Table Talk · March 11, 2020

The Kentuckiana Cluster Committee is working very hard to put extra measures in place to help protect the health of exhibitors, judges, vendors, spectators and volunteers during this time of concern regarding the COVID-19 virus. There will be extra hand sanitizing stations set up on the show floor, and extra disinfecting will take place throughout the week. We all need to take responsibility for our own hygiene and wash our hands frequently. While it is difficult, folks may want to reconsider shaking hands and hugging our friends. Personally, this is very difficult for me! I went to the Beverly Hills shows intending to not hug my friends when I saw them and realized shortly after day 1 commenced that I had already hugged 4 people!!!! I am going to try again in Louisville, so if I do not hug you when I see you, please know I am just trying to do my part to help everyone stay healthy!

Entries for this year’s Louisville cluster are once again very impressive with numbers ranging from 3,137 on Thursday to 3,826 on Saturday. Here is hoping that Best In Show judging concludes prior to 9 PM!

Please note that parking passes for the Louisville cluster are available for purchase online this year! Daily parking with no in-and-out privileges will be $10 at the gate and $8 if purchased online. Four-day passes with in-and-out privileges are available online for $48. There will be no multi-day passes available on site! They must be purchased online! The link to purchase parking passes for the Louisville cluster is https://app.parkmobile.io/venue/kentucky-expo-center/events or you can find the link on the cluster’s website at http://www.thekentuckianaclusterofdogshows.org/.

Please note that well over 700 reserved grooming reservations were received for the Louisville cluster this year! That is pretty close to twice the number received last year. Please be kind to your fellow exhibitors and if asked by the club staff to consolidate your set-up, please do so. We want everyone to be comfortable and have a place to set up!

Many fanciers are speculating about if or when dog shows will be canceled as a result of COVID-19 concerns. For the most part, the cancellation of large events lies within the purview of the communities and the venues where they are held. We all need to do our part to stay aware, stay home if ill, leave dogs home that are ill and practice good personal hygiene. Frankly, I am more concerned about catching the flu than coronavirus, but whatever the concern may be, being smart and cautious is the best “medicine”, in my humble opinion. Good hygiene and not coming in contact with people when you are sick is the best way to prevent spreading any kind of illness.

Crufts 2020 is in the books. Over 26,000 dogs were exhibited over the four-day event with Best In Show honors going to ‘Maise’ the Standard Wirehaired Dachshund owned and exhibited by her owner, Kim McCalmont. I truly enjoyed watching the streaming and looking at the photographs of friends posted on social media. Someday I too will be there taking it all in. It’s on my bucket list!

I was pleased to see that a photograph of Johnny Shoemaker working with a pee-wee entrant at the Purina Event Center last weekend went viral on social media with over 2.2 million views! This, my friends, is what our sport needs.

Westminster Kennel Club Chairman Dave Helming has sent out a letter announcing that the format for the 145th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 2021 will mirror the format from this year with breed judging on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at the Pier and group judging at Madison Square Garden on Monday and Tuesday evening. All exhibitors that I spoke with loved the three-day breed judging format, and Westminster is working hard to fine tune any hiccups they identified during the show this year.

I was thrilled to hear that Bobby Paust continues to make great progress after his stroke. He is working very hard to recover so he can get back to business just as soon as possible. Please send Bobby a card at 348 Johnson Street, Modesto, CA 95354 and let him know you are thinking about him! We all look forward to having you back center ring soon, my friend!

Mary Norton’s mother was hospitalized for a short time soon after the Barkaritaville cluster in Talmadge, Ohio. I am pleased to report that she is now home recuperating.

I was saddened to hear of the sudden passing of long-time Shar-Pei fancier Dennis June. I have fond memories of Dennis when I was just starting out in dogs. He was very kind to me and did a lot for the breed. Condolences to Dennis’s friends and family at this most difficult time.

The Shetland Sheepdog community lost an icon in their community with the passing of Brian Cleveland. Brian was the breed historian, and a breeder and judge of shelties. He will be sorely missed by not only the Sheltie community, but the fancy as a whole.

Nestlé Purina is expanding production at their Clinton, Iowa plant. Since the grain-free related Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) concerns began last year, sales of Nestlé Purina dog food have increased significantly, and this expansion was necessary to keep up with the demand.

Celebrating birthdays this week are: Lisa Garrison, Chip Rainwater, Brenda Carlson, Kellie Fitzgerald, Lauren Hay-Lavitt, Diana Wilson, Jean Gauchat-Hargis, Kate Hanlon and Matt Perchick.

Happy Anniversary to Kristyn and David Stout. May you guys have many more happy, healthy years together, and maybe spend some quality time together in the same state!

Please do not forget to reach out to me if you are going to be in Louisville and have a few minutes to do a breed priority segment. We have a conveniently located room and the breed segments are a great way to educate not only the fancy, but the general public about your breed! You can reach me via email at deb.cooper@caninechronicle.com.

Be safe in your travels, my friends and give a kind nod to club volunteers who work so hard to put on the shows we attend week-in and week-out. If you can, take a minute out of your schedule and help the new folks who are trying so hard to do well.

My thought for this week: You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where are and change the ending! Until next time…

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