The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

The dog days of summer came last weekend - not too hot, but with nearly 1,000 dogs representing 124 breeds from across America, coming to Redmond to compete in the 28th Annual Mt. Bachelor Kennel Club Dog Show.

Competing dogs must be registered with the American Kennel Club.

Among the competitors were two of Sisters' own English setters, champion Archer and his nephew Balen, owned by Jeff Spry.

Conformation is a key category of competion. Conformation represents an American Kennel Club standard of how well a dog "conforms" to the standards of the breed. The standards, in minute detail, define the physical attributes, movement and temperament.

As Saturday's sporting judge, Dr. Steve Keating, defined it, a setter should be able to set and the dogs should be able to perform the function of their breed, whether or not that function is carried out in modern times.

In the sporting group, for example, a hunting dog should be able to hunt, whether he hunts or not. He should have the muscles, comportment, and strength of a hunting dog.

Spry hired local handlers for each of his dogs.

Archer, the seasoned champion, was in the ring with two-year-old Balen, who was competing for only the second time in his life. Balen's first show was in Salt Lake City in May, where he won best of breed over two champions.

Balen stood tall in the ring, occasionally glancing at the judge. Holding his head high, moving with grace and speed, body taut in a long stretch, this dog wanted to win.

He was being judged next to five other English setters, one of which was a champion. Archer's experience showed. He calmly completed his paces, wasn't distracted, responded to his handler, and did what he was supposed to do, when he was supposed to do it.

At this show, Balen's dogged determination won out and he won best of breed two days in a row, winning over his uncle.

Hayden Jones of Sisters also put in an excellent showing.

Jones is only 13, yet his goal is to become a professional dog handler. For him, that means showing dogs in his main interests of conformation, obedience, rally and junior showmanship.

His dog of choice is a dog classified by the American Kennel Club as a sporting dog: the American water spaniel. He also shows Jazzy, a rottweiler, classified as a working group dog, owned by Dee Hooey of Sisters.

His mother, Tami Jones, hairdresser and owner of Metamorphosis in Sisters, is already proud.

In this, his fourth all-breed show, he won first place in conformation as a novice intermediate and qualified in rally with Violet, his American water spaniel. Jones also won Reserve (second place) in conformation against all the bitch rottweilers.

As novice intermediates, the handler's capabilities are judged more than the dogs. Jones showed a poise and perfection in the ring unusual for a person his age.

If he was nervous, it didn't show, and he already knows the handler's rules and the AKC rules for his breeds.

Rally competitions put dog and owner through a series of stations where the handler demonstrates the dog's ability to perform certain tasks, such as sitting or pointing. Handlers can speak to the dog or use hand signals.

"You must know your dog and how you are going to prompt it," Jones explained.

He likes the challenge of the rally because he likes working with the dog more.

Grandma Theresa Marley provided the inspiration for his love of the American water spaniel. She took him to Alexandria, Minnesota for his first American Water Spaniel Nationals. Nationals are held for each dog species. The show consisted of one day of obedience and conformation and three days of hunting.

Marley, recognizing Jones' talent, signed them both up for a hunting seminar on Wednesday. By Saturday she entered Jones and herself in the show, where they had to hunt live birds and ducks in the water and in a field.

A first-time competitor would not usually show at a national event, but Grandma trained him daily for two weeks in preparation for the big event.

The handlers lead the dog out where there are two gunners, two judges, the handler and the dog.

The handler guides the dog through the field and the dog is supposed to bring you the bird, undamaged, and bypass the judges and gunners, who might be closer.

Jones and his dog Violet, who is actually owned by Marley, passed the test. He earned Violet her title the first time out.

"He's a natural," said Marley." He picks up very quickly."

Marley also competed in the hunt with her other water spaniel, Dixie, but only won one qualifying leg toward her title. Jones may have won over Grandma, but Grandma, who trained him, is doubly proud.

This weekend, Dixie and Grandma Marley won Best of Breed both days and placed third in Best of Group (sporting) on Saturday.

Jones looks forward to competing in six or seven weekends of shows this year and is already registered for the nationals for American water spaniels in Minnesota in August.