Dogs of all shapes, sizes and with coats of varying lengths slept in cages or strutted their paces before they were taken into the ring by their equally colourful masters at the Wanganui dog show at Wembley Park yesterday.
Wellington woman Sandy Trinder sat in the sun while her year-old Yorkshireterrier Disney sat in the shade of an umbrella; both adorned with bling to shine in the ring and "add glamour".
Mrs Trinder said she enjoyed the shows because they were outdoors and relaxing, and she got to meet people.
"It's an expensive business showing your pet," said Mrs Trinder, who travels around the region every second weekend.
On top of the travelling costs, there were the show fees and grooming gear, which are essential, she said.
The brush Mrs Trinder uses to comb Disney's coat cost $195, and then there are the fancy bows that come from the States to adorn his crown.
Disney's coat is high-maintenance and needs to be wrapped every night; a half-hour process of hair sectioning and placing in tissue. As his hair grows longer, the coat wrap could take up to an hour.
Movement, top line, the perfect scissor bite , dome and bone structure, as well as the health and coat colour and a proper standing tail are the marks of a top show dog.
