Proud dog owners from around the world came together under one roof to showcase their fur babies for a local dog show that’s now in its 80th year. The Barrie Kennel and Obedience Club’s Annual Dog Show is taking place under a massive tent at the Essa Agriplex in Barrie over the long weekend. In celebration of the milestone, exhibitors were encouraged to dress in their best 1940s style. Organizers say nearly 100 different breeds and 1,000 dogs came through over the course of the three-day show. The breeds included Havanese, Goldens, Pyrenees and Whippets. Carol Brech, show chair for the Barrie Kennel and Obedience Club, says people tend to come back every year. “We try to go over and above to make everybody happy, so exhibitors come back year after year,” Brech says. Not only can exhibitors win championships and have top dogs, but many tend to camp out for the weekend and get the added benefit of socializing with fellow dog lovers. Brech says people come from all over the world including this year’s judges who are from Brazil, Holland, Australia and Canada. Maureen Trodd-Nicholls is the owner and exhibitor of an 11-year-old Gumby Chinese Shar-Pei named Disco, just one of five dogs she shows. He’s been showing all his life and when he was just one year old, he was an American and Canadian grand champion. While now retired, Disco came out of retirement to show in the veteran’s category this weekend. “He has to get into his stance, hold himself up, and he has to learn to go on the ramp and show his bite and his tongue,” says Trodd-Nicholls. “They have to have a blue-black tongue and scissor bite.” It turns out Disco had what it took and came out at the top in his group. The dog show is open for anyone to watch and continues holiday Monday.
