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Houdini Dog Wins Best Of Show

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By LAURA CONE

The Sun

Published: April 1, 2009

More than 300 dog lovers showed up for the Sun City Center Dog Owners' Group Dog Show to watch as Shadow, also known as a dog Houdini, took the best of show.

Seven was the lucky number for 7-year-old Shadow, who won on March 7 at the 7th annual competition hosted by the dog club.

Marion Klawonn of Sun City Center, one of the participants and volunteers, said she has known Shadow for a number of years.

"She is the one who opens gates and lets the other dogs out," Klawonn said. "She was beautiful. She did a weave in and out between her owner's legs."

Shadow is a Weimaraner owned by Larry and Barbara Cisek of Sun City Center.

Klawonn entered her German Shepherd, Dakota, in the show. The dog's name means "friend" in the Native American Dakota language.

"I thought we had a great show," Klawonn said. "It drew a lot of people. I did not expect that many. It went off beautifully."

Although Dakota did not win an award this year, she won best appearance for a large dog four years ago. Most of the participants are not as worried as much about winning as they are about spending time with their dogs and other dog lovers, she said.

"You can see people smiling and having a wonderful time watching," said Klawonn, who takes her dog to the park every morning in the early hours.

"She actually runs the household," Klawonn said, referring to her pet.

Larry Cisek said he was surprised Shadow won best of show.

"She does a little routine where she spins around for a treat and rolls over," he said. "She has a tendency to open the gates. She can open the gates better than the people can."
Weimaraner dogs are typically gray and were originally bred for hunting by royalty in the early 19th century.

"Everyone who owns one has the feeling there is not a better dog around," he said. "She is a lover. She is really good with the kids and with us. She demands a lot of attention but there are a lot of dogs that way. She is pleasant to have around."

Dogs and their owners went away from the dog show with ribbons and medals. The event also helped raise money for improvements to the park, according to Mary Boyes.

Boyes, the chairwoman for the dog show, said they sold 297 tickets and had about 70 dogs participate.

"I thought it was a great success," Boyes said. "We raised money for our club to improve our park. We just put up the pavilions and now we are putting up bulletin boards and fans inside the pavilions and improving the sod and landscaping."

Boyes has one dog named Jack, a Jack Russell Terrier.

Boyes said spectators enjoyed watching the dog competitors jumping through hoops, demonstrating their abilities to sit, stay, and do some other tricks. Some dogs simply strutted across the stage as dog lovers cheered.

"For some people, their dog is their family and their best friend," Boyes said. "The dog park is, for some people, their whole social life."

She said Shadow is a beautiful dog with the reputation of being a dog Houdini at the dog park near the Sun City Center Recreation Complex on South Pebble Beach Boulevard.

"She is an escape artist," Boyes said. "She opens boxes if we try to hide things at the park. We have to put a lock on the gates. Otherwise she escapes."

In addition to the show, Greyhound Rescue and C.A.R.E. volunteers brought dogs seeking adoption.

Other category winners in the show included large dogs: Shadow Cisek; as best trained and Betty Wells/Clark as best appearance. Middle size dogs: Bailey Thomas as best trained and Baxter Goyer as best appearance; small dogs: Gracie Winter as best trained and Muffy Bramberg as best appearance. Dogs in costume: Large dog, Millzee Sylver; Medium dog, Roo O'karma and Small dog, Molly Seifert.

Editor Laura Cone may be reached at lcone@mediageneral.com.

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