• Home
• /
• Entertainment

Bow-Wow!

IT WAS SMILES all round on Saturday as our furry friends both cute and cuddly and sleek and toned paraded around the 20th Dubai Pedigree and Whiskas Pet Show. An annual event, which has gathered incredible momentum since its inception in the late eighties, attracted close to 30,000 pet owners.

Fairground rides, clowns, stilt walkers, balloon benders, a bouncy castle and face painting entertained the visitors, but the day’s activities revolved around the main event: the Pedigree Dog Show competition, which was judged by four dog-show specialist judges from the United Kingdom including Marion Spavin. Spavin has officiated at prestigious international shows, including Crufts, the world’s largest dog show.

Cat lovers can also visited the Whiskas Cat Tent — in partnership with local cat-loving charity Feline Friends, to view a number of different breeds of cats – ranging from the beautiful and elegant to the soft and friendly.

We spoke to a few people involved with the show to get an insight into the workings of a pet pageant.

Martina Boor of the Dubai Dog Club presides over the agility section of the dog show.

Could you tell us more about the Dubai Dog Club?

The Dubai Dog Club is run by volunteers and its aim is to facilitate interaction amongst the dog enthusiasts, provide training tips and news about organised canine activities, competitions, demonstrations and play dates in Dubai and surrounding areas. It is a non-profit group servicing the entire pet owner community and could not exist without the help from volunteers.

What does it take to become a champ?

The whippet Sasha is the best example of show preparation - she won Best in Show 2007 and 2008. Quality food, regular exercise and grooming and a good loving home made her into a champion two years in a row.

What does the agility section of the show involve? What do you look out for?

Agility appeals to all dog lovers - from young people to senior citizens. It has great spectator appeal. Agility is designed to demonstrate a dog’s willingness to work with its handler in a variety of situations. It is an athletic event that requires conditioning, concentration, training and teamwork. Dog and handlers negotiate an obstacle course racing against the clock. The agility demos at the pet show will offer simple demonstrations of the sport and also invite the participants to try out some of the obstacles. The aim is to set up a group of agility enthusiasts who would meet on regular basis and train throughout the year.

david@khaleejtimes.com