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P.A. Exhibition Centre goes to the dogs

Mar 3, 2017 | 11:55 AM

There may only be one big winner, but they’re all ‘good dogs.’

The Prince Albert Kennel Club is hosting their annual Dog Show from March 2 to 5. The event will see roughly 350 dogs a day compete for the top honour of Best in Show.

Karen Prokopetz  is an owner, breeder and handler from Regina. She has been showing her dog breed of choice, the Scottish Terrier, for 25 years.

“I like Scotties because they are so loyal, they have bright and active personalities. The part of them that is very enduring is their tail, their fat little tail that wags and wags,” she said.

Prokopetz currently has four dogs: Agnes, her brother Barton, their mother Sophie, and grandmother Annie. Agnes will be competing in Prince Albert, but following this show, Prokopetz is taking Barton – ranked number seven out of Scottish Terriers in the United States – to Ohio where he’ll be recognized at the American National’s Top 20 event. 

She explained dogs compete anywhere from six months to nine years old. There’s a veteran class for dogs over seven and a puppy class for those under 12 months. Most breeders start to work with potential show dogs at roughly four or five weeks.

“We start to play with them, we start to see which ones are… willing, and sociable,” she said.

Prokopetz explained ‘show dog people’ don’t breed dogs for money, instead they do it for the love of the sport and their favourite variety of dog. Owners are very selective in which two dogs they choose to breed together.

“I’ve sent dogs to Maryland to be bred, to Calgary, Portland, to Denver … that’s the kind of community I live in, I live in a very big dog community,” Prokopetz said, adding the show dog community is a family of likeminded people.

“If you’re lucky you find someone that’s interested in the same breed as you, you help them out. They go on and you’re proud of them like any other sport,” she said.

 

swallace@panow.com

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