• Learn About the Demonstrations

    Get in the know before you go. Learn about the demonstrations you'll see and the fascinating people behind them

    While at the Javits Center, you’ll see demonstrations that will introduce you to the world of events that you can enjoy with your pets and that exemplify the many ways that dogs work alongside people. Make sure to stop by the demo rings, which will be running all day, both days, to experience the fun. Meet some of those who will be participating:

     
    • Betsy Scapicchio & Top Dog Obedience School
    • Obedience, Agility and Rally

    Betsy Scapicchio, owner and training director at Top Dog Obedience School in Flanders, N.J., has been teaching and training dogs successfully for 30 years. She began taking obedience classes in 1977 to get her German shepherd dog, Tara, to heel off leash. After a year of training, Betsy's instructor encouraged her to start competing. After a third place win in their very first event, Betsy was hooked.

    Betsy has completed six AKC obedience championship titles on various dogs and earned more than 25 other obedience and agility titles, scoring thirteen perfect scores along the way. She created Top Dog Obedience School in 1990, offering classes in a garage. The school now operates in a large full-time facility, offering fifteen obedience classes a week, plus agility, private lessons, seminars, and all manner of dog events.

     

    Betsy regularly welcomes dogs of all breeds, sizes, ages, levels and interests to Top Dog. "Every dog benefits immensely from training," Betsy says. "It's much easier to live at home and in your community with a dog who will listen to you." She currently has students competing at all levels of obedience and agility as well as pet owners who just want their dogs to stop pulling them during walks or jumping on household guests.

     

    At Meet the Breeds, spectators will be able to watch both beginner and advanced dogs run through obedience, agility and rally routines in the demonstration ring. Skills such as scent discrimination, retrieving, weaving through poles, heeling and jumping will be demonstrated by a diverse array of breeds.

     

    "Obedience, agility and rally teach owners and dogs how to work together. I'm proud of all of my students and the relationship they have developed with their dogs," Betsy says. "Some people come to us in the beginning with unruly dogs, and now their family pet is well-behaved and even holds an AKC title. Nothing pleases me more than seeing dogs become part of the family."

     

    Become inspired to train your own dog by watching Top Dog's Obedience, Agility and Rally demonstrations at Meet the Breeds!

     

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    • Jo Ann Frier-Murza
    • Earthdog Expert

    Jo Ann has promoted the sport of den trials (also known as earthdog events) since 1972, when she began working with the American Working Terrier Association. Originally, terriers and dachshunds were used to bolt foxes from their dens or to locate nuisance predators underground. In recent decades, American dog owners have embraced simulated hunting in artificial tunnels as a test of innate abilities. Over the years, Jo Ann has chaired, judged and hosted hundreds of events and has visited many European countries to study traditional earthdog trials. In 1993, the AKC sought her input when developing a competitive earthdog program. The AKC now sanctions nearly 150 earthdog events each year and awards junior, senior and master earthdog titles in the sport.

    In an effort to help people learn about this event and enjoy their dogs more fully, Jo Ann authored "Earthdog Ins & Outs," a comprehensive guide to the history, breeds and training techniques involved in earthdog events. Her New Jersey-based facility, Village Green Farm Earthdog Center, encourages newcomers and assists advanced participants through classes and programs.

     

    "Working with beginners has always been enjoyable for me," says Jo Ann. "Earthdog is an instinctive activity for terriers and dachshunds, and I strive to awaken a dog's natural drive and build confidence in both owner and dog."

     

    Jo Ann has pursued earthdog titles with her own dogs, including dachshunds, Border terriers, Bedlington terriers and a smooth fox terrier, earning field championships on four dachshunds. She has also bred Border terriers and shown them to conformation championships.

     

    At Meet the Breeds, attendees will see at least five different terrier breeds and many varieties of dachshunds at work. After being released by their owners, the dogs will dash into a wooden tunnel with Plexiglas windows, allowing spectators to watch dogs move through the tunnels and "work the quarry" (barking or digging to alert the owner). Jo Ann will comment about the different breeds and their styles. "I encourage owners of terriers and dachshunds to stop by to see what their dogs were originally bred to do!" she says.

