BY REON CARTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Several local groups will be putting on the dog this weekend with the Greater Cincinnati Memorial Day Cluster of Dog Shows.
Approximately 1,600 dogs will participate Saturday through Monday in agility, conformation and obedience competition at the Butler County Fairgrounds in Hamilton. There will be 15 rings of competition and other events.
If you go
What: Greater Cincinnati Memorial Day Cluster of Dog Shows
When: 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Monday.
Where: Butler County Fairgrounds, Ohio 4 at Fair Avenue, Hamilton.
Admission: Free. Parking $2. Dogs not participating in competition are not permitted.
Information: 474-3378.
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Sponsors of the events: Hamilton County Dog Training Club, Clermont County Kennel Club, Cincinnati Kennel Club, Queen City Dog Training Club and Buckeye Specialties.
Agility is a new competition. Based on stadium jumping for horses, agility dogs maneuver through an obstacle course that includes jumps, tunnels, an A-frame wall, a board walk and seesaw.
"Agility is the hottest thing now," says Norma Woolf, publisher of Dog Owners Guide and publicity chairman of the event. "It's been around for a while, but the American Kennel Club just recognized it as an individual sport about two years ago.
"It's fun for dogs, dog owners and spectators," she says. "Obedience requires precision and closely choreographed exercises. The difference between the two is like watching children in a classroom as opposed to watching them on a playground. They enjoy themselves so much, sometimes they get caught up in it and start to do silly things." For agility competition, dogs are divided according to size. There also are different skill levels.
For conformation competition, beauty and strict physical guidelines for a specific breed must be met.
Participating breeds will include Afghans, basenjis, borzoi, boxers, bulldogs, cocker spaniels, Dobermans, English setters, Great Danes, schnauzers, poodles, St. Bernards, Yorkshire terriers, vizslas and Welsh corgis.
Families looking for information about favorite breeds can browse the information booth Sunday and Monday. The booth will be staffed by kennel club members who can answer questions about purchasing a puppy to getting a dog involved in competitions. Vendors will sell breed-specific art and jewelry and pet products.
