Cline Library Dean Cynthia Childrey and Abby

Dean's dog days: Abby on road
to Westminster

Some pets just have star quality. You know the ones: those confident cats that strut rather than walk and those daring dogs that leap over fences.

These pets love the limelight, and some of them, like Abby, get the chance to show off their skills in front of millions.

Abby, a 3-year-old tri-color smooth collie, belongs to Cynthia Childrey, dean and university librarian at NAU. Abby will compete in the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York on Feb. 12 and 13.

"I can't believe I will be watching my own dog at Madison Square Garden this year," said Childrey, who will fly to New York today. "It's a dream come true."

Though Childrey's friend Laurie Jeff Greer, a professional handler of collies and German shepherds, will show Abby at Westminster, Childrey has been far more than a spectator in her dog's training. Childrey showed Abby to her American Kennel Club Championship (all dogs competing at Westminster are AKC Champions).

Childrey started in dog shows about five years ago. "I got a collie puppy from Joan Armitage, who works at the NAU Bookstore," Childrey said. "She shows dogs—really well—and I got the dog show bug from her."

Childrey pointed out that it is often harder to train the handler than to train the dog. "Good handlers work hard to show off their dogs' best features…in a way that makes the handler as invisible as possible," she said. "It is harder than it looks, and I am still learning."

Abby was born in Flagstaff at Kingsmark Kennels and was adopted by Childrey as a puppy. Like most smooth collies, Abby has always been energetic and playful.

"The house never seemed safe when she was unattended, and she took a particular liking to cell phones," Childrey said. "[But] she loves to travel and to show. Abby has wonderful movement and that all-important dog show attitude. She is a joy to watch in the ring."

At Westminster, Abby will start by competing for Best Smooth Collie, and the winner will continue to the Herding Group competition. The Herding Group is one of seven groups, including Sporting, Non-Sporting, Toy, Terrier, Working, and Hound dogs. The winner of each of the seven groups will compete for Best in Show.

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, starting with the group competitions, will air live at 6 p.m. MST Feb. 12 and 13 on the USA network. Information about the show, or for coverage of breed competitions, is available online.

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