A BREED APART Couple is in the doghouse and loving it

The couple has five large dog cages where their dining room table should be.
By VANESSA SCHUTZ
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- When you call Jim and Debbie Scardina of Austintown and get their answering machine, the message would say the following:
"Hi, you've reached the Scardinas, home of Baker Street Gordon Setters. We're probably doing something with the dogs right now, so you can leave your name, number and we'll get back to you as soon as we can."
"We really probably are doing something with the dogs-- that's all we do," Debbie said.
Owners of five black and tan Gordon Setters, the Scardinas find little time to do much else beside train and care for their beloved show dogs.
"At least we get to do it together," Debbie said. "A lot of couples don't have hobbies they do together."
This couple has not only sacrificed their time and money to raise show dogs, but they have also forfeited a good chunk of their living space in their Hemlock Court residence.
Five large dog cages stand in the kitchen where a dining table should be, and the family room has become more like a trophy case with the dogs' awards and ribbons occupying all of the wall space.
But the couple doesn't mind one bit.
"I never thought I'd have quite this many dogs, but when we got on the roll when everybody was doing so well, how could you not take one from the litter?" Debbie said.
How they started
The Scardinas began showing dogs in 1989, which was not a planned event for the couple. They had placed their pet golden retriever in the Youngstown All-Breed Training Club in North Jackson. While accompanying their dog to obedience training, they couldn't help but notice the other breeds they were introduced to at the club.
"My husband, when he would come up there would say, 'I really like those black and tan dogs. I think we should get one,'" Debbie remembered.
Gordon Setters are classified under the sporting group by the American Kennel Club. They are protective of their family and children but are not aggressive unless they, or someone they love, is being threatened, according to AKC.
Their first dog of this breed, Stonehaven Sherlock Holmes, became very successful in the competitive dog shows, even winning the Beauty, Brains and Birdsense Award through the Gordon Setter Club of America Inc.
The couple saw this as fate and continued to purchase more dogs to show, now traveling at least two to three weekends a month to compete.
What's next
The Scardinas are fitting the Steel Valley Cluster Dog Show, to be held July 29-Aug. 1 at the Canfield Fairgrounds, into their schedule.
Debbie will be showing one of her Gordon Setters, Holmes, in the Best of Breed category.
The couple has one Best of Show under their belt won by their dog Simon.
Showing dogs takes practice and grooming, not only for the dogs but for the owners themselves.
Debbie said she has improved her showing abilities and is now confident walking her dogs around the ring.
"Look at the stupid look on my face," she said referring to a picture of her first dog show as she presented Stonehaven Sherlock Holmes. "Neither of us knew what we were doing there, though we won because he was a nice dog. It's funny how time progressed us."
Judges evaluate the show dogs on a variety of factors, including movement, top length, front and rear angles and even color tone.
The routine
The Scardinas groom their dogs all the time, which involves a bath every week and brushing twice a day.
They also make sure the dogs eat right and stay in shape, sometimes using the dog treadmill, Jog a Dog, in their basement.
By caring for the dogs themselves, the couple avoid having to pay a dog handler to do the job, which Debbie estimated saves them about $30,000 per year.
Outside of nurture and grooming, the pair's expenses include hotel fares, gas money and the entry fee when they travel to the dog shows.
With no children to care for, the couple doesn't mind the costs.
"They are our kids," Debbie said. "But some days, we do get burned out."
For more information on the dog show in Canfield, contact Gordon Chambers at (330) 652-9622.
vschutz@vindy.com