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A well-heeled crowd

Tampa Bay puts out the grassy welcome mat (and faux fire hydrants) as some pampered guests and their humans come to town. And first class is just fine.

By ALEXANDRA ZAYAS
Published January 13, 2006

[Times photos: Stefanie Boyar]

Knotty, a bloodhound and last year's AKC/Eukanuba Best in Show Champion, gets a spritz of water from owner Lyn Sherman after arriving Thursday at Tampa International Airport from California. As reigning champion, Knotty will have his own booth at the show this weekend. Dog show info | Video | Photo gallery

	Knotty naps at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Tampa while his owner Lyn Sherman unpacks his trophies.
	Dandy, a Welsh Pembroke Corgi, hangs out in baggage claim Thursday while waiting for luggage with Bandit, a smooth collie, center, and Skyler, a rough collie. The three dogs were among more than 15 on a flight from California.

TAMPA - One guest requires pate, ordered from a specific restaurant. (Note from concierge: Hold the pistachios.) Another requests a masseuse. Even the grass they walk on will be replaced every day.

They have double the luggage - and double the legs - of the Hyatt Regency Tampa's regular guests, and for the posh pooches in this weekend's American Kennel Club/Eukanuba National Championship, that adds up to four-star treatment.

In total, 3,471 dogs will descend on downtown Tampa, frolicking with owners along Florida Avenue when not competing for coveted championship titles at the St. Pete Times Forum, in one of the most prestigious dog shows in the world, yielding more than $225,000 in prize money.

"These dogs prance," said Hyatt Regency Tampa concierge Randy Strebing. "It is so cool to see the poodles come through because they are just regal looking."

B.G., an Australian shepherd, flew first class to Tampa from Stamford, Conn. She always does, quietly chomping on ice in the first row's roomy plush seats.

"She walks through the airport, goes through security, gets on the plane, jumps onto the seat," said Bob Amen, her handler, as B.G. sat patiently beside him Thursday, waiting to check into the Hyatt.

Knotty - a 125-pound bloodhound from Malibu, Calif., who was last year's Best in Show - gets his own frequent flier miles, consolation for being deprived of his $2,800 treadmill. He travels an average of three times a month in a crate in the belly of the airplane.

Downtown businesses pant at the prospect of all those patrons.

At Jackson's Bistro on Harbour Island, which has a big, dog-friendly patio, restaurant attendance quadrupled during last year's dog show weekend. Restaurants throughout Hyde Park are poised to offer water to dogs while their owners dine alfresco.

Eleven downtown hotels are nearly booked solid. Dogs and their owners ride the Courtyard Marriott's shuttle, and gourmet dog biscuits sit in jars at the front desk next to peppermint bowls.

The Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau estimates that apart from the publicity Tampa will gain from national coverage on both the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet, the show will generate $1.5-million for the city.

"Generally speaking, this is a pretty well-traveled, high-income group of people," said bureau spokeswoman Dianne Jacob. "They dine out and spend some money while they're in town."

Breeder Judy McConnell from Anchorage, Alaska, planned to hit the malls with friends after her dog Weston did his business outside the Hyatt. The hotel set up a grassy doggie-relief area, complete with faux fire hydrants, a miniature white picket fence, paper towels, latex gloves, antibacterial soap and a trash can.

But Wednesday, the big black Bouvier just wouldn't cooperate. The Alaskan pooch wandered over the sod, appearing confused. Did Florida have no ice, no snow?

Gunner McGee, a white Irish Glen Imaal terrier, dug his paws into the grass. In his small mountain town of Bailey, Colo., he chases coyotes on pine needles and decomposed granite.

Owner Terry Maxfield was trying her best to make him feel at home. She had the Hyatt bring a refrigerator into the room so he could continue his strict natural diet of raw meat and vegetables.

"These dogs are not your typical dogs," said Kendra Booth of Best Western Westshore Hotel, where 60 dogs will stay this weekend. "They're cleaner than most of the kids we have in the hotel."

And quieter, said David Murphy, who didn't know he would be sharing a hotel with 152 dogs when he booked a room at the Hyatt on business from Jacksonville. "When we checked in last night, I said, "Oh gosh, we're not going to be able to sleep,"' Murphy said. "But we didn't hear anything."

Gunner McGee's ears perked up as an ambulance blazed by. Maxfield said the rural puppy had never heard a siren before. He didn't make a noise.

"They don't bark. They don't shed. My husband says if they could flush, they'd be perfect," Maxfield said. "But I guess two out of three isn't bad."

- Alexandra Zayas can be reached at 813 226-3354 or at azayas@sptimes.com

[Last modified January 13, 2006, 06:22:03]