Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club members hosted the group’s annual All Breeds Dog Show at Carrie Blake Community Park in Sequim July 29-Aug 1.
After having to cancel the 2020 event because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the club saw a 26-percent increase in entries from 2019, club president Lorraine Shore said.
“(I’m) so happy it’s gone really well all three days,” Shore said.
She said that there were 700 exhibitors, and the show brought a lot of money into the town, with all the hotel, motel and vacation home stays, the shopping, along with food purchased from restaurants and stores.
A number of people stayed at the park in travel vehicles, contributing to a strong sense of friendly community at the event, Shore said.
She said about 10 to 20 percent of participants are local.
The show’s activities were divided into different areas, with a small corridor of vendors running between the skills trial area and the competitions for best of breed, group and show. Across the parking lot from that area, close to Sequim United Methodist Church, was an area set aside for a speed test called Fast CAT 2 runs, where a dog chases a plastic bag on a low runner string down a long section of grass bounded by fences. The owner or trainer or catcher stands at the end encouraging the dog as it chases the white plastic, and the speed with which they reach the end is recorded.
Potential therapy dogs also attended the show to be tested for certification.
Shore and others said that they were grateful to the city for letting them use the park, as the club’s previous venue at Sequim High School, couldn’t permit the show to be housed on its grounds during COVID-19.
“People love dogs and this is bringing in more money for the city,” Shore said.
The show hosted a large and successful raffle, with baskets and gift certificates donated by local businesses. Proceeds from the raffle were divided between the Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club, Emerald City K-9 Freestyle Dancers and the Old Dog Haven, an HRKC member noted.
Puddles the Russell terrier greets judge Vandra Huber as Ross Nesberg observes at the Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club Dog show in Carrie Blake Community Park on July 31. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Russell terrier Zipper and Eileen Nesberg prepare to be judged at the best of breed competition at Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club dog show at Carrie Blake Community Park on July 31. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Ross Nesberg helps Russell terrier Puddles assume a good posture for being judged by Vandra Huber at the Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club dog show at Carrie Blake Community Park on July 31. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Dogs line up in the best puppy division on Saturday, July 31, at the Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club Dog Show at Carrie Blake Community Park in Sequim. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
This dog was so eager to race at the Fast CAT in the Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club Dog Show on Aug. 1 that he broke through the barrier, knocked a woman down and ran with his leash. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Ryker, a standard Schnauzer belonging to Jane Walker of Bothell chases the white plastic in the Fast CAT speed test during Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club’s Dog Show at Carrie Blake Community Park in Sequim on Aug 1. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Five-and-a-half-month-old old Presto, a Cardigan Welsh Corgi “with a tail” attended Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club with Ann Ruggles as a practice in socialization rather than competing on Aug. 1 at Carrie Blake Community Park in Sequim. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Katie Knudtson of Roy washes Zin who won best of breed for Australian Shepherds in preparation for the herding group and owner handler competition, in the Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club Dog Show at Carrie Blake Community Park on Aug. 1. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Zin the Australian Shepard tolerates a bath between winning best of breed and going on to the herding group and owner handler competition at the Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club Dog Show in Sequim on Aug 1. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Lanelle and her Newfoundlands Ivy and Brix traveled from near Puyallup to attend the Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club Dog Show in Sequim on July 31. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Two- and four-legged creatures observe the rat terrier competition at the Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club Dog Show at Carrie Blake Community Park on July 31. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Natalia Piper grooms her Afghan hound Chigan with junior handler Vienna Harris of Enumclaw in the day grooming area of the Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club Dog Show on Aug. 1 at Carrie Blake Community Park in Sequim. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Therapy dog Riot, a German pinscher, attends the therapy certification trials with Lorraine Shore during Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club’s Dog Show in Carrie Blake Community Park in Sequim on Aug 1. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
All of these cellophane wrapped baskets, crates, gift certificates and more were raffled off at the Dog Show, each with their own can for tickets that were inexpensive enough children could afford them. There were more than 100 donations, primarily from local businesses. The first year the raffle had three prizes: a big dog basket, a little dog basket, and a television. The raffle has been an alliance between Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club the Emerald City-9 Freestyle Dancers but next year will be operated solely by HRKC. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Andy Hilzer of Ellensburg sits atop a yellow ladder as he controls the speed and timing of the white plastic which zips along a line to encourage dogs to run at their fastest speed. He says that he gauges the distance between the plastic and the dog to keep it close enough that they don’t loose interest but far enough that they can’t catch it during the fast CAT speed challenge. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Ryker, a standard Schnauzer belonging to Jane Walker of Bothell chases the white plastic in the Fast CAT speed test during Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club’s Dog Show at Carrie Blake Community Park in Sequim on Aug 1. Walker said, “Ryker is only 13 months old but has a high prey drive. A ‘good chase’ is just one of the things Standard Schnauzers love. As an all purpose farm dog, they are good at many things but ridding the farms of vermin was one of their jobs. This sport is high energy; tapping into a dog’s natural prey drive and their love for a good, fast run! The smiles on their faces as they run tell it all.” Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
