Kadynce Greene trudged back and forth on the patch of grass outside the show ring while her peach-coloured dog Truffles followed obediently beside her.
The five-year-old from Cassidy was getting in a few practice minutes before competing. For the last year she’s wanted to start showing dogs.
“It’s fun and I saw my aunt do it and I want to do it,” she said.
The Nanaimo Kennel Club’s annual Dog Show and Obedience Trials held at the Beban Park Centennial Building June 16 was her first competition.
“I’m good,” said Kadynce about how she felt going into her peewee event.
Kadynce’s aunt, Yvonne Greene, from Cedar, has competed in shows for the past nine years. Yvonne said her niece has watched her during competitions and decided it was something she wanted to be involved in. While the competition is fun, it’s also teaching Kadynce skills such as good sportsmanship, said her aunt.
“It teaches her gentleness with the animals. Kids sometimes get frustrated and pull on the leash and this will give her some tools to not do those kinds of things or think ‘how am I going to get this dog to come’,” said Yvonne. “It gives her skills to communicate with other people. It’s socialization for her just as much as the dog.”
As Kadynce progresses in her skill level and gets older, she’ll be able to show larger dogs.
“When they are in the peewees they have to have a size appropriate dog so they have control over it,” said Yvonne. “She’ll show mine when she gets older.”
Kadynce was able to borrow a dog for the competition from Bev Dorma, of Misty Trails Havanese. Both her and her aunt said they “fell in love” with the havanese Kadynce was showing.
Kadynce is the only competitor in the peewee category, but that doesn’t stop her from being as professional as she can in the ring. As she circles inside the white picket fence, she makes sure to smile at the judges and keeps her dog running on her left side.
Exiting the ring Kadynce said she can’t wait to do more competitions in the future.
“It was fun,” she said, while putting Truffles in a dog crate in the preparation area before heading home.