Summit couple show dog at Westminster in NYC
SUMMIT TWP — To say Bonnie and Mike Ferianc are dog lovers is an understatement.
The Summit Township couple recently returned from the prestigious Westminster Dog Show after showing their 6-year-old Alaskan Malamute, Soko.
“We show all the time, but this is the first time we came up here,” Bonnie Ferianc said.
The Feriancs have been showing dogs since they’ve been married, nearly 40 years, but they just competed for the first time in the Westminster Dog Show in Madison Square Garden, New York City.
“There are so many people here,” she said. “There’s just tons of spectators.”
The Westminster Dog Show had about 2,500 entries this year.
The Feriancs have been to bigger shows, such as the Eukanuba Classic in Orlando, Fla., with about 5,000 entries, but there isn’t nearly as big of an audience as with the Westminster show.
Soko’s full show name is American/Polish Champion Sokanon RedRain Illa Kuvianartok. The Feriancs had Soko imported from Poland a little over a year ago.
“We flew him over from Poland so he is just getting started in his show career,” she said.
Soko became a champion dog at the Butler County Kennel Club Dog Show in September, and took Best of Breed over four other championship dogs.
Canines at the Westminster Dog Show are judged based on how close they are to the standard breed. Judges thoroughly groom each dog from front to back, inspecting teeth, height, weight and color.
Those standards are often subjective, depending on the judge.
“Soko being dark red in color is harder to show because judges aren’t used to his beautiful color,” Bonnie Ferianc said.
Alaskan Malamutes are in the working class dog category. Soko did not advance to subsequent rounds.
A professional dog handler, Sam Mammano, showed the dog Tuesday at Westminster.
Soko got an Award of Merit; the only Malamute to get it.
The Feriancs own kennel Ice Cream Alaskan Malamutes and have 10 other dogs, all Alaskan Malamutes. The kennel was named after their first Alaskan Malamute’s favorite snack.
