The Best Puppy in Group for 2017. (Supplied by Lethbridge and District Kennel Club)

By David Opinko

Over 300 dogs competing at Obedience and Conformation Shows in Lethbridge this weekend

Nov 13, 2019 | 11:38 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – One of the largest-ever groups of K-9 competitors will be part of a dog show hosted by the Lethbridge and District Kennel Club.

Promotions Manager Evelyn Sera says, for each of the event’s three days, they will have more than 300 dogs.

“This is the last show we have in Alberta for this year, so we have quite a number of dogs that are in the top standings and are wanting to get to this show so they can achieve more points and to bring them right up to the top standings.”

She was not sure exactly how many breeds will be represented, but she believes there will be dogs from at least 50.

The dog show features a variety of obedience and rally trials for all ages and all breeds. Puppies aged three-to-six months will be vying for the title of Best Baby Puppy In Show on Saturday and Sunday.

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“The purpose of that is to purely provide opportunities for puppies to get experience coming to the dog show because they are not eligible for points towards their championship until they are a minimum of six months of age.”

Another event will highlight the “veterans”, or dogs that are at least seven years old.

Sera explains that the breed competitions will have the dogs come into a ring where the judge will assess them on their breed standards.

“For dogs that are competing in and achieving that best in show, a lot of those dogs are working towards their Top Dog in Canada [status] and so there are points awarded to each of those dogs for those particular wins, and that goes towards their cumulative total.”

While many of the dogs hail from B.C., Alberta, and Saskatchewan, Sera says some are travelling to Lethbridge from the northwestern states like Montana.

The Obedience and Conformation Shows take place on November 15th to 17th in the North Pavilion of Exhibition Park. The events on Friday and Saturday run from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm and from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Sunday.

Admission is $5 per person, although those under the age of 12 who are accompanied by an adult can get in for free.