Boston terrier built to win

When 2-year-old Jag won the competition, Cindy Adams swept him up in her arms and kissed his forehead affectionately.

The conformation contest for the Boston Terriers had just ended on Friday afternoon at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, and Jag, or "Champion Bo-ty Just Cruisin,'" won the Best of Breed award.

The sixth annual Gold Country Kennel Club show dog opened Friday and will carry on till Monday. Today and Sunday is the all-breed show. Monday is a specialty show for Labrador Retrievers.

Adams' pet was one of 90 Boston terriers exhibited at Friday's conformation competition.

"There were some very, very nice dogs out there today," said Adams, with winner Jag clutched to her side. "People have come a long way, so it's always an honor when you have this many dogs and you are the chosen one."

Adams, a resident of Agua Dulce, Calif., has the strengths of her pet at her fingertips.

"He (Jag) has a really nice head for this breed," she said. "He has nice bone structure and substance. He likes to show. Conformationally, he is a very nice specimen of the breed - bigger than what some people like, because there's a variety of size for this breed. But this particular judge likes a substantial dog."

The dog show this year will have an estimated 1,761 dogs and 160 breeds. Most of the participants are from the West Coast - primarily Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona and Nevada.

Karen Jobke, from Mariposa, was at the fairgrounds on Friday. A breeder owning 10 Labradors, Jobke is exhibiting just one of her pets - a yellow Labrador by the name of "Rockin' Oak Alakazam." This is her second year at the Grass Valley show.

"I think it's nice because it is a very nice fairground with the trees," she said. "That's why I came back. There are good vendors. The only hard part is that parking is way out there, but there's nothing you can do about that. But I like to be out here. They do a good job. It's clean."

Sharon Turvey from Los Angeles was out on the grounds with her three dogs - a black and tan Saluki called "Cairo," a gray and white brindle whippet named "Taffi" and a red brindle greyhound called "Nile." All three canines sported ornate neck jewelry with Middle Eastern designs, fashioned by their owner.

Turvey is a vendor. She has her booth, "Comfort by Design," at the show. Her merchandises include ornamental collars; their prices range from $7 to $50.

"This is an absolutely beautiful facility," she said. "We are staying in our trailer. Sleeping was comfortable last night with the mountain breeze.

"(The show has) nice big rings. That's key for big dogs, where they are judged by their movements."

Turvey will show her Saluki and her greyhound at the show.

Among the vendors, there was also Mario Ernani from the south Sacramento area. His booth, "Creative Treasures," features pet-related luggage and purses, custom-made dog feeders and dishes and other dog-themed collectibles.

"We stay on site," Ernani said. "We tow a trailer with our supplies, and we stay at our motor homes.

"This setting is beautiful. You couldn't find a better setting for a dog show. We enjoy it because we stay here overnight. We like to have dinners and barbecues with our friends in our RVs."

The president of the Gold Country Kennel Club, Chuck Teasley, estimated that people will continue arriving at the Fairgrounds till 11 p.m. Friday.

"Specialty days are more about people who are specific to that breed," he said about the modest turnout on Friday afternoon. "Tomorrow (Saturday) when the all-breed show takes place, this place will be packed. We should end up with 5,000 people milling around here."

Teasley said the club has arranged special traffic control at Gates 1, 2, and 4 at the fairgrounds.

But on the first day of the show, Teasley was happy with the way the event had taken off.

"It's nice," he said. "The exhibitors are happy. The weather is cooperating. And the dogs are beautiful."

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To contact Soumitro Sen, e-mail soumitros@theunion.com or call 477-4229.