Top dogs
<p>Jessica Smith, a dog handler for owner Ryan Holman, checks the stance of a 6-month-old Weirmaraner during a judging Monday at the Coeur d'Alene Dog Fanciers 2011 Annual Dog Show. Holman's dog, which won a best of winners in its category, was one of 1,200 dogs competing in the show.</p>
<p>Steve Aguirre parades his 3 1/2 year old bloodhound through a judging arena at the North Idaho Fairgrounds during the Coeur d'Alene Dog Fanciers 2011 Annual Dog Show.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - With a few hundred dogs under one roof, one would expect the sound of barking to echo from one end to the other.
Surely, this would be frenzied fidos at their worst.
Michaelle Sande knew better.
"There are 200 dogs in here right now and listen to it," said the show chairwoman of the Coeur d'Alene Dog Fanciers 16th annual Memorial Day show.
It was what they didn't hear that resounded loud and clear: There was an occasional, single bark, but no canines going crazy. It was the low murmur of human voices that filtered through the air in the Jacklin Building.
As for all those dogs, well, they patiently waited for their commands to spring to action or sit silently by their owner's side.
"These dogs not only epitomize their breed's standard as far as beauty and function, but also intelligence and temperament," said Dawna Shepard, president of the Coeur d'Alene Dog Fanciers and show assistant chairwoman.
A record of 1,203 dogs and 128 breeds, from tiny Chihuahuas to portly pugs to mammoth mastiffs, are in town for the two-day show that wraps up today at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.
They and their owners are here from as far away as Nebraska, Colorado and Minnesota to settle the question, at least in the minds of the judges for this event: Who's the best?
There will be Best of Breed, which leads to a final face-off - whether a Pomeranian or cairn terrier or a bulldog - for the Best of Show.
"They are judged against the breed standard," Sande said. "Every breed has a breed standard that the judges read about and study. They try to find the dog that best represents that breed standard."
Judges score on physical structure, such as the health, feet and muscle tone; condition, such as weight and condition of coat; gait and temperament, even penalizing heavily for shyness or viciousness.
For the top male and female dogs of each breed, that means points. And when a dog has received 15 points, "he is a champion and holds the title all his life."
This is not just about having fun with your playful pet. People will have their dogs, even after winning a championship, undergo genetic and DNA testing to make sure they shouldn't have future health problems.
It's about breeding the best of the best.
While these dogs like to run, jump and play like their ordinary counterparts in most homes, when it comes show time, they're all business.
"These dogs represent the breed and what's best about the breed structurally, attitude, whether they can do the job they were bred to do," Sande said.
Julie Dunkle of Everett, Wash., with help from daughter Andrea Dunkle of Minnesota, was busy primping and prepping "Rico," a fluffy, friendly Samoyed, before he stepped into the competition ring Monday morning.
They brushed, sprinkled on baby powder and used spray chalk to bring out the breed's brilliant white coat
With 25 years experience of entering dogs in shows, Julie Dunkle said she is competitive and likes to win, but that's not what counts the most.
"These dogs are life. This is what I do and they do it for me. It's a simpatico relationship of how we work together. If he doesn't win at all this week, I love him," she said.
"And you still love the dog you go home with. If you're doing this and you're not going to love the dog you go home with, you shouldn't be doing it," she said.
"I have a dog that will never see a show ring, but I don't care," added Andrea Dunkle. "She'll be with me until she dies."
Julie Dunkle said when Rico isn't in a show, he likes to lounge around the house.
"This guy is kind of a big couch potato," she said as the dog smiled when she stroked his fur. "He likes to chase the laser pointer."
Erik Bjekle of Minnesota said his dogs are family.
"They really are," he said.
Another Samoyed, "Morgana," waited in its kennel for its chance to shine. If she earned her championship points, great. If not, that's OK, too, he said.
"We're more interested in Morgana having a good time. We want her to have a good experience with it," Bjekle said.
The show, held in honor of Sue and Jim Malcolm for their "unswerving dedication to CDADF since 1983," continues today. It is free. Parking is $5.