     

    Jo Ann earned an M.S. in Animal Behavior from the State University of New York and is a graduate of the Ocean County Police Academy. Professionally, she has worked as an animal keeper and trainer at the Syracuse Zoo in New York; as a supervisor and trainer at Safari Animal Country in Saratoga, New York; and as the Endangered and Nongame Species Bureau Chief in New Jersey's Division of Fish and Wildlife. In addition to a lifelong interest in working with dogs, Jo Ann was able to diversify and train elephants, camels, llamas, and ponies to obey commands and perform tasks. Her career in wildlife management put her in the middle of restoration projects for endangered birds, reptiles, and amphibians, and the development of regulatory programs for exotic animals in captivity. Jo Ann also earned a black belt in martial arts at the age of 50.

     

    Don't miss Jo Ann and her earthdog demos going on all weekend at the demonstration ring at Meet the Breeds.

     

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    • Terri Giannetti
    • U.S. Customs & Border Protection K9 Handler and Beagle Breeder

    Terri's first family dog, a beagle named "Cookie," joined the family when she was three years old. While in high school Terri explored her love of dogs by researching every breed, saving up babysitting money, and ultimately acquiring a golden retriever with which to compete in obedience trials. While at dog shows, Terri found herself drawn to the show beagles who reminded her of her spunky childhood pet, but with a more elegant manner. She acquired her first show dog and inspired by the epic poem and its themes of honor and integrity, named her kennel Beowulf.

    In 1986 Terri met her husband Ted Swedalla at a dog show. To date, Terri and Ted have produced over 50 champion beagles under the Beowulf name, including best-in-show winning "Clues" and his grandson "Luciano," who will be on hand for you to meet and enjoy during Meet the Breeds.

     

    Terri's third love (along with Ted and the beagles) is the German shepherd dog. She currently owns two and was awarded best of breed with "Twist" at the Westminster Kennel Club Show this year.

     

    Terri's appreciation for dogs has led to a career as a K9 handler. She graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a master's degree in criminal justice in 2004 and now works for U.S. Customs & Border Protection at JFK International Airport. Her similarly named partner, "Tery," is a Belgian Malinois who was bred and named in Germany. Tery is trained to search for narcotics and conduct federal inspections of baggage, aircraft, mail and cargo coming in on international flights. Terri is also a staff sergeant in the New York Guard and a member of the United States Police Canine Association.

     

    Terri's career brings together her steadfast patriotism and her love for dogs and what they can do. "I've always been interested in law enforcement and with this job, I get to serve our country and spend time with dogs. It's the best of both worlds so I hope our demonstrations will widen the horizons of young people who are considering their future careers. Once you see the dogs in action you can appreciate how they protect and help mankind in so many ways, in addition to being our loyal companions."

     

    Terri and Tery will be demonstrating their work with U.S. Customs and Border Protection throughout the weekend, allowing the public to see federal K9 units performing their daily task of searching for narcotics.

     

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    • Jack and Kathy Martin
    • Founders, Infurno Flyball

    Infurno Flyball was founded by Kathy and Jack Martin of Poughquag, NY, in 2005. When Jack grew tired of traveling almost two hours one way to practice flyball, the Martins began training local dogs in their backyard and eventually entered a flyball tournament. After adding members from New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, Infurno ignited.

    A flyball race involves two teams of four dogs each, racing side-by-side over a 51- foot-long course. Dogs must jump over four hurdles, retrieve a tennis ball from a spring-loaded box, and then run back over the same four jumps. The first team with all four dogs across the finish, without error, wins!

    "I have always had a passion for animals, but flyball has become my favorite activity to share with my dogs," Kathy says. "If your dog is athletic, energetic and enjoys having other dogs around, then they may like flyball!"

