By Emma Bouthillette 

Staff Writer

Labrador retrievers, smooth haired collies, German shepherds, Yorkshire terriers, Australian cattle dogs and many other purebred dogs gathered at the Mousam Saddle and Harness Club in Kennebunk to strut their stuff, and while it was not the Westminster Dog Show, they lined up with their owners to win a possible ribbon or two in the York County Kennel Club Dog Match Saturday, Oct. 25.

Many of the human participants were breeders and said this competition was practice for their purebred puppies. Holly Gilbert Cleary of Arundel had her grooming table set up with Meadow, a Yorkshire terrier puppy, waiting to be groomed. Cleary said she has owned “yorkies” for 11 years, started breeding the dogs five years ago and has been showing her dogs for less than two years. 

“These matches give dogs the experience they need in the show ring and prepares them for the real shows,” Cleary said. 

The York County Kennel Club, established more than 20 years ago, is an American Kennel Club affiliate with the goal to promote the showing and training of purebred dogs, provide educational programs and host a series of dog matches and shows, said recording secretary Tracey Levasseur of Shapleigh. Registration for the match was $8 per dog for the first event and $4 for each event there after. Proceeds from registration benefits the annual point show at the Acton Fairgrounds in May. Saturday’s dog match judged 56 participating dogs in three different areas including breed conformation, obedience and rally. 

Levasseur said breed conformation is the “beauty contest” and dogs are judged based on the breed standard as defined by the American Kennel Club.  Sporting dog division judge Jinny Nealon of Nottingham, N.H. said in order to judge accurately, judges needs to be familiar with at least 20 different breeds in their division.

Eileen and John Kelly of Lyman were at Saturday’s match to enter Cali, a yellow Labrador retriever, and Bentley, a black Labrador retriever, in breed conformation in the sporting dog division. While Eileen Kelly said this match was for fun and practice, her 24 years of raising Labrador retrievers has given her a lot of experience. The Kellys said they have nine more Labrador retrievers at home, two of which have already been named Canadian and American champions in shows, and they hoped to add more championship titles to their brood.

The obedience events judge how well dogs behave performing basic obedience tasks such as sit, stay and come, and bases scores on how quickly and accurately dogs respond to their owners instruction, Levasseur said. 

Along with the obedience event, Canine Good Citizen tests were being offered for a $15 fee. Karen Norteman of Alfred is a Canine Good Citizen certified tester, and said dogs must complete all 10 tasks with a perfect score to earn their certificate.

“Canine Good Citizen is a good step in proving formal obedience and for therapy dogs,” Noretman said. “Since the American Kennel Club has certified the obedience test, it is also enough to qualify for insurance exceptions with ‘dangerous’ dog breeds, showing the dogs are really well behaved.” 

In the rally ring where the action took place, Mari Jane Craig of Wells directed her border collie Cushee with a series of commands including heel, sit, stay, come and jump. Another trick Cushee performed was identifying an object with her owners sent. After Craig rubbed a metal bar between her hands, the judged placed the bar among eight other identical bars about 20 feet away. The Border collie picked up the correct bar and returned it to her owner at the other end of the ring three times. 

Nealon said judging matches are a way for handlers and dogs to gain experience in showmanship and in making decisions as to which dogs to breed together.

“I hope to help people with their breeding program,” Nealon said. “I hope they breed the best puppies because those are most likely to produce the better dogs so the pedigree is sustained.”