Assiniboine Kennel Club dog show a hit for canine lovers across Canada | CBC News
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It was a puppy paradise at Winnipeg’s St. Norbert Arena over the long weekend.
Hundreds of dog lovers descended upon the arena for the Assiniboine Kennel Club Dog Show. The three-day event saw owners showcase what makes their dog’s breed truly unique, with more than 100 paraded around the arena Sunday.
“For the majority of us, it’s the fun,” said show secretary Diane Fast. “It’s the love of working with your dog and doing something with your purebred dog.”
Fast said people from all over the country came to compete in the show, with some even coming from the U.S.
Guy Anctil made the trip from B.C. with his Belgian Shepherd, Lucas. Anctil is a seasoned competitor and has been attending dog shows professionally for years.
Regardless of how the competition goes, he knows his dog is a good boy when it’s all said and done.
The three-day event at St. Norbert Arena, featuring more than two hundred dogs, saw owners showcase what makes their dog’s breed truly unique. Dog enthusiasts from across the country came to compete.
“I love him the same,” he said. “No matter what the judge’s opinion is, I get to bring him home and … after 60 years, I know a good dog when I see one.”
And even after all these years, it’s still about the connection between human and puppy.
“We all love our dogs, a lot of times they’re our best friends,” he said. “That unconditional love, sometimes a partner you can’t get that, so the dogs, they always give you that.”
Kim Kaufmann has also been competing in dog shows for decades and said the bond between dog and owner can’t be duplicated. Kauffman and her six month old cocker spaniel, Nick, had a successful weekend, she said.
Nick won his breed all weekend and also placed in his group at his debut show, she said.
“The ideal cocker spaniel is always merry,” she said. “Merry cocker spaniel, that’s the first thing in our standard, they love everybody, they’re a great family breed and they can do everything.”
“They can be your energetic dog or they can be your little couch potato at home,” said Kaufmann.
While Anctil and Kaufmann were among the seasoned veterans of competition at the show, the next generation was on full display too.
Nine-year-old Dean Gburk entered the ring with his Welsh corgi, Hannah. He said his favourite dogs are corgis, chihuahuas or border collies.
“This is fun, you can spend time with different dogs,” he said.
Fast also said it’s important to have younger participants at the events, so they can hone their handling skills at an early age.
“Junior handling is the future of our sport, so we really like to see the kids come out and do some handling with the dogs,” she said.
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