Award-winning dog meets with Lions

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

The guest of honor at the Charles City Lions Club meeting was Zara.

Because she’s a dog, Zara couldn’t talk, so she brought Pam Folz along to speak for her.

Zara, a 6-year old purebred Spinone Italiano show dog, was the recipient of some high honors at one of the most prestigious dog shows in the world last month in Orlando, Florida.

Competing in the American Kennel Club (AKC) National Owner-Handled Series Finals on Friday, Dec. 13, Folz and Zara took home the top prize in their breed category with a first-place finish in the Spinone Italiano Best of Breed.

“I did not expect to go for this ride,” Folz told the Lions Club members. “We are a great team, and I’ve had a lot of fun with her.”

Zara was also awarded Best of Opposite Sex in a warm-up show, the second-place finisher to Best of Breed dog. Zara also received the Award of Excellence ribbon.

Folz, who lives in Floyd with her husband, Duane, is a legal assistant at the Charles City law firm of Eggert, Erb and Ellingson. The two are dedicated husband-and-wife dog handlers. She said they handled Dobermans for years before switching to Spinones.

Folz talked to Lions Club members and answered questions about the Spinone breed, how dog shows work, and the challenges of breeding and training dogs.

Folz began competing in obedience competitions and participating in pet therapy back in 1996. She entered the show circuit in 2008. Zara, along with her 6-month-old puppy, Ciro, and 8-year-old Aldo, have each taken on the role of unofficial mascots at the law firm.

Folz said the Spinone breed was originally bred in Italy as hunting companions for peasants more than 2,000 years ago. Zara’s mother was from Italy, and was shipped over to the United States to be bred, and then shipped back. She said Zara and all of her offspring point, retrieve and are excellent hunters.

“All of the puppies that we have had, they’ve gone to hunt homes, and they’ve done very well,” Folz said. “They’ve been doing what they’re bred to do.”

According to the AKC, the Spinone is a “loyal, friendly and alert dog with a close lying, wiry coat.” It is an ancient breed that can be traced back to approximately 500 B.C.

Although the AKC says the breed’s average life expectancy is about nine years, Folz said she has had dogs that live 14 years or longer. Adult Spinones typically weigh 75-85 pounds.

Although they were originally intended for hunting purposes, the AKC says Spinones are diversely intelligent and practical for companion dogs, assistance dogs and show dogs.

Over 5,000 dogs from all over the world travel to Orlando to compete in the AKC National Championships each year, which features the top national and international canine athletes the world has to offer.

By winning the Award of Excellence, Zara qualified to compete in the world’s largest dog show, Crufts. The international canine event is held in Birmingham, England. Over 27,000 dogs compete in that show every year.

Folz said it was “cool to qualify,” but she and Zara wouldn’t be going. Not only are the costs of the trip prohibitive — many of the dogs have corporate sponsors — but she is uneasy about taking her dog on an airplane.

Folz said the competitions are less about winning awards and more about the companionship of a dog and its owner.

“It’s not about wanting to be the best and having a big ego thing happening,” she said. “I love my dog and she loves me, we’re a team, and we’re doing something we can enjoy together.

“If she did not enjoy doing this, I wouldn’t be doing it. It’s great,” Folz said.