People Parade Pups at Electric City Dog Show

Story Created: Jun 22, 2012 at 6:56 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jun 22, 2012 at 6:56 PM MDT

Hundreds of people from all over the country are competing at the Electric City Dog Show, coming from as far away as Hawaii, Alaska and Florida, hoping their canines can catch the judges? eye. ABC 5?s Ashlie Rodriguez reports from the Montana Expo Park.

At the Electric City Kennel Dog Club today over 700 pure bred dogs will compete for the most prestigious award, the Best in Show title. And let me just tell you the competition is rough.

There are seven groups a dog can compete in, working, herding, sporting, non-sporting, hound and toy.

Each of the 730 and dogs at the Expo park will compete in their groups, the top from each group will compete against each other, and the winner is best in show.

?So it all goes down to just one,? said Electric City Kennel Dog Club Chair Susan Aryes.

The non-four legged life forms here are either handlers, breeders or just plain dog owners. Wanda Bloxham is all three and Magnito, her 150 pound french masstiff is the 5th ranked canine in the nation.

?I specifically do it because I like the dogs,? Bloxham said.

But this isn't true for everyone. For handlers who are hired by owners to show the dogs, this is a business.

?A lot of these people that show dog are professionals,? said Judge Joe Purkhiser. ?And they will have maybe 10-15 dogs with them and they get paid to show those dogs.?

With business comes work, and some people say it?s too much for these pups to handle.

?Which means that these dogs are under this kind of stress an awful lot of the time,? Purkhiser said. ?And that?s something that every person has to decide what they?re dog can take.?

Stress is apart sports though, and while the Electric City Kennel Club celebrates 55 years, the elite, expensive sport of dog showing is one of the oldest in the US.

?The dogs are judge on a standard that is set forth for that specific breed,? Aryes said, ? by the American Kennel Club.?

?Like the shape of his eyes are right,? Bloxham said. ?The length of his ears are right.?

Perfection is hard, so how do breeders do it?

?You always take a risk because you can?t say what genetic is going to do 100%,? Bloxham said. ?With doing a lot of the DNA and stuff like that it?s getting to be a lot more scientific.?

The competition to be the best isn't all stress, its about pride, prestige and the love of pooches.

The show continues tomorrow from 8:30 a.m.- 4:00 and everyone is invited. Admission is free. If you?re a dog lover looking to window shop, this is definitely the place to be.

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