2014 Sweetheart Dog Show gallery
At the Pine Bluff Convention Center Feb. 1 and 2, 2014
There are 44 pictures in this gallery. The gallery automatically advances every 11 seconds.
People and dogs from nationwide locations converge on the Pine Bluff Convention Center annually for the Sweetheart Dog Show. It is the last qualifying event for the Westminister Dog Show prior to the big event. A great variety of contestants dogs accompanied by their human staff and supporters attended. This gallery gives you a sample of the show attendees. See the stories that go with the pictures at Corndancer dot com and Weekly Grist for the Eyes and Mind. Also, see our 2011 Sweetheart Dog Show gallery.
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Stryker, a Lhasa Atso, keeps his cool as Sue Cannimore from Terry Missippi gives him the finishing touches before he struts in the big time.
Stryker has the 1000 meter stare before the big-time competition.
Jager, a Bouvier Desflander, literally, "Dog of Flanders," after his makeover by his handler/groomer, Greg Reyna. Jager is a big friendly boy. His success as a showdog has not gone to his head. He won his class on Saturday and was in the running for top honors Sunday.
Jager slicked up and ready to go.
Lena a Pomeranian,is nearly ready for competition.
Clarence Jones, originally of Pine Bluff, now hails from Sand Springs, Oklahoma. His homecoming was sweetened when Lena, his Pomeranian, took a handfull of ribbons as Winner Bitch, Best of Opposite Sex in the Pomeranian Class. That means a male won the Best of Breed, and she was the Best of Breed female.
Bambi Walden from Flippin, Arkansas admires Ace, a Smooth-hair Chow who now, thanks to Bambi is at the top of his game.
Ju-Ju, a black Chow sports a fine bouffant thanks to his human, Gwen Benz of Couch, Missouri.
Blondie, a fine Cocker Spaniel and Joe Payne reflecting on the seriousness of the moment. Seconds later everyone was snickering.
Blondie has the stoic look of a competitor ready to rock.
Toni Buendner and Gwen Jarolin from Conway, Arkansas, team up to get Marilyn, the blond — Cocker Spaniel ready for the big show.
Bryan Lenoard of Hot Springs, Arkansas gets Dymer, his Tibetan Terrier spiffed up for the judges critical eye.
Dymer, his grooming nearly done, puts a curious eye in myn direction.
Honey, a Shih Tzu, peers at me over her snout coiffure. Greg Larson, of somewhere in Minnesota, did the honors on her appearance.
Yorkshire Terriers Vanessa and Fire, join Honey the Shih Tzu showing off their makeovers at the hands of Greg Larson from somewhere in Minnesota.
Staffordshire Bull Terrier, George, casts a wary eye at the camera. If he looks menacing, it is a ruse. Staffordshire Bull Terriers are popularly known as the "Nanny Dog," according to Rebecca Gear from Fort Worth, the dog's handler and groomer. "They love children and will be their protectors."
George, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier pays no attention to me and keeps his eyes glues on his handler and groomer, Rebecca Gear or Fort Worth, Texas.
George, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier cavorts with her Rotweiller bud, Merlot. Rebecca Gear, their mutual human let Merlot of her crate after I mentioned that I share residential space with a Rotweiller. Merlot greeted me enthusiastically and then turned her attention to George.
This Keeshond, found me, the only human within the immediate vicinity, to be an object of attention.
Flash,a Spinone Italiano, made the trip from Springfield, Missouri with his human, Mattie Cobfan. Mattie explained that the Spinone was an old breed and originally served families as a hunting dog, a retriever, or a sniffer, essentially whatever you needed, this dog could handle it. The breed can be traced back to Biblical times.
Trouble, a Shiba Inu from Little Rock, decides take a glance at the camera while the attendant humans converse with their like kind. Shiba Inus are Japanese dogs, originally bred as for hunting. It is one of the oldest breeds.
French Bulldog Winnie, and her human, Julie Hayes from Waynesville, Missouri were nice enough to offer me a seat during a tired moment. Winnie, is a well mannered lady who is living evidence of the growing popularity of French Bulldogs. A recent report on the ten most popular breeds in the United State reported that the French Bulldog is knocking on the top-ten door at number 11.
