Dog show more than just looking good
By KARLA POMEROY
After temperatures flirted with triple digits on Thursday, the cool, breezy morning was a welcome change for the 4-H Dog Show competitors Friday as the Big Horn County Fair got under way.
Big Horn County 4-H Dog Superintendent Linda Schwope is in the midst of her 25th years in the 4-H dog show and as superintendent (40 years with the horse show). She said she started out knowing nothing about showing dogs, having shown other animals when she herself was a 4-H youth, but never dogs. Now, she is the “county dog guru.”
Schwope, who works with the kids all year, is teaching right up until the competition, including giving John Bullinger, 15, of Burlington, tips right before graduate novice obedience class.
Bullinger won a blue ribbon in the class with 152 of 200 points with his 4 ½-year-old purebred Australian shepherd dog Gypsy.
He said he’d hoped to do better this year in obedience but Gypsy seemed more easily distracted than previous competitions.
John’s mother, Christine Bullinger, is his 4-H dog leader with the Swinging Cloverleaf Club. She said this is John’s third year competing in the dog show. Due to an injury, Gypsy missed last year. She said they try to meet weekly during the summer, but this summer was a bit more hectic and they ended up meeting just four times. Gypsy and John use that time as refresher on what they have worked on for four years.
John said he worked with Gypsy a lot when he first began working with Gypsy at about 6 months. This summer, he said, with farm chores they haven’t worked together a lot but Gypsy accompanies him on his chores. “She’s a purebred Australian shepherd so she’s smart. She picks up things quickly,” he said.
John’s younger brothers, Ammon and Michael competed in the novice first-year contest at Friday’s competition.
Christine said her sons saw the agility contest and it sparked their interest. She said if it was all about obedience it wouldn’t be as fun.
Last year, the dog show added the rally event as well, which is a sort of command obstacle course, but more informal than the obedience class event.
Judge Carrie Jo Calvert of Lander, who has 30 years experience with dog shows, said in the obedience class she looks for a loose leash when the dogs heel. “I don’t expect them to be as sharp and quick as in other dog shows,” Calvert said.
She said she does look to see the dog has some understanding of the commands and looks to make sure there has been some bonding between the 4-H member and his/her dog.