The Alternative Dog Show: In County Tipperary!

by Janet Joers
Copyright © 2003 Kerry Blue Terrier Foundation
This story first appeared in the November 1994 issue of Kerry Klips.

It's a long way to Tipperary (especially on a dark and rainy day), but the drive through the Irish countryside was worth it. There, I was lucky enough to attend a dog show of another stripe. Imagine a show that dispenses with all the hoopla, paraphenalia, back strain, and short tempers. Where the dogs arrive relaxed and happy and eager to show their best. Where malicious gossip, harsh criticism, backbiting, and sore losers are unknown. And where showing a dog is actually a sport in which often the whole family participates and has fun! Here are my impressions of one Irish dog show.

The Show Grounds

This "all breed open show" was sponsored by the South Tipperary Canine Club under IKC (Irish Kennel Club) rules in Thurles, a small town in County Tipperary. The show was held at the local racecourse--the horse race track, as opposed to the dog race track on the other side of town (an important distinction in Ireland!). Luckily, the club had posted signs along the road, and we arrived early--meaning before noon (a very civilized hour!)--in a light rainfall. We parked and took a look around.

I had been told that this would be a small show even by Irish standards, and it was--with about 225 entries. But it's size gave me an opportunity to take in the whole scene, not just the Kerry judging. For example, I noticed right away that the dogs, regardless of breed, arrived at the show in the family car, sometimes in a crate and sometimes not. A few of the larger breeds arrived in custom-made, two-wheel dog trailers, hitched behind the car. There were no RVs, handler's trucks, or even vans. Dogs came bounding out of the cars to size up their surroundings and take that necessary walk around the grass. (Somehow this looked too easy!)

There were no tents, either, as there was plenty of room for setups (and shelter from the rain) in little rooms around the grandstand. Those with Toy breeds headed indoors where their judging would take place. If the dogs got wet coming or going, no one seemed to mind. In Ireland, they don't fight the elements, they live with them!

The Kerry Setup

Forget the generators, exercise pens, blow dryers, spray bottles, hair preparations, and the grooming tables, too. Those exhibitors who did bring crates--which were mostly of the wooden variety--simply stood their dogs on top of them for a final brushout. And instead of using grooming arms, family members or willing bystanders (like me) were recruited to hold the dogs while the owners put the finishing touches on the coats. Those without crates just brushed their Kerries from the ground up! (I was beginning to like this!)

All the Kerry people congregated together to chat, groom, and drink coffee before judging. Everyone was cheerful and friendly to each other and to me (a total stranger with a funny accent). The camaraderie even extended to allowing a competitor to trim on their dogs! The competitor was none other than Patrick O'Regan, the Kerry breeder/exhibitor/judge I had met a few days earlier, who not only knew everyone, but seemed to be the acknowledged "master of ceremonies" and expert at everything at the Kerry setup. Impeccably dressed under a billowing mackintosh in muddy boots, Mr. O'Regan made a commanding figure, greeting everyone with a clap on the back and punctuating his sentences with a puff on his fragrant cigar. Flourishing a pair of scissors, he moved from one Kerry to the next offering advice, and actually snipping whole shanks of hair off Kerries whose owners thought were show-ready! While I don't know if all this help was welcome, no one complained, and there was no question that owner-groomed Kerries improved dramatically under his experienced hand.

The Irish Show Kerry

If I expected the Irish show Kerry to look like Ch. Sheepshead Lad, I was fortunately way off the mark. Unlike the Soft-Coated Wheaten (which I was hardpressed to identify, given the short and shaggy trim), the Kerry is easily recognized. Although the trim would probably not qualify for the title "Most Tailored of Terriers," it is nontheless quite similar to our own. Some might call it a "rough cut," but I prefer to call it a "natural cut"--one which is not beyond the capabilities of most owners, and one that suits the proud bearing of a Kerry just fine.

Of the four Kerries entered, all seemed slightly smaller than their American cousins, and all showed nice color (two were silver/blue) and good coats with less variation in texture than the average group of four you might see here. None sported the high, close-set ears so often seen in our Kerries. Most carried the ears close to the sides of the head (proper, according to the Irish standard), bringing them forward only when most animated. I thought the quality of the group to be very good.

None of the entrants could be considered a kennel dog. These were show quality family dogs, and at least one had spent the night on the owner's bed ("Shameful!" said the owner with a grin). It was obvious that the owners were proud of their dogs, and loved them, too. I liked their honesty, and regretted how little of this we see at our own dog shows (which too often are stage productions for people in the dog show business).

The Kerry Judging

Since the rain had stopped, the Terrier ring--which seemed quite small--was set up outside on the asphalt drive. The PA system was a man with a bull horn, which worked as well (or better) than some of our electronic systems. The dogs were shown by breed, with the addition of several unfamiliar classes, one of which was the Any Variety Puppy Terrier class in which an Airedale puppy competed with a Soft-Coated Wheaten puppy in the same ring.

Of the four Kerries who entered the ring, all were owner-handled. In fact, there wasn't a professional handler in sight in any ring! (Apparently in Ireland, dog showing isn't a spectator sport for dog owners!) To our eye, the handling may have seemed amateur (the dog's head would frequently drop to the ground, for example), but the dogs moved confidently beside their owners, and the males especially, were more than willing to take on another dog to defend their masters!

Which brings me to the show lead. Black like ours, made of heavy corded cotton/nylon, these leads are equipped with a swivel approximately six inches above the adjustable slip collar. Designed specifically to allow a dog to spin around (read: go crazy) while allowing the owner to stand nonchalantly in complete control, such a lead can show off the feistiness . . . er, "spirit" of our wonderful breed.

Like here, the dogs are stacked, but free stacking is the norm, not the exception. The most striking difference in the ring is the movement of the dogs. While the pattern is the same, the gait is slow--very slow. When I asked about this, I was told that it is much easier for a judge to see correct movement (and flaws) in a slow-moving dog than a quickly moving one. Still, I missed the fluid stride that is so striking in our Kerries.

The judge, Mr. Alan Neill, who seemed awfully friendly for a Terrier judge, chose the Kerry he liked the best, and everyone left the ring smiling to a round of applause. It was then that I realized there was a crush of people around the ring. These were not just Kerry fans, either, but a whole crowd of people holding dogs of different breeds--a Golden Retreiver, a Boxer, a Pekingese, a Yorkie, and I could go on. They were supporting the Kerries, just as the Kerry people then stood by to watch the Gundog group, and the Gundog group stood by to support the Pastoral group, and the . . . but wait. Suddenly, I got the picture of what an Irish dog show is really all about. It's about people having fun. And about people loving their dogs and being proud of it. Somehow, I envisioned the crowd moving to the local pub after the show, having a pint of Guinness, and swapping dog stories until the street lights came on. It would not have been out of character. But one thing is for sure. As soon as an Irish dog show comes to America, I'll be there.

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