Debra Smith of Augusta, Georgia combs out Lily the miniature poodle’s fur during the Huntington Kennel Club’s 96th American Kennel Club dog show Sunday, July 6, 2014, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Jean Cline of Huntington took up dog showing about four years ago with her husband, Bob. And she’s learned something surprising — something beyond the secrets of raising a healthy, well-trained show dog.
“Dogs are just amazing creatures,” she said as she groomed and loved on one of her two grand champion Standard Schnauzers, Ellie and Hogan. “There’s really something quite special about them, and I’ve learned a lot about me through them.”
Showing dogs wasn’t something she saw in her future several years ago. Then she went to her first national dog show and heard a judge say how much potential Ellie had. It pretty much sealed the deal.
The Clines are now among the throngs of animal-lovers who do the dog show circuit, pursuing points and higher rankings for their pooches, and simply enjoying the companionship of others with a similar passion.
About 500 such folks gathered in Huntington this weekend for the 96th All Breed Dog Show, Obedience Trial & Rally Trial, which went on Saturday and Sunday at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.
People came from all over the Eastern United States and beyond to show their dogs at the event, an American Kennel Club sponsored show put on locally by the Huntington Kennel Club…
