theme/design of your weblog. Do you ever run into any internet browser compatibility issues? A couple of my blog readers have complained about my website not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Firefox. Do you have any tips to help fix this issue?
Wow, this article is mind-blowing! The author has done a tremendous job of delivering the information in an compelling and educational manner. I can’t thank her enough for sharing such valuable insights that have undoubtedly enriched my understanding in this topic. Bravo to him for producing such a masterpiece!
Music began playing when I opened this web-site, so frustrating!
One thing I’d like to discuss is that weightloss routine fast may be accomplished by the proper diet and exercise. An individual’s size not merely affects appearance, but also the quality of life. Self-esteem, major depression, health risks, along with physical skills are impacted in extra weight. It is possible to do everything right whilst still having a gain. Should this happen, a medical problem may be the offender. While too much food rather than enough exercise are usually accountable, common medical ailments and key prescriptions may greatly increase size. Thx for your post in this article.
his is the alpha I’ve been looking for—BRC-20 is heating up!
Hi! I know this is kinda off topic but I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest writing a blog post or vice-versa? My site discusses a lot of the same subjects as yours and I feel we could greatly benefit from each other. If you are interested feel free to send me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Superb blog by the way!
The visuals and examples really helped me understand IL.
Thanks for your post here. One thing I would really like to say is that often most professional domains consider the Bachelor’s Degree just as the entry level standard for an online education. Though Associate Diplomas are a great way to begin, completing ones Bachelors presents you with many doors to various employment goodies, there are numerous on-line Bachelor Course Programs available through institutions like The University of Phoenix, Intercontinental University Online and Kaplan. Another issue is that many brick and mortar institutions provide Online variants of their diplomas but commonly for a substantially higher charge than the institutions that specialize in online qualification plans.
Love the decentralized approach—no more wrapped tokens!
An attention-grabbing discussion is price comment. I feel that you should write extra on this subject, it won’t be a taboo subject but typically people are not sufficient to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
I have learned a few important things through your post. I’d also like to state that there will be a situation where you will have a loan and do not need a co-signer such as a Government Student Support Loan. However, if you are getting financing through a traditional lender then you need to be prepared to have a cosigner ready to help you. The lenders will probably base their decision using a few elements but the biggest will be your credit standing. There are some loan companies that will likewise look at your work history and come to a decision based on this but in almost all cases it will depend on your report.
I love what you guys are usually up too. This kind of clever work and exposure! Keep up the wonderful works guys I’ve included you guys to my own blogroll.
I have taken notice that in video cameras, exceptional detectors help to {focus|concentrate|maintain focus|target|a**** automatically. The particular sensors associated with some digital cameras change in in the area of contrast, while others utilize a beam involving infra-red (IR) light, especially in low lighting. Higher specification cameras occasionally use a mix of both programs and could have Face Priority AF where the digicam can ‘See’ your face while keeping focused only on that. Thanks for sharing your thinking on this web site.
I have fun with, lead to I discovered just what I used to be having a look for. You’ve ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
Clear, concise, and packed with real value.
Incredibly helpful guide for anyone staking on iziswap.
Using the bridge opened up a whole new set of dApps.
Using the bridge opened up a whole new set of dApps.
Thanks for your content. One other thing is that if you are disposing your property on your own, one of the issues you need to be cognizant of upfront is how to deal with home inspection records. As a FSBO seller, the key to successfully transferring your property as well as saving money about real estate agent profits is expertise. The more you recognize, the smoother your property sales effort are going to be. One area when this is particularly important is home inspections.
The visuals and examples really helped me understand IL.
A must-read before jumping into NFTs on Polygon.
I feel way more confident about providing liquidity now.
The Polygon Bridge is a must-know tool for any ETH user.
This makes DeFi way less intimidating for new LPs.
After looking at a few of the blog articles on your web page, I seriously like your way of blogging. I book marked it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back soon. Take a look at my website too and tell me your opinion.
The very next time I read a blog, I hope that it does not disappoint me as much as this particular one. I mean, Yes, it was my choice to read through, however I really thought you’d have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of moaning about something that you could fix if you weren’t too busy seeking attention.
Hi there! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could find a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having problems finding one? Thanks a lot!
I do agree with all the ideas you have presented in your post. They are very convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are too short for starters. Could you please extend them a little from next time? Thanks for the post.
I just could not depart your web site prior to suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard info a person provide for your visitors? Is gonna be back often in order to check up on new posts
Buy Drugs
Hi, I do believe this is a great website. I stumbledupon it 😉 I’m going to return yet again since I bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide others.
I appreciate your wordpress template, where would you down load it through?
Hey there! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I really enjoy reading through your posts. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same topics? Thanks a ton!
This was a great read! Your insights are truly helpful and make complex topics easy to understand. Looking forward to more!
Everyone loves it when folks get together and share views. Great website, stick with it.
Link Tải F79
Link Tải F79
I have learned many important things via your post. I will also like to state that there is a situation that you will have a loan and never need a co-signer such as a Fed Student Aid Loan. In case you are getting financing through a regular creditor then you need to be willing to have a co-signer ready to allow you to. The lenders may base their decision on the few variables but the largest will be your credit history. There are some loan merchants that will as well look at your job history and choose based on this but in many instances it will depend on your ranking.
We are a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your site offered us with valuable info to work on. You’ve done an impressive job and our whole community will be grateful to you.
F*ckin’ remarkable things here. I am very glad to see your post. Thanks a lot and i am looking forward to contact you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?