THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 16, 1994 TAG: 9409140187
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03B EDITION: BAYSIDE
SOURCE: BY HEIDI GLICK, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
When it comes to respect in the dog world, mixed breeds usually rank last, bowwow-ing down to the purebreds.
Big name dog competitions often restrict those canine companions that answer to mutt. And matches that do target mixes are few and far between.
But a small group of dog owners in Hampton Roads say mixed breed dogs do have a place. These owners banded together last year, under the leadership of Wilma Q. Riddell, forming the Mixed and Rare Breed Club of Tidewater.
With 20 members and four officers, they say their local organization is the only one in Virginia that represents mixed and rare breed dogs.
``I thought I had a very intelligent dog,'' said Riddell, who lives in Norfolk. ``I wanted to show her more than once or twice a year. There was not a support group for mixed breed owners, especially for mixed breed owners who train their dogs and would like to show them.''
This independent club promotes the American Mixed Breed Obedience Registration. Based in Minnesota, the group is a nationally recognized mixed breed organization with more than 1,000 members.
Mona Marshall, president, founded it in 1983 as a way to perpetuate the memory of her mixed breed dog, Rex. He took obedience classes with Marshall's two other purebred dogs, but was never able to win any titles.
The organization's most successful accomplishment, she said, is negotiating an agreement with the United Kennel Club, the second largest purebred registry, that enables mixed breeds to compete alongside purebred dogs.
``I wanted to help others in the same boat as myself, and I know there are plenty of them out there,'' she said.
Local members say forming the Tidewater club has opened up all sorts of opportunities for their dogs, like walking in last year's St. Patrick's Day Parade and performing in a dog fashion show this fall.
Local training clubs are starting to hold more competitions for mixed breeds. And because they are associated with the national group, the local club is kept up to date on all local and out-of-state matches.
``Now that a lot of area trainers are beginning to learn about us they are beginning to take mixed breed people more seriously,'' Riddell said. ``Before, they never did.''
Riddell recalled starting Muffin, her part Siberian husky mix and part Labrador retriever, in obedience training classes.
Purebred owners were constantly attending dog shows and bringing home honors. Muffin, on the other hand, was doing just as well as the other dogs in class, but couldn't attend the shows because she was a mix.
``I felt so lonely and so frustrated,'' said Riddell, a Spanish teacher at Great Bridge Middle School in Chesapeake. ``My dog was doing well in the classes but there were no activities for her.''
After spending hours each week training her dog in obedience and agility, Riddell thought it was unfair that mixed breed dog shows only came along once every five or seven months.
``I never got into this wanting to earn trophies and ribbons,'' Riddell said. ``I wanted to spend more quality time with my dog.''
The club meets twice monthly to discuss coming shows and advice on training. Riddell also brings in speakers to address the club. Past speakers have included a trainer, groomer and psychologist.
Vice president Pamela Kline, of Virginia Beach, owns a German shepherd and Great Dane mix named Keoki. She used to teach her dog to sit and stay, but stayed away from anything technical.
Now, she says, she's more enthusiastic about training. ``We have goals now,'' she explained.
The training is all part of socializing her dogs, she added. ``My dogs love going out.''
At the St. Patrick's Day Parade, she commanded Keoki to sit outside a portable toilet, while she went inside to use it.
``People were walking by saying `Oh, that dog needs to go to the bathroom,'' ' she said.
Since the local club is affiliated with a national group, the dogs can be registered and certified and have papers from the national association.
So for Riddell, that means her dogs are more than just mixed breed. They have status and a registered number.
For information, call 451-0571. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by HEIDI GLICK
From left, Brenda Fink, Leanne Kirby, Paula Kline and Wilma Riddel,
kneeling, are officers in the Mixed and Rare Breed Club of
Tidewater.
Graphic
WHEN & WHERE
[For complete graphic, please see microfilm]
by CNB