by Tom Baldwin photos by Jordan Isom MAY 25-27, 2018 NOR'EAST TOY DOG CLUSTER N orth Kingstown, Rhode Island was the site of the 20th annual Nor’East Toy Dog Cluster on May 25-27, 2018. Classic Toy
Dog Club of Western Massachusetts and Town &Country Toy Dog Club of Eastern Massachusetts combined to present the only cluster in the country to offer four conformation shows, four obedience and rally trials and three agility trials for TOY DOGS ONLY. Total entries for the weekend exceed- ed 1400 in the three venues. There are two shows on Friday—one in the morning and one in the after- noon plus shows on Saturday and Sunday. There was an agility trial each of the three days. Daily parking is on blacktop next to the building with all RVs parked just a short dis- tance from the building. All RV and daily parking is next to grassy areas that were perfect for x-pens. The site has immaculate restrooms with plenty of hot water. Entire flooring in the building is sports turf with building-supplied tarps cover- ing all grooming areas. The facility provided a food vendor on site who had a varied menu of delicious lunch items. The clubs gave complimentary drink tickets (coffee, juice or soda) to all exhibitors every day. In addi- tion, there was a cooler filled with complimentary bottles of cold water available all weekend. Since it was Memorial Day week- end, the entire arena, Wide World of Indoor Sports, was decorated with American flags and red, white and blue tablecloths and streamers.
you could compete in more than one discipline and easily keep track of your rings. Toy Dog Agility exceeded 150 entries each day with exhibitors coming from as far away as Bermuda. The clubs offer NOHS at the two weekend shows. Puppy Groups and BBEGroups each are offered at two of the shows. Both clubs use a number of Permit judges (formerly Provisional) each day so many of the judges are new to the exhibitors. Four different dogs and breeds won the regular groups. On Friday morning, Thomas E. Dan- iels chose the Maltese, CH. Melitica
The Italian Greyhound Club of America, Bay Colony Pomeranian Club and Patriot Pug Dog Club con- sidered the classes at the Saturday show as their specialties. In addition, two clubs held independent special- ties on Saturday evening, the Hudson Valley Chihuahua Club and the Yan- kee Miniature Pinscher Club held their annual specialties that evening. There were supported entries at all four shows for Chihuahuas, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Ha- vanese, Miniature Pinschers, Papil- lons, Pomeranians and Pugs. All rings were in a climate controlled building on great turf footing. Rings were close enough to each other that
38 • T op N otch T oys , J uly 2018
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