Toy fox terrier show gives spirited dogs chance to shine

Sherry Brooks, right, of Covington, Oklahoma, inspects the dog that 9-year-old Jenna Werner is showing at a United Kennel Club Toy Fox Terrier Dog Show at the Leavenworth Co. Fairgrounds.

? A 3-year-old toy fox terrier nicknamed Chevy spends most of her time in Minnesota.

But her owners might want to consider a move to Tonganoxie after the calm white and black toy terrier took home two more best of breed titles during a weekend show at the Leavenworth County Fairgrounds. She also won the title at a show here in April.

“She has excellent terrier movement – the best movement of any dog I’ve seen in a long time,” said her owner, Donna Temple-Burgess, of Eagle Lake, Minn.

About 10 dogs competed for various titles in the weekend United Kennel Club show. The dogs and owners are members of the Heartland Toy Fox Terrier Association, which covers Kansas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Nebraska and Missouri. Owners from Perry and Topeka brought dogs to compete in the Sunday show.

Sherry Brooks, of Covington, Okla., spent Sunday morning judging and examining the dogs who pranced around the ring inside the 4-H building at the fairgrounds.

The small, pointy-eared dogs are known for being intelligent, athletic and animated at times. The judge saw quite a bit of spunk from one female, and Brooks occasionally had to use a squeaky toy to get the dog’s attention. The dog still won the category.

“I love their spirit, so I’m not taking off for that,” Brooks said.

Temple-Burgess said she had obtained two of her current dogs from breeders in northeast Kansas because the area is known for producing quality toy fox terriers.

“They are keeping them bred to the standard,” she said.