Dog Show Redux

Blue carpet. Spotlights. Applause. Evening gowns. Professionally groomed celebrities. But wait — it’s not a movie premiere. It’s a dog show.

The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, to be exact. Here, more than 2,500 of the nation’s best canine champions compete for top honors. From tiny Silky Terriers to towering Great Danes, dogs of all breeds parade around the show ring, strutting their genetic prowess. Awards are given, and the Best in Show is crowned queen, or king, of the show.

Most dog shows across the country look somewhat like this. At least, that’s what we see on television. But is there more happening, stuff the cameras don’t see? You bet.

At this particular show, held this past December in Long Beach, Calif., everything from agility to dock jumping took place inside and around the convention center. It was like a pet expo meets bazaar meets Westminster. The actual competition rings were just a small part of all the excitement.

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