Canines strut their stuff

COEUR d'ALENE - Dog lovers, prepare for tails to wag.

The 18th annual American Kennel Club-sanctioned All Breeds Dog Show is taking place Monday and Tuesday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, beginning at 7:30 a.m. Monday. It is hosted by the Coeur d'Alene Dog Fanciers Association.

More than 120 breeds of dogs will be present at the show. The ultimate purpose of AKC dog shows is to evaluate breeding stock for structural soundness and conformation with breeding standards.

The canines will compete in several categories regarding breed, age and sex.

"They're competing in classes to earn points toward their championship," said Dog Fanciers board member Betsy Winans of Harrison. Winans owns a winning Keeshond named "Grand Champion Windrift's Sweet Life Samba."

"But we call him Jordy," she said.

Winans said the judges will rotate so the dogs have multiple opportunities to earn points during the two-day event. One top dog will emerge as winner to go on to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York.

"I've even seen one dog I knew that flew up from southern California," she said. "He went to Westminster and did very well."

Winans said two new breeds will be seen at this year's show, joining the recently added Hungarian Pumi, a terrier-type breed of sheep dog.

"They're still unusual like the Pumi," she said. "They're just adorable."

The show goes from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. It is open to the public and will include animal care product vendors and on-site canine experts. It is a free event with $5 parking.

Info: www.cdadogfanciers.org