The weather was not too cooperative for the Cleveland Family Pet Expo, November 22-23, 2008 at the I-X Convention Center.
Everyone arrived to a lake effect snow storm, but the weather gods cooperated and the snow stopped just long enough to allow all the flights to arrive on time on Friday! The event was host to the WCFO Broadway Barkin’ Boogie Canine Freestylers competitions, demos and workshop which was sponsored by Tower Show Productions, K9Grass, Natural Balance Pet Foods and presented by the WCFO Club Dogs Rock.
The Radisson Airport hotel was very, very pet friendly and both dogs and owners were greeted with hugs and cuddles. Helping hands held our pooches as we unloaded and checked in and out. The food in the restaurant was great with a buffet breakfast and the best burgers and blue cheese dressing I have tasted in a long time. Just writing about it makes my mouth water!
The snow stopped on Saturday and off we went to the expo center to set up early. On hand to help were the Dogs Rock Club families so we had lots of support. Special thanks goes to Ron 
Everett our super-duper soundman, Elton Shuster, our videographer/ photographer and Reba Noe our timer/judges assistant. Always in the background with a supporting word and hand was Jody our Tower sponsor who made sure the ring set up was beautiful, the sound system was in tip top shape and we had everything we needed. I must say, for a first time ever show, she did a great job. Let’s all give her a big thank you and also send good wishes her way as she will having some surgery this week. She plans to spend some of her at home time watching our Animal Planet special on December 6th at 9pm.
Saturday morning started off with the titling competition with our beautifully dressed judge, Gay Stahley. Competing at a pet expo is quite an intriguing experience and can truly test your dog’s attention and abilities. If you can dance here, you can dance anywhere….and dance they did-exceptionally!
Judges Routine Patie Ventre
Novice Sassy Senior
Gay Stahley, Wyoming, PA & Kerry Blue Terrier Hummie. 7.9, 8.6 W-SSFDX
Beginner B Heelwork-to-Music
.Maria Duthie, Medina, OH & Australian Shepherd Flip. 7.3, 7.5 LEG
Novice Heelwork-To-Music
Ellen Shuster, Marion, OH & Mixed Breed BeBop. 8.1, 8.2 LEG
Advanced Heelwork-To-Music
Jan Mayr, Hannastown, PA & Border Collie Piper. 9.0, 9.0 NQ
Beginner A Musical Freestyle|
Diane Smith, Westerville OH & Shetland Sheepdog Holly.7.3, 7.5 LEG
Novice Musical Freestyle
Maria Duthie, Medina, OH & Australian Shepherd Flip. 8.3, 8.3 LEG
Intermediate Musical Freestyle
Ellen Shuster, & Mixed Breed BeBop. 8.3, 8.3 NQ
Advanced Musical Freestyle
Paula Everett, Green Camp, OH & Bearded Collie Andy. 9.0, 9.0 NQ
Perfect Dance Partners Musical Freestyle
Jan Mayr, Hannastown, PA & Border Collie Piper. 9.0, 9.5 NQ
Special Awards Saturday
Best Collar: Free WCFO Entry Diane Smith/Holly
Best Costume: Free WCFO Entry/Paula Everett/Andy
Most Bonded Team: $30 WCFO Gift Certificate For WCFO Items Maria Duthie/Flip
Most Audience Appeal: $30 WCFO Gift Certificate WCFO Items Jan Mayr/Piper
Fancy Foot Award: $30 WCFO Gift Certificate For WCFO Item Ellen Shuster/Bebop
After the competition we did two sets of relaxing demos and just had fun with our dogs. Jan Mayr took out Seeker and Ellen Shuster brought out Drey to do some demos also. Paula brought everyone Ohio State Shirts and Breeds Apart Pet Salon and Boutique ( www.breedsapart.com) gave us OSU doggie shirts to put on our dogs and we did a group demo to Hang On Sloopy which was a real crowd pleaser. That night was a very big game between Michigan and Ohio so this was a momentous event to the natives.
From 3-6pm we did a canine freestyle workshop with some nice teams that we hope to see in the future. We taught desensitizing the dogs, training direct to verbal commands, the importance of linking transition moves, the necessity of allowing your dog to become a full partner in the development of the routine, the choosing of music.
Some of teams from the workshop joined in the Turkey Trot FunMeet and won prizes. We had great awards for the Turkey Trot, squeaky toys, Christmas toys, beautiful crystal and rhinestone photo frames, specialized dog treats, donated by Paula Everett. First place-Kathy Combs & Peaches second place-Trish Clute & Zippa, third place-Ellen Shuster & Dray. Honorable Mention to Cliffette Thacker & Lab Gator and Karen Phillips & Golden Max, teams from the workshop.
