Dogs big and small highlight second Dog d'Alene show
<p>Dachshunds available for adoption get plenty of attention from visitors at the Dog d'Alene event Saturday in Coeur d'Alene. The dogs are available through Little Long Dogs Dachshund Rescue of Athol.</p>
<p>Misty,6, hurdles over a beam before the audience around the demonstration ring at Saturday's Dog d'Alene event in Coeur d'Alene.</p>
<p>Micah, 7, a Newfoundland, waits in the shade before heading into the Dog d'Alene event Saturday in Coeur d'Alene. His owners are Ron and Karen Deering of Coeur d'Alene.</p>
COEUR d’ALENE — It looked like Ron and Karen Deering of Coeur d’Alene had tamed a black bear and taken him downtown for the second Dog d’Alene on Saturday.
It wasn’t a bear, though — it was Micah, their 7-year-old black Newfoundland.
“We always like people to see what a real dog looks like,” said Karen. “Little kids are in awe of him.”
After the event, on the grassy area at Sixth Street and Sherman Avenue, Micah was headed down to the lake to cool off from the heat with a much-deserved swim, Karen said.
As big as Micah is, he wasn’t the biggest at the event.
Conan O’Brien — not the comedian, but the great Dane — took home the title as biggest dog at the event.
O’Brien, owned by Tyrel and Jennifer Melvin of Coeur d’Alene, measured more than 36 inches from the ground to the shoulder.
“He’s a super-relaxed indoor dog, believe it or not,” Tyrel said. “He’s probably the best pet I’ve ever had.”
The Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association hosted the event. It had vendors selling dog accessories and portraits, and other vendors distributing information about pet care and adoption.
RuthAnn Hoffman, administrator of Little Long Dogs Dachshund Rescue in Athol, said she currently has five dogs available for adoption. The dogs range in age from 9 months old to 6 years old.
She said she has adopted out 250 dogs in the last five years.
“Dachshunds are not very well understood,” Hoffman said. She goes through a thorough application process to make sure the dogs are adopted to good owners.
“There’s lots to know to own one and care for it right,” she said.
The event also had demonstrations.
Adah Sedlmayer brought her dog, 6-year-old Misty, to show the crowd gathered around the event’s demonstration ring some of the benefits of having a professionally trained dog.
“Training is a great way to build your dog’s confidence,” said Sedlmayer, of Post Falls.
Misty, a collie, jumped over obstacles, responded quickly to commands and performed well overall, Sedlmayer said.
“She was a little nervous” with so much going on around the ring, Sedlmayer said.
Misty will get more work.
“My hobby is dog training,” Sedlmayer said.