Top dogs strut their stuff at Qwest Field Event Center

He's handsome, athletic, smart, friendly, great with kids. He even donates blood AND he can dance.

Mr. Right?

No, he's Chilly, a golden retriever who Saturday at the Seattle Kennel Club Dog Show at Qwest Field Event Center will be among three top dogs from a multistate area to be honored for their accomplishments.

The 72nd annual show attracts 13,000 spectators and 2,000 dogs — a scene that might be intimidating to less-seasoned show dogs. To Chilly (officially named Webshire's X-pecta Freeze), it's just another workday with his owner, Sharon Colvin.

Colvin, 59, a veterinary assistant from Lake Forest Park, got him when he was only a pup and knew right away he had potential. He was easy to train. So easy, that not only is he a champion in obedience classes — beating out 583 other dogs, making him the highest-ranking dog of the three honored at the show — but he does agility, fieldwork, dock-diving, freestyle (dance steps to music with his owner) and rally (another form of obedience) competition.

Also being honored at the show is Diesel, a Weimaraner co-owned by Anne Tyson and Judy Voris, both of Snohomish, and a Gilley, a border collie owned by Jeannie Dennard of Eugene, Ore. The dogs beat out 226 and 278 other dogs, respectively, in obedience classes in a four-state region.

"It has to be an extremely well-trained dog to work that consistently and be that attentive to the handler," Sue Cox, a show volunteer, says of Chilly. Cox, who will present the award, says a perfect score in obedience work is 200 points. Chilly's average is 198.33. "That's very close to perfection."

Chilly also donates blood at the Animal Critical Care and Emergency Services in Lake City and visits Ryther Child Center once a month. At the center, he has a special friend, a boy who walks, brushes and spends time with him — something that seems mutually beneficial, Colvin says, because Chilly whines in excitement as Colvin drives up to the building.

Chilly will be exhibiting his talents Saturday at noon at the show. Colvin wasn't sure yet exactly what he'd be doing, but the possibilities are great.

She held her arms in a circle as he leapt through.

Then she asked, "Chilly, do you remember how to fly?"

He bounded, all 53 pounds jetting into her arms. He sealed the deal with a kiss.

Nancy Bartley: 206-464-8522 or nbartley@seattletimes.com