Dog days at Cobo: Pampered pooches strut their stuff

Kimberly Hayes Taylor / The Detroit News

Beth Widdows' life has gone to the dogs -- and she's proud of it.

The Troy woman said she loves her family, but she lives with her dogs. So 90 percent of her time is dedicated to Miss Molly Marie, Glennie and Jake, three Westie terriers that are pampered more than most children.

Don't believe it? They wear couture clothing. A nutritionist plans their meals. They are home schooled between special classes. "When I took on a dog, I made a commitment to give them the best life I can," Widdows explained.

Maddy Berkobien understands this way of life. She gave up playing her beloved bingo, poker and euchre to train dogs in Saginaw. The married mom of two adult sons even got a 12-passenger van for her four show dogs and the foster animals she houses.

Widdows and Berkobien are among more than 2,000 owners who will compete and exhibit dogs Saturday and Sunday at the 102nd and 103rd annual Detroit Kennel Club Benched Dog Show at Cobo Center in Detroit. More than 60,000 people usually attend the show each year.

Look for Widdows and her beloved terrier friends at the lure races, where they will run fast and furiously four or five times a day as part of the exhibition. Between competitions, she will dress them in cheerleading uniforms to help make people aware that some dogs, like Glennie and Jake, need rescuing when owners abandon them, lose their homes or can't afford them. Berkobien says her golden retriever, Talkin' Ginny, will compete in the B Ring in hopes of earning enough points to qualify for the National Obedience Invitational in San Diego.

They want to win.

"You start training your dogs, and it starts going really well and your head starts to swell," said the 66-year-old, who has been married 44 years. "You go, 'Hey, my dog just did a long out-of-sight sit/stay, a drop on recall.' Once you see your dog training to do what you showed it how to do, you go, 'Oh, boy, look what I just did.'

"It's the thrill of teaching your dog from nothing to everything. The dog doesn't know a thing, and you teach it to be an obedience trial champion, and it doesn't get any better than that."

The dog shows apparently make a dog's day, too, the trainers insisted. Like people, dogs enjoy encouragement and there's nothing like applause from the swell of fans in the audience.

Those fans will see everything from the ring competitions, police K-9 exhibitions (where children are hidden and dogs find them), vendors selling clothing and jewelry (for people and dogs) and booths that help make people aware of animal rescue missions.

"You will get to talk to Miss Molly Marie, Jake and Glennie (at the show), but you'll get to see so many breeds," explained Widdows, a 62-year-old Troy resident. "There is just this general air of excitement. This is called a bench show and all the confirmation dogs have to be there from the beginning to the end. People can see them, talk to (the dogs), and decide what breeds they like."

Berkobien can't think of anything she likes doing better.

"Cobo Hall is such a special trial for everybody," she said. "People come with great expectations. The police dogs put on a show. They have fly ball exhibitions and safety exhibitions. It's the most wonderful place to bring your family."

As part of the time-consuming effort to get ready for this weekend's show, Widdows' and Berkobien's dogs competed last weekend at a dog show in Warren.

Widdows' dogs also attend school most days of the week. They participate in informal matches two to three times a month.

"We do a lot of walks, and we go to regular parks sometimes to practice," said Widdows, who gave up her golf because it took too much time away from her dogs.

"They practice almost every day, but before a show I give them some time off. I find they do a better job if they go in wanting to do it."

Champions, the trainer said, need special food, and Miss Molly Marie, who has an obedience title, seems to do better when Widdows prepares home-cooked meals that include a blend of ground beef, liver, eggs and nutritional supplements twice daily. Glennie and Jake prefer a special dried blend of white and sweet potatoes and duck.

At home, Widdows has built a dog haven in her fenced back yard with tunnels, agility and obedience equipment. Berkobien's yard is just as customized, equipped with a double fence around the exterior and a ring she installs in the front yard, where they work out every other day, weather permitting. Meanwhile, Berkobien drives her dogs nearly an hour twice weekly so they can workout at training clubs in Flint and Midland.

Perhaps it's why Talkin' Ginny already is a champion who has key club memberships that allow her to train in two clubs on a 24/7 basis. Beat that, humans.

Heeling with hand signals, scent discrimination, directed jumping and direct retrieving are among top skills she possesses.

Berkobien insists the feeling she gets with her furry friend at her side in a competition far surpasses games with cards and chips.

"There is no comparison to competition," she said.

"Those are fun things, but there is nothing like the feeling of having a faithful friend at your side wanting to do this with you."

You can reach Kimberly Hayes Taylor at (313) 222-2058 or ktaylor@detnews.com.