(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

WHO'S A GOOD DOG?

Kennel Club hosts annual dog show at Westerner Park

Apr 6, 2019 | 6:58 PM

It was a ruff day at the Westerner Park Agricentre where the annual Red Deer and District Kennel Club dog show was taking place.

For the last 29 years, the club has run fall and spring shows, and this year attracted around 500-700 entries daily, with 150 breeds represented from across North America.

Dogs and their handlers compete in one of seven groups, and in the categories of conformation and obedience, according to promotions director Ivan Busenius.

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“It’s done for basically the fun of it,” he says. “There are some people I think when you get into the bigtime dog shows, there is a lot of money spent and earned, but 90 per cent of the people do it for the fun and the sport.”

As for the club itself, it’s run strictly by volunteers and is a non-profit organization overseen by the Canadian Kennel Club.

The show offers competition, of course, but also the latest products for dogs and a chance for spectators and prospective owners to learn about our canine friends.

“They can talk to the breeders and handlers, and maybe it depends on where you live, what you want a dog for, what type of pet you want, a big one, a little one, one that needs a lot of workout, or if you just want a dog to lay on the couch,” Busenius quips.

“We’ve had a lot of people come here looking for a pet dog and end up getting a show dog and into dog shows.”

More information is at RDDKC.com.