     

    According to Jack, "It's the best way to relieve stress after a day working in corporate America!"

     

    Currently, the Infurno Flyball team has 17 members ranging in age from 8 to 61. The canine members of the team are of various breeds including a Border collie, an Australian shepherd and a Belgian Malinois.

     

    During the demonstrations, spectators will cheer on the dogs as they race down their lane to retrieve their ball. Watch them fly as they race past the finish line and celebrate with their handler.

     

    Don't miss the demonstration ring to watch flyball with Infurno!

     

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    • Jill Archibald
    • Feline Agility Coordinator, Mentor, Japanese Bobtail and Egyptian Mau breeder

    Dedication, perseverance and patience best describe Jill Archibald. Instrumental in developing the breed standard for the Egyptian Mau in the early 1970s Jill has dedicated herself to producing award-winning Egyptian Maus and contributing to the world of pedigreed cats.

    Jill is known for encouraging novices to become more involved in the cat fancy and over the years, she has educated thousands of exhibitors and spectators about cat breeds, responsible pet ownership and feline agility. At cat shows Jill can often be heard inviting spectators to sit down to talk and meet her cats.

    At Meet the Breeds, attendees will see Jill in the feline agility demonstration ring, overseeing the cats and their owners running the timed obstacle course. Jill will be available to answer questions and encourage the participants.

     

    "I enjoy meeting people and demonstrating how cats are trainable and why they are so fascinating. Meet the Breeds is the ideal venue for this as the atmosphere will really engage the public and offer an opportunity to educate thousands about the cat breeds, their willingness to interact with their humans and how fun agility is through the demonstrations."

     

    In her "real life," Jill is a middle school health and physical education teacher as well as a gymnastics, basketball, field hockey, shot put and discus coach. Since 1971 she has taught and coached all manner of students and athletes, from profoundly disabled special needs students, to typical middle school students, to even potential Junior Olympic athletes. Personally, she enjoys participating competitively in field hockey, basketball, volleyball and, of course, feline agility!

     

    See Jill at the feline agility demonstration ring with her Japanese Bobtail cat Tess.

     

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    • Joan Miller
    • Breed Showcase Presenter, All Breed International Judge and CFA Vice President

    Joan Miller has been a member of the CFA Board of Directors since 1987 and is a CFA All Breed International Judge. Her job as CFA Legislative Coordinator involves mobilizing grass-roots responses to proposals that impact breeders of pedigreed cats, caretakers of feral cats and pet ownership in general.

    Joan began in the cat fancy by breeding and exhibiting national award-winning Abyssinian cats for over 20 years. This gradually led to a fascination with all cats—pedigreed, random-bred and feral. Her writings include various cat-related articles, two chapters in Dr. Neils Pederson's "Feline Husbandry" and a chapter in the "CFA Complete Cat Book."

    Joan's talks on the diversity of cat nature, cat breed evolution, multi-cat-environments, cat population issues, shelter-cat handling, feline colors/patterns and other topics to veterinarians, students, pet owners and shelter professionals are presented throughout the country.

     

    Joan grew up outside New York City, and then had an interior design and art acquisition business in San Francisco. She now resides in San Diego, CA.

     

    You can meet Joan throughout the weekend at the CFA demonstration ring. Each presentation will last approximately 30 minutes covering topics such as "How to select your cat," "History of the breeds," "Coat color and patterns," and "What breed is best for you and your family's lifestyle."

     

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    • Lieutenant John Kerwick
    • K9 Officer, President of the United States Police Canine Association

    John Kerwick serves as the President of the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) and is the Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Canine Unit in New York City, which is also the largest explosive detection canine unit in the United States.

    Lt. Kerwick is responsible for the day-to-day management, motivation and long term operations of a fifty-team K-9 unit that is deployed throughout the New York City metropolitan area. He also communicates regularly with federal, state and local agencies to gather intelligence regarding acts of terrorism and to identify current explosive trends and then implements those issues into current training practices.

    Other demonstrations will includ

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