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Treasure Valley Canines Compete to Win
BY KARISSA MANSKE
What can be said about the all-encompassing joy of dog ownership that hasn’t already been said? Sure, they provide countless hours of entertainment and social media content, but they’re also a commitment, with their own personalities, strengths and…shall we say…capabilities for growth.
For some dog owners, participating in shows and sporting competitions offers opportunities to bond and showcase their best friends’ exceptional breeding, obedience, energy, or strength. Beyond the thrill of competition, these events help foster a deeper community among dog owners.
In Boise, the Idaho Capital City Kennel Club (ICCKC) is an all-breed American Kennel Club (AKC) member with a mission for community education and a love of different dog sports. The club is run by ardent dog lovers, many of whom participate in various competitions. These competitions include (but are not limited to) conformation, agility, and obedience.
Conformation
If you’ve ever watched the Westminster Dog Show on TV, you’ve witnessed one of the most well-known conformation events. is level of showmanship isn’t for every dog. In conformation, dogs compete to show how closely they conform to the AKC’s set of breed-specific standards. is means that, first and foremost, the dog must be one of the 200 AKC-recognized breeds. Beyond that, they must be at least six months old, not spayed or neutered, and present with breed-specific physical and temperamental qualities.
“Conformation is a lot of work and commitment, but there’s a whole lot of satisfaction when you do well,” explains ICCKC President Ket Ayling, who has about 30 years of dog showing (Doberman Pinschers exclusively) under her belt.
Ayling, who had her first exposure to dog competitions through obedience trials, was encouraged to try conformation by other members of her kennel club. “When my dog and I participated in obedience trials, I’d get to see different types of competitions happening throughout the building,” she said. “Seeing conformation trials in action was a great way to be introduced to the sport.”
Since she began, Ayling and her dogs have competed in three national-level AKC conformation trials in Oregon, California, and Kansas. Her current Doberman Pinscher, a four-year-old named Tika, is an AKC Grand Champion and holds a variety of titles in other competitive areas.
Tara Jennings, who began participating in conformation shows with her Bernese Mountain Dog Pippin five years ago, also began conformation shows through the encouragement of others. “Pippin competes in drafting competitions, but truly enjoys conformation shows because he loves to show off and prance around the ring,” she said.
Ayling and Jennings agree that conformation does have its costs. While entry fees aren’t exorbitant, travel costs can be. To earn the higher titles, points must be earned through a higher participation in shows. However, the high of sharing the cream of the crop for a breed you’re passionate about cannot be overstated.
Agility
After a chance viewing of an agility competition at a local fair in 2002, Jan Skurzynski knew she wanted to try the sport with her Australian Shepherd. “After
I saw the sport in action, I thought ‘ is is something I have to try.’ Years later, I’m still passionate about the sport; I compete and judge agility trials throughout the U.S.,” she said.
Agility courses consist of obstacles including jumps, tunnels, weave poles, A-frames and seesaws. Each trial presents these obstacles in a new pattern and handlers only get one quick look at the course before it’s time to compete in a timed run.
“Dog agility is so rewarding because it fosters a deep sense of community between competitors,” Skurzynski explained. “Your achievements do not hinder other competitors from succeeding. Instead, you and your dog are competing against yourselves to reach the next title.” They’re also AKC-certified agility trial judges, traveling the country 25-30 weekends of the year to qualifying trials that generally feed into larger trials, including the annual national agility trial.
Skurzynski and her husband Dale Mahoney continue to compete in agility trials with their Border Collies, including her Master Agility Champion, Blazer.
Obedience And Rally
Obedience and rally are a bit like two sides of the same coin. Rally was introduced around ten years ago and can serve as a stepping stone into more formal obedience. It’s a popular sport with owners of younger dogs or those just getting started in competitions.
“With rally, you can talk to your dog the whole time, while in obedience, you can only give commands,” explained ICCKC Vice President Vicky Runnoe, who began participating in obedience trials in the mid-1980s and continues to both compete with her Border Collies and provide mentorship to others. “Like any dog competition, it takes guts to enter the ring and seeing trainees succeed never gets old.”
How To Start
Many ICCKC members say that it’s common to see teams start with one area of competition and branch out to new areas as interest and time permit. “Everyone gets to decide how far they want to go with competing and titles. More than anything, it’s a deeply rewarding way to bond with your dog,” shared Runnoe.
If you find yourself drawn to the idea of dog showing or competition, the ICCKC offers drop-in open practices and classes focused on a variety of competition types. Club members are present at open practices to pass on their knowledge and help with skill building. A variety of classes—including AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy and Canine Good Citizen certification courses—are also taught by club members.
When it comes time to compete, ICCKC puts on a variety of AKC-backed events that can act as qualifying trials for larger regional and national trials (and higher titles).
Interested dog enthusiasts are welcome to attend ICCKC’s monthly meeting, held on the fourth Tuesday of each month. For more information, including event and class descriptions, dates, and times, visit the ICCKC website: icckc.org.
