By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Turlock plays host to top dogs
dog show pic1
A dog owner sets up her Golden Retriever for a win at the Golden Valley Kennel Club dog show held in Turlock on Friday. - photo by MAEGAN MARTENS / The Journal

Back in his youth, Jazzman, a 144-pound Newfoundland, took champion titles all over the country with his beautiful coat, lovable personality and his ability to ham it up for everyone around him.

He made a celebrity appearance at his home arena on Friday at the Golden Valley Kennel Club’s dog show held at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds.

He is now a retired show dog at the age of six but that didn’t stop him from having a good time with all his dog friends.

“We come out and play,” said Connie Yandell, originally from Turlock, now a South Dakota resident. “We are also here to support our friends from the Newfoundland Club of Northern California.”

Whether for play or for show, people come from all over to enjoy the after Thanksgiving dog show held in Turlock every year.

Atwater resident Mona McDowell had a short trip to Turlock to show her Pomeranians, but she has traveled all over the West Coast for a good show.

“I do it because I am so proud,” McDowell said. “You really feel good when you have a good dog. You are really proud of what you have.”

She noticed that most dog shows are combining together to make the events longer for those who travel.

“They are making the shows longer so people can stay who travel really far to be here,” she said.

Her Pomeranian named J-Das King Leonidis Spartan Warrior, also known as Leo, was signed up for a couple of competitions, specifically the conformation, but was unable to compete due to an accident.

In the conformation competition, judges look at the dog itself, said Jessica Solis, a Stockton resident who shows Pomeranians. Judges look at the quality of the dog, the coat, the size of the animal, the movement, their overall attitude, personality, teeth bite and much more.

“By eight weeks, I can usually tell if a dog will be a good show dog,” Solis said. “As a puppy, if they can walk out there and be confident, they will most likely be a good show dog.”

Some intensified training also goes along with showing a dog.

“You have to train them to focus on you,” she said. “There is so much noise around them.”

Despite the noise, one good thing most said about the Turlock dog show was the cleanliness and the prime location.

“It is so close and clean,” McDowell said. “People are also really friendly.”

To contact Maegan Martens, e-mail mmartens@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2015.