The Sail into Summer Dog Show begins its second day today, and for a local woman, it’s the latest opportunity to showcase her young dog.
Shannon Juul is from just outside of Manitowoc, and she was showing her one-year-old Labrador, Mia, yesterday morning.
Mia, who was super excited to be getting all this attention, has a silky black coat and is competing in the 12-18-month-old class, where she faced other labs regardless of color.
Shannon says the preparation for a show like this is not easy, but it is also a great way for an owner and their furry friend to bond.
“You have to teach them how to walk on a leash decently,” Shannon chuckled as Mia tried stealing a treat from her hand. “And you have to teach them how to stand. We show just confirmation, and then we will go on to hunting classes with the Manitowoc Kennel Club, and we’ve also taken a couple of obedience classes.”
A conformation dog show is not a comparison of one dog to another but a comparison of each dog to a judge’s mental image of the ideal breed type as outlined in the individual breed’s standard.
Shannon explained that the canines showcase their obedience by walking around the ring, but then they are judged based on size, weight, and other factors.
There were hundreds of dogs and their owners staged up in the Merchants Building, preparing for the showing in the Ice Center area.
For some canines, especially the younger ones, the number of dogs at these shows can be a difficult challenge to overcome.
Mia Juul
“It is a very important training aspect to teach them socialization from a young age,” Shannon explained as a dog a few feet away was struggling with that skill, barking at someone or something nearby.
Clearly, that is a skill that not all of the dogs have mastered just yet.
While Mia has participated in six or seven shows since she was four months old, Shannon says it is great to have such a big show right in her backyard.
“I think it is an amazing opportunity for this community to have this show here, especially all four days,” she said with a smile. “It brings in a lot of revenue, a lot of different people to the area to see our beautiful city.”
Mia’s number was called shortly after the interview, and while she did very well, she did get a little distracted by a treat that had fallen out of the hands of a previous shower.
But it’s ok Mia. You are still a good girl.
The Sail into Summer Dog Show will continue all weekend long, with doors opening at 6:00 a.m. today, tomorrow, and Sunday.
For the full list of details, visit FoyTrentDogShows.com.
