LOCAL DOG SHOW GETS CONTESTANTS FROM ACROSS THE NATION
The city of Blackfoot has gone to the dogs, as the biggest dog show in the state gets underway at the Bingham County fairgrounds.
There are nearly 1,200 dogs competing and they come from all across the nation.
The canines test their skills in events like confirmation, agility and obedience, and they are all hoping to become the top dog.
Jane Guidinger, Show Chairwoman "We probably have dogs here from 40 of the 50 states, clear from the east coast, dogs have come for this event."
For the past 23 years, the Pocatello Kennel Club and the Eagle Rock Kennel Club have sponsored one of the top dog shows in the nation.
Linda Guihen, Confirmation Handler: "Many of the top dogs in the country come out here to compete."
Dogs like Zack...
Linda Guihen, Confirmation Handler: "That's short for Champion Summer Love Zack Attack. He's the number one sheltie in the country and was last year also."
Zack came all the way from Florida to compete in the confirmation competition.
Jane Guidinger, Show Chairwoman "Confirmation is where the dog is judged according to breed standard."
Linda Guihen, Confirmation Handler: "When you have a top dog, you want to compete against the best and beat them."
And that's what Zack did, the 4 year old sheltie won top dog in his division.
But there is more to the dog show than just the well behaved confirmation.
Linda Guihen, Confirmation Handler: "We have agility, we have obedience trials, we have rally trials all going on at the same time."
In the agility trials, dogs and their handlers must race through a series of objects.
Linda Guihen, Confirmation Handler: "Agility is like a dog obstacle course."
Dogs try to make it through the course as fast as they can.
Suzanne Belger, Agility Handler: "You compete against yourself and the clock, not against each other."
But the dog show is not about winning or losing, it's about the experience with man's best friend.
Suzanne Belger, Agility Handler: "The most important part of coming here is having fun with your dog and being with friends."
The dog show is still going on for the rest of the weekend, competitions start at about eight in the morning and go until about six on both Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free.
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