In the evening everyone got together and went to the Macaroni Grill for dinner for some sharing, bonding....and good food which was robust and plentiful, just like the atmosphere at the table. In other words, we had a good time and rested our sore bones.
Sunday morning was dazzling sunshine day as we set out for the I-X center. The day began with the second Broadway Barkin’ Dancers Competition where our elegantly dressed judge, Gay, granted lots of legs and titles to the teams who did such an incredible job! I must say all the teams did a great job. The floor was quite big with lots of room to stay away from the perimeter, but the sounds of the pet show were quite loud and distracting. Yet each and every team did great and, I am sure, learned quite a bit on how to handle distractions, noises, etc. Here are the final results for the day.
Judges Routine Patie Ventre
Novice Sassy Senior
Gay Stahley, Wyoming, PA & Kerry Blue Terrier Hummie. 7.9, 8.6 W-SSFDX 
Beginner B Heelwork-to-Music
1301 Maria Duthie, Medina, OH & Australian Shepherd Flip. 7.3, 7.7 W-FD
Novice Heelwork-To-Music
1. Kathleen Combs, Clayton, OH & Pembroke Welsh Corgi Peaches. 8.1, 8.6 LEG
2. Trish Clute, Beavercreek, OH & Border Terrier Zippa. 8.1, 8.5 LEG
3. Ellen Shuster, Marion, OH & Mixed Breed BeBop. 8.0, 8.4 LEG
Advanced Heelwork-To-Music
1. Jan Mayr, Hannastown, PA & Border Collie Piper. 9.4, 9.6 LEG
Novice Musical Freestyle
1. Maria Duthie, Medina, OH & Australian Shepherd Flip. 8.2, 8.4 LEG
Advanced Musical Freestyle
1. Paula Everett, Green Camp, OH & Bearded Collie Andy. 9.3, 9.3 LEG
Intermediate Musical Freestyle
Ellen Shuster, & Mixed Breed BeBop. 8.5, 8.5 LEG
Perfect Dance Partners Musical Freestyle
Jan Mayr, Hannastown, PA & Border Collie Piper. 9.5, 9.6 LEG
Special Awards
WCFO Hi Tech Award Jan Mayr & Piper
WCFO HI Artistic Award Jan Mayr & Piper
DogHouse Dancers Hi Tech HTM Jan Mayr & Piper
DogHouse Dancers Hi Artistic HTM Jan Mayr & Piper
Best Collar: Free WCFO Entry Kathleen Combs & Peaches
Best Costume: Free WCFO Entry Trish Clute & Zippa
Most Bonded Team: $30 WCFO Gift Certificate For WCFO Items Ellen & Bebop
Routine With Most Audience Appeal: $30 WCFO Gift Certificate WCFO Items Paula Everett
Fancy Foot Award: $30 WCFO Gift Certificate For WCFO Items Jan Mayr & Piper
Goodies Award donated by Paula Everett, Maria Duthie & Flip, 2 title winner
I would like to thank all the teams who came to compete and demo. You did a great job, worked hard and hopefully were fed well! 
Paula Everett and Andy just dazzled us all with their costume and fast Mambo footwork-Hot, Hot, Hot! Maria Duthie and Flip were our beginner stars-congratulations! Jan Mayr and Piper were our champion stars-WOW! Ellen Shuster and BeBop and Drey were our elegant team and our Hip Hoppers-you go girl!, Diane Smith and Holly brought a joyful smile to all our faces as we remembered our first time out-way to go! Kathy Combs and Peaches were our Ginger Rogers and Meaghan Combs and Charlie finally got courageous and represented our juniors on the floor-good job! Trish Clute and Zippa turned their routine over and over and gave us a little dream to dream about the upcoming Christmas holidays.
Very special thanks goes to Gay Stahley our judge who kept us all on track, on time and gave a very professional air to our event presentation.
Also, special thanks to all the family members who came to support us all, husbands, Ron Everett, Elton Shuster, Bob Mayr and Reba’s daughter. We always had someone to watch the booth, hold our dog, be there for us all. Stopping by to leave flyers for her new freestyle classes was Lori Stanley who we had not seen in a long time and Morene Stickrod popped in on Saturday morning to say hello!
All teams competing will receive their Frequent Dancer Points and WCFO, INC says thank you from all of us to all of you! Your support will help the organization continue its growth and development. The next WCFO, INC Frequent Dancer Points sponsored event will be Chicagoland Family Pet Expo’s Wag Time Ragtime with judge Gloria Voss presiding! Hope to see you there!
