Lapping up the limelight
DEVIN WEEKS/Press Ali the fabulous boxer and her boy, Dillon Doucet, 16, of Post Falls, take a break to cool off Saturday morning during the 4-H Dog Show at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. Dillon and Ali have been competing in 4-H shows for seven years, since she was just a pup. The two are best friends. “She chases me all over the place,” Dillon said, smiling.
Panhandle Pioneers 4-H Club member Gabby Ranney, 16, of Hauser, and her German shorthaired pointer George, 6, stand tall in the conformation ring of the 4-H Dog Show at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds on Saturday morning. Gabby and George are in their fifth year of participating in the 4-H canine competition. George particularly enjoys the agility portion of the show. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)
Frito, a 3-year-old Portuguese podengo pequeno, receives a gentle smoothing over from his boy Edison Abel, 15, of Athol, as a judge chats with youths and their canine counterparts Saturday during the 4-H Dog Show at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. Peppy, athletic and fast, the podengo pequeno is an ancient breed of hound that is known for its rabbit-hunting skills. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)
Making sure her Chinese crested powderpuff terrier Shadow feels glamorous from head to toe, Cheyenne Cameron, 12, of Plummer, uses break time to spiff up his nails Saturday during the 4-H Dog Show at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)
COEUR d’ALENE — Suits, ties, dresses, shoes, noses, toes and tails were smoothed, trimmed and shined to professional order Saturday during the 4-H Dog Show at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.
The dog show, which continues today, features 40 North Idaho youths ages 8 to 18 showcasing the beauty and skills of their canine counterparts.
The human-canine teams are being judged on showmanship, obedience, rally (the ability to follow instructions) and agility (obstacle course).
“With the dogs, what you see is hours and hours and hours of training, dedication and work that they have to do to do this," said Teresa Balderrama, 4-H program coordinator for the University of Idaho Extension – Kootenai County. "It’s pretty amazing, actually, what some of these dogs can do, especially when they get up to the higher levels of the competition."
Mostly mixed breeds and a few purebreds are among the classy canine competitors, which come in all sizes, colors, fur lengths and temperaments.
Panhandle Pioneers 4-H Club member Gabby Ranney, 16, of Hauser, and her German shorthaired pointer George, 6, keep their posture tall while inside the show ring. This is their fifth year competing.
"He likes it. Sometimes he gets a little bored, but he overall likes it. He likes running around trying to look pretty,” Gabby said during a break Saturday. "There’s one thing we do, it’s agility, so there’s jumping over jumps and things. He loves to do that kind of stuff — throw a ball, fetch, anything that involves running. He likes to point at pigeons and other things."
She and her brothers Hunter, 18, and Dawson, 14, all have dogs they're showing off this weekend. Gabby said the dog show is set apart from other animal programs in 4-H. She also shows pigs.
"It’s totally more about the trivia and the knowledge," she said. "It’s a lot different than showing a pig, so I really wanted to try it out."
Another canine competitor fond of the agility course is Shadow, the 1-year-old Chinese powderpuff crested terrier belonging to Lakeside Leaders 4-H Club member Cheyenne Cameron, 12, of Plummer.
"He’s really fast," she said as she sat at their station and groomed his feet. "He doesn’t really like the showmanship, but we’re working on that."
Edison Abel, 15, of Athol, competed with his 3-year-old Portuguese podengo pequeno Frito. The podengo pequeno is an ancient hound breed known for athleticism, chasing rabbits and being overall charming.
Edison said Frito enjoys participating for the most part.
"Occasionally, he’s kind of like, ‘I don’t really want to do it today,'" Edison said. "It’s hard work for him.”
Edison's mom, Janice, said the show is an awesome thing for the youths.
"They’re often really talented dog trainers when they grow up," she said. "They’re so good with dogs, all these kids. They work so hard."
A fabulous boxer named Ali made friends and chilled under a damp purple cover as her boy, Dillon Ducet, 16, of Post Falls, relaxed between sets.
“She likes to play with the horses,” he said. “She chases me all over the place."
The Whistle Stop 4-H member has competed with Ali for seven years.
“It’s super fun. You go in and you know everyone,” Dillon said, adding that the competition training and performance is definitely a lot of work.
"It’s taught me a lot of patience and to take my time on stuff and not try and rush through it," he said.
Delaena Bundsen, one of the judges, said she has seen a good variety of skill levels in the show this year.
"I think these young adults are well on their way to being very good handlers," she said. "Some more than others, but all of them did remarkably well given the situation. It’s pretty hot in here, it’s hard on the dogs."
Bundsen said the kids and teens who participate in the canine program "learn wonderful things doing this dog show."
"You learn care and compassion for your animals, because you’re in charge of their whole needs. You learn body structure and anatomy, proper feeding and grooming, how to do everything," she said. "That’s actually part of the requirements that we’re testing them on. We want to see how well-rounded their knowledge is."
The 4-H Dog Show continues today with the agility course outside the Jacklin Building at 8 a.m.