By Morgan Cardenas
editor@wayneherald.com
Dawn Jacobson has been a dog groomer for 35 years and owns Canine Design. Her business has been open for almost 11 years now but she also enjoys competing with her dogs in shows.
Recently, Jacobson competed in a five day conformation show with her Glen of Imaal Terrier, Guerin, in Kansas City, Missouri. A conformation show is where dogs are measured by how closely they conform to the standard of their particular breed. The dogs are meant to know how to stack, which means to stand correctly, and must be breed standard in proportion so they move correctly, showing they are a good specimen of what the breed is supposed to be.
"There's a lot of waiting because you're only in the show ring for two minutes," Jacobson said. "Depending on how many dogs are in the showing of your breed, it could be just six minutes that you're showing that day or it could be longer depending on if the breed is bigger that is showing."
Jacobson explained that at shows, you rent a spot at the show to set up your table with a chair and the dogs stay in their crates until it's their turn. She normally arrives for shows at 8 a.m. or earlier. She said that sometimes, depending on what you are competing in, you could be there until around 7 p.m. Groups are the last ones to show in the competition.
"You go in for breed and then depending on if there's more dogs there of your breed that you're showing, you'll go back in to see who is best of breed," Jacobson said. "If you win best of breed, then you go into groups."
Guerin won best in show at the competition which includes a large ribbon and money for Jacobson. The mother of Guerin is a platinum champion, which is the highest that a dog can go. Guerin has been showing since he was five months old in the puppy match. He is also the number one Glen in the country in owner/handler and in all breeds. They are currently working on getting enough points to be invited to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show next year.
"He doesn't have his grand champion yet, we're just working on points," Jacobson said. "He's been invited to the UKC (United Kennel Club) National Championship in June in Kalamazoo and we're working on the National AKC (American Kennel Club) Championship in Orlando in December to get invited to."
Before Guerin, Jacobson was showing a different Glen named Marissa. Marissa had an accident where she lost an eye but was still able to compete. She retired after winning her championship. Jacobson is also starting to show a couple of puppies, one is another Glen and the other is an Irish Red and White Setter. Jacobson has competed in shows off and on for around 25 years now.
"I do it for fun," Jacobson said. "It's a hobby - a very expensive hobby. It's just me and my dog but it's all just for fun."
Jacobson and Guerin will be competing in a show in Wisconsin this week and have many more planned for the rest of this year.
