Natalie Scherwin and her dog Eddie have a lot of experience with dog shows. She's been showing dogs since she was 13 and Eddie has won a lot of awards. Note his curled tail. That's a very desirable trait for dogs like Eddie who is a Basenji.
Natalie Scherwin understands the mind of canine champions. Her dog, Eddie is a Basenji, and has won numerous competitions in his four short years. Scherwin has shown dogs since she was 13 years old and she knew the breeder, Jordan Reed of the Atarasi Kennel in Federal Way since those days, and even used to show with him. In 2007 she visited him and, "wasn't planning on getting a dog but I saw Eddie in with a group of puppies and fell in love."
Eddie has been in close to 100 dog shows. "Most shows are two to three days," said Scherwin," and he has been showing since he was six months old, pretty regularly. Eddie has recently taken six "Best of Breed" titles has won other competitions.
Scherwin explained that the Basenji is a "natural breed," from the Congo meaning you can still find them in the Congo today in remote villages where dogs of other origins have not had access. They are a hunting dog and are, "really independent if they catch a smell they are off out the door. You have to be really careful letting them off leash. They are kind of aloof with strangers too."
Basenjis are very smart and have unique personalities Scherwin said and "they are very loyal to their people."
They are sometimes called "Africa's Barkless Dog" because they do not bark, unlike most other dogs but they do emit a sound more like a yodel.
Eddie enjoys "Lure Coursing" an activity in which dogs chase an artificial lure across a field, following a pattern meant to simulate live coursing or hunting. "He gets scored on his speed and agility and hunting ability. He's very enthusiastic about chasing fake bunnies," Scherwin said.
There are stuffed animals in the house as toys for him but they have to be kept on top of the refrigerator or he will chew them up in short order.
Sherwin feeds Eddie First Mate Potato and Fish dog food. "It's better for his coat," she said. Treats are usually chicken and for shows he gets boiled chicken gizzards in pieces.
His training includes normal obedience instruction but also special show classes where he learned how to behave in dog shows. "Being on a table, being examined by a judge, that kind of thing." Eddie doesn't really do many tricks per se but does a few just for shows to keep busy while waiting for other dogs to be judged during shows. That means he likes to, "spin, that's his favorite." Part of this may be due to the fact that the breed is notoriously hard to train. "They are considered to have selective hearing," Scherwin explained, "They do what they want to. They are almost cat-like in that way."
For a show dog, Eddie measures up well in key characteristics. "The head is very important and having a well proportioned head with a lot of wrinkle is important. He has a very nice head, that's one of his best qualities."
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