Iolan shows pedigree dog in state AKC competitions
For Janice Buckjune, showing dogs puts her “in a different world.” COPPER is now about two years old. Janice began showing her when she was around six months old. She said she had another Bisenji named Rocky for 14 years, before it passed away, but never showed it in competitions. She began the search for another dog, which took longer than she thought. THE TRAINING takes a bit more involvement. Besides showing, which requires teaching the dog to walk in a very precise manner and stand in a very precise manner, Janice also has Copper compete in lure coursing.
The world she is referring to is one of high prestige, care and commitment. When she adopted her dog, a female Bisenji named Copper, she got more than a new pup.
“She (Copper) came with a baby book,” Janice said.
The type of people who show dogs are very serious about their sport. Janice said she does not put herself in that category, although she and Copper have seen their fair share of success.
Copper has been shown at multiple American Kennel Club (AKC) shows in Joplin, Topeka and Lawrence. They have received top honors in her hound categories. A show dog receives points for every blue ribbon it receives — they can receive a maximum of 15 points over their career. Copper has received one.
Her first championship points came from an AKC dog show in Topeka. Janice said Copper won the winner’s bitch award as the top female dog in her class.
Janice said they are both new to the game, and they both have a long way to go.
“It is fun, I had never been to a dog show before I had Copper,” Janice said. “It is much harder than I thought it would be.”
She was determined to find an animal that was “show-quality,” and had the look she needed for competition.
“Copper’s color is very rare, which I wasn’t aware of,” Janice. She found her puppy from a breeder in Detroit. Copper’s official name is Reveille Bell Lilies in Copper — after a painting by Vincent Van Gogh. All of the dogs from Copper’s litter were named after Van Gogh paintings.
She said Bisenjis are known as the “barkless dog,” obviously named due to the fact that they do not bark.
Now howling, that is a different matter.
Janice demonstrated Copper’s singing talent. She rears her head back high and howls every time Janice plays hard-rock music — particularly that of Bullet for my Valentine and Linkin Park.
She said the upkeep for her dog is fairly simple. The breed, an Egyptian hunting hound originally, is short-haired and sheds very little.
The idea for lure coursing is simple. The dog runs a straight line to a point and back. In her case, Copper would run a half-mile stretch along a marked line. The dogs are judged based on speed, follow, enthusiasm, agility and endurance. Copper competes in lure coursing at Clinton Lake State Park in Lawrence. The competition is organized by the Heartland Coursing Association.
To make sure Copper is in top shape for competition, Janice walks her from four to six miles every day, as well as trains her in obedience. ⨓It is uncommon for show dogs to do obedience training,” Janice said. “But I think it is important for a good dog to be trained.”
While she enjoys taking her dog to competitions, Janice said she mostly enjoys meeting new people and experience the “interesting” side of dog shows.
“There are all kinds of interesting people that take the shows very seriously, it is their life,” Janice said. “I have seen Afghan dogs wearing shower caps.”
Janice said she always has been intrigued by watching the dog shows on television, especially the Westminster Dog Show. Her mother, Kathleen Sinclair, was the 4-H dog leader when she was young, so Janice said she has been accustomed to being around dogs.
Janice plans to continue showing Copper. She said her dog has the perfect temperament to compete in dog shows and lure coursing. She has 14 points left to garner before Copper is recognized as an AKC champion dog.
“Dogs either do it (compete) or don’t,” Janice said. “She is a natural.”
