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How to Be the Top Dog
Helen Hong October 20th, 2017
Helen reports from the Royal Melbourne Show in Australia.
Many dog owners dream of teaching their dog to be the very best. The Royal Melbourne Show, Australia’s most prestigious competition for dogs, brings grooming and training to a whole new level. From border collies to Pomeranians, the show is truly a dog lover’s heaven.
Each year, judges award several prizes. But only one dog can be chosen as the “best of all breeds.”
At this year’s competition, I spoke with Melinda Watt, who trains Salukis, a breed that originated in the Middle East.
“Training is not just about showing,” said Watt. She and her husband, Andrew, entered two dogs in the competition, Cressy and Portia. “It’s also important that show dogs have the right temperament.”
Co-owner and handler Andrew Watt with Portia, who was awarded runner-up for best puppy of breed
LOTS OF PAMPERING
During the competition, dogs are judged on such things as agility, jumping, and obedience. But the main point of showing, Watt explained, “is to find the dogs that are closest to the breed standard.” It’s about how much a purebred dog “looks the way the breed should look.” That can mean having the ideal curve of a tail or even eyes that are the right color.
A lot of hard work goes into getting a dog is ready to compete. Just before the show, the dogs are groomed to perfection. Some pups spend more than three hours getting their hair done!
In the end, it’s all worth it, at least for this reporter. What a treat to see the best of the best!
Top photo courtesy of the author; bottom photo courtesy of Melinda Watt