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February 7, 2010

Local champion dogs head to show

By Monica Pryts

Two dogs owned by a Hermitage family are competing in one of the nation’s most prestigious and long-running sporting events: the 134th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Two of the finalists are Monti, a Great Pyrenees, and Emerson, a greyhound, owned by Drs. Robert and Kathy Piston.

“It’s going to be an adventure,” Dr. Piston said of her first time attending the show.

The club is America’s oldest organization dedicated to the sport of purebred dogs and invites only the best of the best to compete, which will take place Feb. 15 and 16 at Madison Square Garden, New York City.

“When you see that envelope in the mail, you know,” she said of the purple and gold invitation to compete.

Emerson, 21/2 years old, is the No. 1 dog in his breed nationwide, according to standards set by the American Kennel Club, and Monti, 7, is No. 4 in his breed, making them both champions.

The top five AKC dogs in seven different groups are invited to compete at the show for the top prize of Best in Show, said Dr. Valerie Seeley, a breeder from New Jersey with whom the Pistons work.

The dogs first compete within their breed and the pool of finalists is narrowed down several times until it’s down to seven dogs vying for the top prize, she said.

There are also awards for Best in Breed/Variety, Best of Opposite Sex, Award of Merit and the seven groups, which include hounds and working dogs like Emerson and Monti.



The Best in Show award comes with a silver plaque and trophy, according to the club’s Web site at www.westminsterkennelclub.org



The Pistons say they are honored to be a part of the competition and have pride in the dogs, who travel the country all year with their handler, Nina Fetter of Lima. Ohio, competing in other shows. They also spend time with their trainer, Roger Bice.



The dogs compete under their official, champion names. Emerson goes by Champion Gaia Elfin Dance and Monti, Champion Pyrless Les Monts De Lourdes.

Gaia was the Ohio kennel run by Emerson’s breeder, Sue LeMieux, who passed away in November, Dr. Piston said. Before she passed, Ms. LeMieux sold Emerson to a Japanese couple, but decided the dog wouldn’t do well on the trip, and Ms. Fetter matched the Pistons with the dog.

The Pistons have owned Monti since he was a puppy. Pyrless is the name of Dr. Seeley’s kennel and the rest of the name translates to “the mountains of Lourdes,” referring to Lourdes, France, where the Virgin Mary appeared to a young girl and others, which Catholics consider a miracle.

The Pistons, who with their children are a family of animal lovers with cats and dogs at home, have seen Emerson and Monti compete and win in other shows, but the Westminster Kennel Club is on a whole different level, Dr. Piston said.

She looks forward to being there and meeting other dog owners, which could include celebrities like Martha Stewart and Andy Rooney. Certain parts of the show will be televised on the USA Network and videos will be posted on the club’s Web site, Dr. Seeley said.

The competition ring is for dogs, handlers and judges only, so the Pistons will be watching from the sidelines, Dr. Piston said. “I think it’s going to be bustling with a tremendous amount of energy and excitement,” she said.

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