Gone to the dogs

The community loves its golden retrievers, its mixed breeds and its pets, said June Cohron, the superintendent of the annual Augusta County Fair dog show.
The show is modeled after a conventional American Kennel Club show and partly after the dog show held in Highland County, where Cohron grew up. The other part is a teaching vehicle: Cohron, who is a veterinarian at the Animal Hospital of Stuarts Draft, wants to acknowledge the special bond between people – especially children – and their dogs.
“It’s a great way to spend a day at the county fair with your best friend,” Cohron said.
“I just love this show,” Meredith Persinger, of Raphine, said.
Persinger, who is homeschooled and turns 15 Monday, won Best in Show” at the Augusta County Fair dog show last year with “Charlie,” her Italian greyhound.
“Anybody can enter and you see all ages: little kids, grandparents, everybody. There’s even a costume class, which is really fun,” said Persinger.
Persinger only began her dog showing career last year at the Skyline Kennel Club’s show in April 2008. Then her win with Charlie at the fair in August solidified her love of showing. Her sister, Olivia, 8, is also getting in on the action and may show one of Cohron’s dogs.
“I just got a new puppy Monday and I’m going to show her and Charlie this year,” Persinger said. “The puppy’s name is Shannon.”
Shannon is an Italian greyhound like Charlie and Persinger got hooked up with the breed when she was taking training classes.
She now plans to become a dog breeder as she gets older.
Cohron says she really loves the show’s pet category.
“This is a category that’s all about relationships,” she said. “Each judge has their own way of evaluating the relationship between the people and their dogs. They ask questions and observe.”
For the pet events the person who shows the dog must be a member of the family, Cohron said. In other categories, it’s more about the desirable characteristics of the breed.
There are several families who love golden retrievers and there got to be so many that they have a separate class now. Labrador retrievers – also a popular breed locally – also have a class of their own.
Other classes follow the AKC categories: hound (this includes dachshunds), working dogs, herders, and dogs less than 20 pounds. Mixed breeds are welcome; they have their own class, as do sporting dogs, non-sporting dogs (chows, dalmations, standard poodles and bichons) and toys. Details about classes are on the fair’s Web site at http://www.augustacountyfair.com/dog_show.php.
“You don’t have to register, just show up with your dog,” Cohron said. “Do pay attention to the times for each breed.”
The show is Saturday and each breed or class is scheduled for a different time.
Cohron says she tries to find different judges each time.
“Many of the people enter their dogs each year,” she said. “It works best if the judges are new to them.”