Buster, the Keeshond, made the trip all the way from St. Louis, Missouri with her human, Denna Smith.
Lori Kopreski, my friend from Sherwood, Arkansas, brought a pair of Tibetan Spaniels to the show. Here we see Gracey, daughter of the pair. In the 2011 Sweetheart Dog Show, I photographed Lori’s Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Casey.
Sammy, Tibetan Spaniel father of Gracie, accompanied her and Lori Kopreski to the show.
During his shooting session, Sammy decided to lay down on the job.
An Afgan Hound and handler await their turn in front of the judges. The Afgan is an ancient breed.
The Afgan Hound less lead. In the handler's defense, it was me, not the handler that removed the dog's lead.
Diana Edwards and Flint, her Alaskan Malemute hail from St. Louis Missouri, both are congenial new acquaintences. I discovered that Flint shares some characeristics with our Rotweiller, Cleo. Both like to lick your face and grab your attention with a large front paw.
Flint gave me a good licking before this shot.
Ally, a Saluki hails from Pearland, Texas, south of Houston. Gerry Thornton, Ally's human explained that the Saluki origianted in what is today Saudi Arabia and is the oldest breed of dog. Salukis were originally bred to chase down, kill, and return Gazelles to their families for food. The Salukis did not eat the prey during the return trip and were accepted as family members, rather than as animal add-ons. Congratulations to Ally, she was the big winner, Best of Show!
Ally, the Saluki gives her best "AWW" dog look as she gets a big smile from her human, Gerry Thornton of Pearland, Texas (between Houston and "The" Gulf). Our heartiest congratulations to Ally and Gerry as Ally took the Best in Show honors.
Money, an American Coon Hound, gets loving attention from his groomer, April. Money hails from Southwind Coonhounds of Pearcy, Arkansas, home of "Elvis," the American Coonhound who won best of breed at the 2011 Sweet Heart Dog Show. A week later he also won best of breed in the Holy Grail of dog shows, Westminister. Ray Lee Reynolds of Southwind tells us that Elvis now is active in fundraising with the American Cancer Society. Money, following in the footprints of Elvis, won best of breed this year at the Sweet Heart Dog Show.
It goes without saying, that Money loves attention.
The human attached to this fine Australian Shepherd was on the floor with other dogs when I stumbled into its territory, so I cannot tell you the name of either. A cool dog nevertheless.
A contestant is his diminutive charge are in conference prior to their last swing by the judge in their class. The contestant has a couple of ribbons in his pocket already which may bode well for the pair in this last hurrah.
As I was photographing Prissy a perky Australian Shepherd, I mused to Erin Holley of Hot Springs, Arkansas, her human, that Prissy had two speeds: Off and wide open. Erin agreed with my assesment.
Gordon Watkins of Rivendale Newfoundlands of Parthenon, Arkansas shares a moment with Maya his Landfeer Newfoundland. The dogs got the antecident Landfeer after a British Artist, Sir Edwin Landfeer, who loved to paint the dogs and became famous for that admirable proclivity.
Maya gives me the eye. Like a lot of big dogs, she is a gentle giant who enjoys a good ear scatching.
thought Patsy, a Newfoundland accompanied by Bonnie Bennett of Cabot, Arkansas was huge at 115 lbs., until Bonnie told me that her Newfoundland buddy, Virgil, had rocks the scales at 145 lbs.
Here's all 145 pounds of Virgil who seems to be in the moment.
River, a Rough Collie, though a friendly sort, was a bit camera shy until his human moved to my vicinity. Then I became important.
Rough Collie, River and his human Shirley Daughtery of Greenbrier, Arkansas. River was not interested in me until Shirley moved to my side. This is a before the move shot.
Size makes no difference when it comes to dogs making friends. I have no names or breeds here, but Big Ol' and Li'l Ol' seem to get along just fine. I have yet to figure out the headdress on Big Ol'.
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