Ginger Williams knew exactly what she wanted in a dog: well behaved and not a puppy.

The Hillsborough resident found Skyler, a collie, and thought nothing of the show contract the breeder had her sign. The breeders would check on the dog in a year to see if it was show quality. If it was, they had the right to show the dog. One year later the breeders called. Now Skyler is a champion dog showing all over the United States. And Williams enjoys cheering on her dog from the sidelines.

Skyler is one of three dogs from San Mateo County competing in the invitation only American Kennel Club/Eukanuba National Championship in Tampa, Fla. Jan. 14 - 15. Dogs will be competing for $225,000 in cash prizes and for the National Champion title. For the owners showing the dogs, this lifestyle was never planned.

In most dog shows, even the prestigious Westminister dog show, any dog can enter. In this show only the dogs ranked in the top 25 of their breed are invited. Any dog who received an all-breed Best in Show at an American Kennel Club show held during a qualifying period will also be invited.

Skyler is ranked number 2 in the nation among his breed.

To become a champion, a dog must earn a certain amount of points. Points are earned by winning titles at shows. The amount of points each title is worth depends on the number of dogs involved. A local show might be worth one to two points, Williams said. A dog can’t just earn the reputation from small competitions. In total a dog must accumulate 15 points and win two major shows.

Once named a champion the dog can use its champion name. Skyler’s name is Champion Society Edenrock Arctic Sky. The name is broken down with champion as the title, followed by the two kennel names of the mom and dad then the dog’s given name.

Just like Williams, Susie Borg of San Bruno didn’t plan on becoming a dog show mom. In 1989, Borg and her mom were looking forward to training it. The Bullmastiff they got was so good they ended up showing it.

Borg decided to continue showing, but with a different breed, basset hound. Lovingly called Toby, her show dog’s full name is Champion Castle Hill Who’s Your Daddy. She calls him Toby because he looked like this basset hound in a Disney movie named Toby.

Borg and Toby compete in about 80 shows a year. Each show costs about $25 to register, but that doesn’t include travel costs. And most shows have no monetary award.

“It’s just something I enjoy. It’s spending time with the dog and the friends I’ve met. ... I’ve found if I don’t go to a dog show through the weekend I find I don’t know what to do,” she said.

Toby, ranked around number 23 nationally, was trained by Borg.

It’s a different kind of training. Normally dogs are taught the difference between sitting and standing but for the shows the dogs can’t sit. The dog needs to be alert and also quiet. Borg said there are local clubs the puppies can be taken to when training to run around in circles.

For Ruth Sampson of San Mateo, her love of American Eskimo dogs started years before she thought about competing.

Sampson and her husband got their first eski in 1987 and bred their first litter in 1989.

“After my husband died, my ‘kids’ kept me sane and I got more involved in the breed,” she said.

She began showing when her dog Juneau was gaining recognition. Juneau went on to be the all-time top winning eski, Sampson said.

She will be showing Juneau’s son Primo in next week’s competition. Although Primo is only 2 years old, he already claims an all-breed Best in Show award.

The show will be broadcasted simultaneously on Animal Planet and the Discover Channel at 8 p.m. both nights. Viewers will be able to choose their own Best in Show by casting their vote on www.animalplanet.com during the competition. The award will be presented on-air immediately following the judges’ Best in Show decision.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.