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Hernando Today

Brooksville Attracts The Best In Show

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TONY HOLT

Published: January 12, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - BROOKSVILLE - The kennel club needed all 50 acres Saturday.

Thousands of dog handlers, owners and groomers converged on Florida Classic Park from morning until dark. They were accompanied by more than 2,500 excited dogs.

January is an eventful month at the park. Kennel clubs from Manatee and Pasco counties, Clearwater, Tampa and Inverness were slated to hold dog shows each day from Thursday, Jan 10, through Monday, Jan. 14. More shows are scheduled to run from Wednesday, Jan. 16, through Sunday, Jan. 20.

Saturday's show was organized by the Inverness Florida Kennel Club.

"We'll announce the Best in Show hopefully before dark," said chairwoman Suzanne Madieros, who was seated in a golf cart near the grooming tent. The previous day's winner was announced after the sun went down, a mistake she hoped would not be repeated.

Men and women in suits jogged laps along the ring throughout the day Saturday with their proud furry friends in tow. Hundreds of other canines stood on tables to be washed, blow-dried, brushed and preened.

None growled, whined or put up a fight. That is what weekly obedience school can do.

Lindsey Grinels gently placed her hand on the lower back of her 1-year-old poodle, Thomas. She appeared to whisper something into the dog's ear to cue him to lie down on the table. That made it easier for the trainer from South Florida, who was dressed in a sky blue suit, to brush his bushy white fur.

"I'm just brushing him out, getting him to look clean," Grinels said. She was hoping he could more points and inch closer toward champion status by the end of the day.

"We hope this one becomes a champion," she continued. "We have halfway to go before he's there."

Beth Johnson, a dog handler from Wisconsin, was on the opposite end of the tent caring for the 11 golden retrievers she was prepping for the upcoming competition. At least one was a champion.

The other dogs happily allowed Johnson and her workers to clip their nails, brush their paws and wash away the shampoo suds.

"We've been preparing them all day," the handler said as she took a quick breather. "They've been biked. We've exercised them. We've trimmed their nails …"

Aside from the small selection of hotels and the lack of electrical outlets, Johnson said she was impressed by the size and layout of the park.

"I really like all the room we have here," she said. "It's set up very well."

There was little room left to park by early Saturday afternoon. Volunteers in red vests were leading cars along the edges of the property toward the far west corner of the property. People had to trudge across 20 acres before they could see the rings and tents.

"This is the biggest event of the year for our kennel club," Madieros said. "We started getting ready the weekend before Christmas. We worked last weekend to put the finishing touches on everything."

There were 153 different breeds or varieties Saturday. The best dog from each breed competed against other victors to earn the right to compete in one of the final seven groups (sporting, hound, etc.). The winner of each group went on to compete for Best in Show.

Many of the local champions register to compete in the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, the Super Bowl of dog shows.

"I go to class every Wednesday night of my life," said Gail Garrison, of Saint Pete Beach, who was asked to describe the work that goes into raising a show dog. "It's fun and very mind-clearing. We get to work on them one-on-one.

Charo, her shar pei, placed well in her category a few minutes earlier. The dog's father, Sonny, won Best of Breed. Sonny was being handled by a different owner.

"It's like we're on this pyramid working our way to the top," Garrison said of her dog, which was only 9 months old. Many dogs reach champion status before they reach age 2.

A Sealyham terrier who recently won Best in Show at the famous AKC/Eukanuba National Championships in Long Beach, Calif., competed earlier in the week at Florida Classic Park. It won best group, but did not take top prize. It was a surefire sign of the level of competition, Madieros said.

Anytime a show is over, the chairwoman is both proud and relieved. She relishes the moments when she can walk to the center of the ring and give away the Best in Show trophy as thousands watch.

"That's when you know you've done your job," Madieros said.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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