They’re all loveable, but only a few dogs could be selected as the best of their breed this weekend in a dog show organized by the Stone City Kennel Club.
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The New Lenox-based club held its first all breed dog show this year at Joliet Junior College’s Weitendorf Agricultural Educational Center after previously having it at the Grundy County Fairgrounds.
Lee Cera, president of the club, said the venue was changed because the facilities at the JJC center were much better, and organizers could keep the dogs inside in case of inclement weather.
Mary Cwikla, coordinator at the college center, said the facility hosts other animal shows throughout the year, such as those for lambs, pigs and rabbits, so hosting a dog show was “a natural fit.” She said she hopes the kennel club hosts its show annually at the center.
About 900 dogs were judged during the two-day “conformation” show.
Cera said the dogs were judged based on how well they conform to their breed.
Siberian huskies, for example, are bred to pull so one characteristic that’s judged is the dog’s chest strength and appearance.
Cera said the club, which also trains dogs in New Lenox, organizes more than a dozen dog shows a year, including “fun” ones that involve agility and search and rescue demonstrations.
But she said some of the dogs judged this weekend are considered the best in their breed in the country and will go on to be presented at the granddaddy of dog shows.
“Many of these dogs here will be at Westminster,” Cera said.
Chris Jones of Maple Park plans to present her dog, Bobby, at the Westminster Dog Show in February.
Her 3-year-old papillon breed won best of show Saturday in Joliet.
Jones said she bred and raised papillons for more than 30 years with her mother, who recently passed away.
“They’re a big dog in a small package,” she said. “And they’re one of the top obedient dogs.”
Although the show was competitive, many of the owners on Sunday said it was about having fun.
Liz De Souza of Madison, Wis., and owner of a Scottish terrier named Sean Connery, said she comes to the show to meet and talk about dogs with other dog lovers.
“Dog show people are kind of family,” she said.
Dog lovers from around the country attended the show, including veterinarian Carol Ecker of Granger, Ind., who brought five of her corgis.
Ecker was one of the first women to graduate from Purdue’s veterinary college in 1964.
Many of the judges at the Joliet show also judge at the Westminster Show, including Roger and Paula Hartinger of Cincinnati.
The couple has been judging at dog shows for more than 40 years.
“This is an equal opportunity sport,” Roger said. “It’s open to everybody.”
He said owners come from all backgrounds, ethnicities, ages and physical conditions.
“We think it’s good for families,” Roger said.
The Stone City Kennel Club will host a few other shows this year at its New Lenox facility at 13606 W. Laraway Road, including an obedience trial next month.
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Cera said the club practices positive training versus negative.
“They have to love it and see us as a partner, not as somebody who’s going to hurt them,” she said.
Frank Vaisvilas is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.