A fun dress rehearsal

By Sean Barron

Youngstown All Breed Training Club hosts annual Conformation Fun Match dog competition.

NORTH JACKSON — Since becoming part of Amy Dean’s family, her 4-month-old puppy, Conner, has been a winner in her eyes in more ways than one.

The latest example was Connor’s performance during Sunday’s fifth annual Conformation Fun Match dog competition at the Youngstown All Breed Training Club, 11801 Mahoning Ave.

“My dog is awesome,” the Salem woman said of her black and tan coon hound, which won best in show at the four-hour event. “I picked him up and never put him down from the litter.”

The clincher for Conner was that “he represents his breed very well,” and has an easygoing, friendly personality, Dean continued.

Dean, who attends weekly conformation classes at All Breed, said Conner’s next appearance will be at a dog show next month near Buffalo, N.Y. The classes help companions (many pet owners prefer this term to “owner”) teach their pets how to stand and move, for example, in preparation for competitions, she explained.

Seventy dogs of many breeds and ages took part in the competition, which was designed as a fun dress rehearsal to groom the animals for dog shows, noted Diana James, a member of All Breed who organized and ran the event.

Awards were handed out for the best in show in junior puppy, senior puppy and adult categories. Herding, working and sporting groups were among the seven entries to be judged; groups were divided into dogs’ ages.

The animals were judged in part on how closely they fit certain standards for their breed, such as how they look, move and act, explained Tyne Horvath, president of the Mahoning/Shenango Kennel Club and All Breed‘s vice president. Judging also took into account temperament characteristics for specific breeds, she said.

Winning the best senior puppy award for having all the right moves was Piper, a 9-month-old English setter that belongs to John Kolmorgen of Windham.

Setters are nothing new to Kolmorgen, whose father owned and showed such dogs in the 1960s and ’70s. Kolmorgen said he wanted to add a hobby that he could excel in, and more competitions are on his radar screen.

“We want to go far; this is just the beginning,” he added.

Taking home a first-place finish in the adult category was 2-year-old Xavier, a Gordon setter whose front and rear proportions and overall appearance proved to be the winning combination.

“We’re keeping Xavier in practice for real shows, and this is the perfect way to do it,” said Debbie Scardina, Xavier’s breeder and handler.

The dog belongs to Dianne Eddie of Lordstown.

Other winners were Dean’s daughter, Breanna, for best junior handler, and Martini, a 3-month-old Great Dane, in the working group category.

Providing food and concessions for the dog competition was the Mahoning County Goat Herders 4-H Club of North Benton.