Finding out who is top dog in Welland

If you’d rather be hanging around with four-legged friends this long weekend, Welland is the place to be. The Wine Country Kennel Club Dog Show is already underway. You’ll see pooches of all shapes and sizes vying for the title of ‘top dog’.

Walk into the Niagara regional exhibition grounds in Welland this weekend and it looks like a huge beauty parlour for pooches.

They’re being brushed and combed.

This little dog has a bow in her hair. A little face powder and she’s set to go.

Tina, the toy poodle is competing for the title of champion.

“But she also likes to sit on the couch and play around with all the other toy poodles.”

It looks like play.

He’s getting ready to go back in the ring.

But dog shows are serious business.

Marg Brown, Wine Country Kennel Club: “Some of these dogs here will participate at Westminster and the Ipanema, Florida shows.”

There are the familiar breeds — pugs and poodles.

And then there’s Zack. A hairless, Chinese crested.

“They’re very affectionate. A lot of fun. Very playful.”

There’s a dog show like this every weekend some place in Ontario. The parking lot’s jammed with RV’s and trailers. It looks like the dog lovers version of tailgating.

“I love a good road trip and it’s always nice to see friends.”

Over the four days, 11 hundred dogs will be strutting their stuff here.

“It’s a lot of fun, because you can talk dog all day and nobody gets bored.”