Competing for "Best in Show"

MOSES LAKE - As the group of dogs parade around the ring in their final lap, the crowd applauds loudly for their favorites. Many have traveled days to attend, and others took hours to groom.

None of that matters, as owners and breeders bite their nails in anticipation. Who will be selected "Best in Show?"

In a small kennel club room, wagging tails, curious noses and playful barks fill the air as the next group of hopefuls practice for an upcoming show.

Even with bait dangled in front of a Weimaraner puppy named Patrón, the evening's events and surroundings are a tempting distraction.

This is where he and owner Shannon Edinger, come once a week to carry on a tradition passed down for generations in Edinger's family.

"4-H was a family tradition on my mother's side, going back to her grandmother and beyond," Edinger said with a laugh. "We didn't live in an area that allowed livestock, so dogs were our only option."

Starting at the age of 12, Edinger joined several kennel clubs around Oak Harbor in search of the proper education in dog showing.

Edinger started with a very "pet quality" golden retriever.

"She couldn't have been a champion if I'd stood on my head," Edinger recalled fondly.

After an injury sidelined her retriever, Edinger was given a miniature long-haired Dachshund. To this day, the Dachshund is Edinger's favorite show dog.

"She was so easy to handle, and she had a good time regardless of win or lose," Edinger smiled.

Today Edinger shows and breeds Weimaraners in Grant County.

Showing has become an expensive hobby, one she spends considerable amounts of time doing.

For several months of the year Edinger spends her weekends at various locations around Washington, Oregon, Idaho and sometimes Montana.

"It's not really about making money in the dog world. You pretty much spend a lot of it," laughs Edinger.

There are several different types of showing events including agility, rally, obedience and confirmation. Edinger prefers to show in the confirmation rings.

"It's the challenge. I'm never really in control of what happens, but you try to be every time," says Edinger.

Confirmation is where the dog "breeding stock" are judged. To show in confirmation a dog must be purebred, registered and unaltered.

Judges are looking to make sure that the dogs match the American Kennel Club's "standard" for the breed. The standard is a description of what is required of the breed such as height, color, number of teeth, head shape and personality.

Edinger also uses her time in the ring as special companionship time.

"That's your time with them, where they are your best friend,"smiles Edinger.

"We have ones that won't let you stack them until they lick your chin," she says laughing. "They all have their little quirks."

Some of Edinger's accomplishments include placing a family-owned Weimaraner in the top 10 Weimaraners nationwide.

"The number three Weim was from our area, so we competed against him every show," said Edinger. "We fought for the points we got."

Edinger has attended Westminster, and made an appearance on Animal Planet while competing in the sporting group at a Eukanuba show.

"I used to be really shy before I started showing," Edinger smiled. "I've had to work on it."

Edinger's next show will be this weekend in Moses Lake.

The Grant County Fairgrounds will host over 900 dogs and feature 129 different breeds.

Edinger said the show offers an excellent opportunity for people to see all the different breeds in action, and to learn about breeds people never knew existed.

Who will be Moses Lake's "Best in Show?" Maybe a Weimaraner named Patrón.