Sarah Cross, third from left, emailed a few months ago to ask if I could drop by the 8th annual Skinker DeBaliviere Dog Show the first Tuesday in June. I had covered the event three years ago (see post here), and was flattered to be asked back again. Sarah, who will be a junior at Rosati Kain in the Fall, was in the second grade at St. Roch's when she organized the first dog show with the help of her mother and father, Linda (not pictured) and Andy Cross (above right), a member of the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council.
That's Muffin who gave her owner a "high five" in the best trick category.
Every canine who entered was a winner in one category or another. Sarah handed out multiple ribbons, see above, for unusual categories that included shaggiest fur, sleekest coat, pointiest muzzle, etc., and every dog got a biscuit too. While these are not what judges look for at fancy dog shows like the Westminster Kennel Club Show held at Madison Square Garden, it was heartwarming to see how excited the children were when their dogs won a prize for these unusual attributes last evening.
The sidewalk in Greg Freeman Park at Four Corners in the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood was covered with chalk drawings of dog bones and toys as contestants checked out the competition.
One of the participants brought her Snoopy dog (see above), while another seemed not quite sure what to make of all the fuss and last-minute practice for best trick, below.
The pooch above won the prize for biggest spot!
The stage was packed with entrants for droopiest ears, above and below.
No surprise that Annabel, a Great Dane, won the prize for biggest dog.
Dixie's handler, above, demonstrated how her stuffed dog could "freeze" on demand.
Bear earned the ribbon for smallest dog and also for best tricks. Bear had his tricks down, jumping through a hoop (his owner's arms), rolling himself up in a blanket, and climbing over his owner, below.
Everyone went home a winner, and there were cookies for humans and biscuits for dogs to munch along the way. Congratulations Sarah for organizing such a fun event that brings the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood together. Everyone, even the canines, loves a stage.