2013 Boca Grande Dog Show: Get there early to grab your seats

BY MARCY SHORTUSE - Mixed breeds and purebreds will mingle, puppies and “Boca Geezers” will amalgamate and canines of all kinds will compete in contests this Saturday, March 23, 10 a.m. for the 8th annual Boca Grande Dog Show.

The entries are already in, but within the viewing tent, seats will be available. The cost for adults to get in is $10, children 16 and under can attend for free.

This is one of the most prestigious events to ever grace Boca Grande soil. It seems as though almost everyone has a dog, after all, and is more than willing to put their pooches in the spotlight.

In 2011, the last dog show had 54 dogs competing in events such as standard breed groupings, as well as dog and owner look-alike competition, tricks and musical chairs.

The 2011 Boca Bowser was a proud Bouvier des Flandres named Tonka. The Boca Geezer Award went to 15-year-old Sandy, a long-in-the-tooth island resident, owned by Ted Lilly.

Barbara and Jerry Edgertonʼs “Puppy,” a massive great dane named Walter, took the Puppy category by storm, and the Costume category was a tie between Ava Hendricksʼ mastiff named Zaida and Hobbs, a Labrador retriever owned by Phyllis Adams.

In the Sporting group a golden retriever named Hudson, owned by Patti Rapoport, stole the show and the Hound group was dominated by two dogs, a bassett hound named Pepper and Woody, a dachshund owned by Christie Jenkins.

The Working group also experienced a tie between Lucy, a Bernese mountain dog owned by Nancy and Bill Lake, and Zaida, a mastiff owned by Ava Hendricks.

“Would you rather be dead or married?” was the question asked of a standard poodle named Beauregard by his owner, Carolyn Eha. Beau was competing in the Tricks category. His response to the question was to roll onto his belly, four legs in the air.

Winnie the Cairn terrier, owned by Rachel Carson, took the “Terrier” event, and a tie between Valerie Walchʼs pug, Bob, and Mary Cookʼs Cavalier King Charles spaniel named Mopsy, dominated the “Toy” group.

Mike Giobbe and his golden retriever Hudson were show-stoppers in the “Dog/Owner Look-a-Like” contest, and Lynne Troupʼs Olive, a goldendoodle, took top honors in the “Miscellany” category. The musical chairs winner out of 16 dogs was Cassis, owned by the Beaconʼs own Julianne Greenberg.

Dick Lyman will continue on as Master of Ceremonies, and the ever-dog-loving Charlie Field will announce. Both have been working with the dog show since it began.

The show is sponsored by the Boca Grande Woman’s Club. Everyone is invited ... except cats.