More than 1,300 dogs compete in dog show

By: TERI FIGUEROA - Staff Writer | Saturday, August 6, 2005 11:55 PM PDT ∞

VISTA ---- It's an expensive hobby. On the low end, some figure they lay out an average of about $500 a month. Others say they spend as much as $3,000 a month just to pay for professional handlers to show their dogs.

But these folks say they are doggone crazy for their purebred canines, and it showed Saturday, as more than 1,300 dogs of different breeds competed in the annual All Breed Dog Show hosted by the Mt. Palomar Kennel Club.

Most of them drive big vehicles ---- think vans or trucks or sport utility vehicles ---- to haul their canines, carriers and gear. A bunch have license plates like DOXY(heart)ER and T POODLE.

Mt. Palomar Kennel Club officials said, counting hotel rooms and restaurant fare, the weekend event will bring in about $250,000 to the local economy.

"It's a prestige hobby," said 68-year-old San Clemente resident Ruth Strople, on hand to show her poodle. "It can be rewarding and heartbreaking."

The "ruff" competition continues today from 8 a.m. to about 4 p.m. at Rancho Buena Vista High School, 1601 Longhorn Drive, at the intersection of Longhorn and Melrose drives in Vista.

Admission to the event as a spectator is free.

The dog show is just like those on television, with dog handlers guiding the competing canines in a circle around the judges.

The dogs are judged against a written standard for each breed, and judges look for the dog that most closely matches that official description, which includes the animal's structure, temperament and movement.

Dog show judges essentially evaluate a dog's breeding stock. And breeding is a big part of the goal, the dog owners say. Dogs who rack up enough points to qualify as champions will fetch more money when they are bred.

The purebred dogs on hand for the competition Saturday are gorgeous, with shiny coats and perfect posture.

The grooming means a lot of work, especially for the prancing poodles who sport pompom tails, and cotton-ball puffs of fur on their legs and backsides.

"It's an artistic sport; presenting a poodle is definitely a production," said Sharon Stevens of Vista as she snipped errant fur off one of her poodles.

Her husband, Ray Stevens, said it can take between eight to 10 hours to groom a poodle to get a "really good show coat."

He and his wife travel the globe to show their dogs, and have competed at the world's most tony dog shows, including Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York and Crufts Dog Show in the United Kingdom.

Right now, the couple, who have owned Ce Ce Belle Pet Hotel in Vista since 1968, say they own the No. 2 ranked toy poodle in the United States.

"It's our passion, our sport, our obsession," Sharon Stevens said.

Contact staff writer Teri Figueroa at (760) 740-3517 or tfigueroa@nctimes.com.