TUNBRIDGE — RVs nestled close to one another on the fairgrounds for the Woodstock and Green Mountain dog clubs hosted their annual dog show this week.
Attendees pitched small tents to protect against the rain, and preening pups stood on folding tables as their owners blew out their coats. A long white tent extended across the lawn and overflowed with dogs, from abundantly fluffy St. Bernards to prancing, freshly groomed Shih Tzus.
All were there for a long-awaited chance to strut their stuff in competition after a long pandemic, which weighed not only on humans but on their canine companions.
The clubs had to cancel their show last year because of COVID-19, and hosts and guests alike were glad to be back.
“This has been the most well-attended of the shows I’ve ever seen,” said Dana Dean, secretary of the Woodstock Dog Club. “I can thank COVID-19 for that. People are looking for shows. They have pent-up energy and pent-up dogs.”
In 2019, about 700 dogs attended each of the four days of the show before it was canceled last summer during the pandemic. This year, the number skyrocketed, with an average of over 1,000 dogs competing daily since Thursday.
Normally, Susan and Peter Colcord, of Manchester, bring their Pomeranians to a dog show every weekend. During the pandemic, they had to drive down to Texas and Florida for dog shows so that their “special champion,” Bad Boy, could protect his place — the American Kennel Club ranks him third among Pomeranians nationally for how well he conforms to breed standards. Most weekends, though, they could not compete.
“It was horrible, nerve-wracking,” said Susan Colcord when asked about the COVID-19 hiatus. This week, they drove their RV up from Manchester so that he could vie with other Pomeranians for “Best of Breed” and possibly go on to win the No. 1 spot in his group, toy dogs, and have a chance at “Best in Show.” Four of these all-breed conformation dog shows were slated to run between Thursday and Sunday, as well as a range of other contests including obedience trials and scent work.
On Saturday, Bad Boy was not a champion in the judges’ eyes.
“We’re not sure what happened,” Susan Colcord said.
Still, the Colcords were content to be back on a regular rhythm of regional dog shows. On Saturday morning, they sat next to their RV and watched the prize dog’s 4-month-old puppies dash around a pen they had set up on the grass while Bad Boy himself rested in Peter Colcord’s arms. They brought the young ones along so that they could get used to the people and noise of the show.
“(The pandemic) affected the puppies,” Susan Colcord said. “COVID dogs take longer to get used to things, some don’t.”
Although competitors came from across the United States and Canada to attend the show, Sara Eastman brought her Dalmatian with soft brown spots, Thriller, from their home in White River Junction. Eastman said Thriller was “rusty” after the pandemic, so she had string cheese on hand to keep him motivated.
He’s 9, so he competed in the veterans’ competition this Saturday. He was also getting ready to enter the obedience trials held in one of the fairground’s barns so that he could show off his tricks, including a willing handshake and high-five. Unlike the breed conformation competitions, the obedience trials focus on the relationship between a dog and its owner.
But Thriller’s congeniality isn’t just a show for the judges; it’s for Eastman, too.
“Camaraderie,” said Eastman when asked about what she likes about dog shows. “It’s fun getting close to your dogs, out traveling with them and getting them to perform for you.”
Susan Fraser, a Massachusetts resident, observed the breed competitions from the sidelines with her pint-sized puppy, a Brussels Griffon named Fallon. Fraser has been competing in dog shows since 1979. Asked how many dogs she has, she simply said “more than I should.” Her 2-year-old Brussels, Rio, had already had a successful run, winning fourth in toy dogs and second in owner handling.
“You want a dog that has some attitude, some good show attitude, and that moves well,” she said. “Attitude” was a popular word among dog owners describing what makes for a winner.
But winning wasn’t necessarily on Fraser’s mind, or that of many owners who were happy to be out again, sharing their passion with other dog lovers and connecting with their canines.
“They’re little spiritual beings that show you unconditional love,” Fraser said. “People need to learn from them.”
Claire Potter is a Report for America corps member. She can be reached at cpotter@vnews.com or 603-727-3242.