It's show day in 'German Shepherd world'

Donna Calabrese paced the exterior of the ring clapping a plastic noisemaker against her thigh and shouting out, "Come on Bunker!" as the German Shepherd ran toward her section of the crowd.

"German Shepherds are too smart to run around in a circle all day long for no motivation," Calabrese said, nervously wringing her hands as she watched the dog continue on his path, "I'm the motivation. I bring the love and the cookies."

Calabrese, from Edinburgh, Va., was one of hundreds of breeders and trainers with dogs competing at the National German Shepherd Specialty Dog Show at Dream Park in Logan Township, N.J. this weekend.

She contributed to a cacophony of whistles, bells, clappers and calls keeping dogs interested and owners' nerves at bay.

The show is put on by the German Shepherd Dog Club of America which celebrates its centennial this year.

"This is the top show of the year if you're in the German Shepherd world," said Allen Schaeffer, spokesman for the club. "This year's particularly special with the 100th anniversary. We're trying to acknowledge and showcase all of the breed's accomplishments."

Dogs compete in the areas of confirmation -- or how closely they match their breed - obedience, agility, tracking and herding. The competitions are divided into groups based on the age and sex of the dogs. Saturday a judge determined "best of breed," the top prize of the three-day event.

A ceremony on Friday night honored the work of police dogs, search and rescue dogs, therapy dogs, and some military invitees, though the majority of the military dogs couldn't make the trip because the government shutdown blocked funding for their travel.

Local dogs who have worked with the Philadelphia Police Department were honored including K-9 Kirby who spent seven years with the U.S, Drug Enforcement Administration's Task Force in Philadelphia. Kirby and Detective Christine Kelliher uncovered more than $95 million in drugs resulting in 700 state and federal search warrants and more than 250 felony arrests.

"Some drug dealers will actually put a hit out on German Shepherds, that's how good they are," said David Frei, Director of the Westminster Kennel Club, and the voice of the upcoming Kennel Club of Philadelphia National Dog Show, Nov. 16 and 17 at the Expo Center in Oaks.

Frei, a celebrity in the dog show world, came out to watch the competition Saturday.

"A lot of people look at dog shows and think the dogs sit on cushions and eat bonbons all day, but they're real dogs, they steal our food and yes, sometimes they do drink out of the toilet," he said.

Participation in dog competitions has grown over the years, said Alan Kalter President of the American Kennel Club. It's due in part to the growing list of events which give owners more options for what best suits their dog. There's also a growing group of junior handlers.

Trevor Golden, 18, of Austin has won the best junior handler award two times. This year he was one of the youngest competitors in the main competition with his 3 1/2 year-old-dog "Tripp Hills Goin Strait Again." Tripp's is the dog's 'paper' name. His call name, or what Golden calls him by in the ring, is "Twang."

"I've been doing this since I was eight," Golden said waiting in line to show Twang. "It just clicked with me. "

Philadelphia's event brought in big names in the dog handling world including Westminster Best in Show champion 1987, Jim Moses.

Outside in the grooming stables, a team from PennVet collected blood samples from dogs to send away for DNA testing. Carolyn Gerganoff is Health and Genetics Chairperson of the GSDCA and got involved in the work after her German Shepherd, Worf, died of Hemangiosarcoma, a cancer occurring mostly in dogs, in 2007.

As the competition got underway Saturday morning, handlers dressed in professional suits and sneakers, made last minute grooming adjustments to their dogs.

Judge David Rinke, 72, of Hartford Conn., took a moment to himself in a backstage area. Rinke has judged six shows and been in the business for almost 50 years but he still gets a rush pointing to the champions and calling out their rank.

"It never ceases to thrill me. Getting to pick the best male and female, in my opinion, and seeing the look on the handlers faces."

jterruso@phillynews.com

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