February 20, 2002

Dog Expo howlin' good time

Grand Traverse Kennel Club unleashes annual Dog Expo

By Lisa Perkins
Herald staff writer
      Crowds gathered at the Grand Traverse Mall Saturday to see what all the barking was about. The sixth-annual Dog Expo, hosted by the Grand Traverse Kennel Club, featured demonstrations of dog agility, obedience and freestyle dancing as well as 4-H drill teams and flyball.
      "Our main purpose here today is to educate the public and let our dogs be seen," said Dalmatian breeder and kennel club vice-president Cheri Durdel.
      "We want people to know how to buy a puppy from a reputable breeder and that the kennel club is here to help anyone who has a dog, whether they are a purebred or not," she added.
      Durdel, who has been breeding Dalmatians for more than 10 years, enjoys showing and competing with her dogs, as well as informing the public about the breed she loves so much.
      "Once you have a spotted dog, you don't ever want to go to another breed," she noted.
      The owners of the Labradors, goldens, border collies and Irish terriers on hand - just to name a few- would probably beg to differ with that opinion.
      Danielle Ruiz, 17-year-old owner of Jake, a German wire-haired pointer, is the president of the Traverse City 4-H Northwest Classy K-9 dog program.
      "I love working with the younger kids and helping them get ready to show their dogs. I love working with Jake, too. He just takes everything in stride," she said.
      Some dogs take longer strides than others. Brynn, an 11-year-old border collie owned by John and Barbara Peters, doesn't move quite as spryly as he once did. What Brynn lacks in speed however, he makes up for in concentration. Brynn never takes his eye off the ball during flyball demonstrations. He patiently waits for his owner's command and then takes his turn competing.
      "Flyball is very popular downstate," said Barb Peters who, along with her husband, started a local flyball team when they moved to Traverse City five years ago.
      "We just love the sport of it, the dogs have just as much fun as we do," she said.