Lola, a seven and a half month old bracco italiano receives a treat from owner Janelle Barraclough from Otaki.
Lola, a seven and a half month old bracco italiano receives a treat from owner Janelle Barraclough from Otaki.
Hundreds of dogs put their best paws forward at the weekend when the Ruahine Kennel Association hosted its annual Dog Dayz show.
Dog owners from throughout New Zealand were registered for the event which was held in perfect conditions in terms of dog shows - a slight breeze and nottoo hot.
A total of 415 entries were received for the Saturday show and 366 for Sunday's event. The seven groups were made up of toys, gundogs, terriers, hounds, working dogs, utility dogs and non-sporting breeds. Each group is divided in six classes - baby, puppy, junior, intermediate, New Zealand bred and open.
Show manager Bob Weaver kept events ticking over during the two days, making sure the show ran smoothly.
Owners put in hours of work to ensure their dogs look their best.
Among the dogs Shayne and Vivien Douglas of Levin were showing was a 6-year-old Alaskan malamute. Its thick coat takes four hours to wash and blow dry the day before a show and another hour of grooming on show day.
Alaskan malamute Luke is put through his paces in the show ring by owner Shayne Douglas.
Among the more unusual dogs were a pair of keeshonds, a breed that originated in Holland for work as barge dogs. They had travelled from Auckland with their owner Jeanette Wingels.
She said despite their thick, fluffy coats they weren't high-maintenance dogs but were highly intelligent.
Keeshonds Oliver who is two and a half years old, and 18 month old Brooklyn travelled from Auckland for Dog Dayz. The dogs were imported from Canada.
Another unusual dog was Lola, a bracco italiano, which is a breed of ancient hunting dog. At just seven and a half months old, Lola was already as tall as her mother.
Ruahine Kennel Association committee members had considerable success over the two days.
Brenda and Deanna Pender's Basset Fauve de Bretagne was Reserve Best in Show in the East Coast Hound Association show, which was judged prior to the Dog Dayz, then took out the Ruahine show's Best of Group award in the hound group and won the Junior in Show award.
Woodville owner Helene Owen won several group awards and Reserve Best in Show in the all breeds show with her boxers. E
lza Maulder and her American cocker spaniel won New Zealand Bred of Group and class awards, while her daughter Alexa and son Toby were placed first and second respectively in the junior handlers class.
Louise Horrocks was awarded Intermediate of Group and New Zealand Bred of Group with her whippets and Denise Clark won Best of Group and Open of Group with her Kerry blue terrier. Fiona Walker won reserve best in breed with her affenpinscher.
