Heidi Kraak
Churchill’s Gaskin Park will be flooded with pedigree dogs this weekend for the Morwell Traralgon Kennel Club’s annual conformation show.
Now in its 40th year, club president Suzanne Tennant said the show already had more than 1000 entries and attracted judges from as far as Ireland, Japan, Bulgaria, Spain and New Zealand.
The competition will be divided into seven groups with a wide range of breeds on display.
Ms Tennant, a breeder of Airedale terriers herself, said it was important for breeders to participate in conformation shows, like the one the club is hosting on the weekend, to ensure they are producing the best.
“They want to make sure they are breeding only the best,” she said.
“Judges go over them and pick the best. It shows which dog is the best of that breed – that is what it is really about.”
The Morwell Traralgon Kennel Club has a small committee which Ms Tennant said had put in a lot of hard work to get the massive dog show off the ground.
“The community is more than welcome to come along and watch and talk to the breeders of the different breeds,” she said.
“They can get to know what dogs are out there and get to know the history of the breeds. Some of these breeds are some of the oldest.
“Airedale Terriers go back to 1820, back to Yorkshire in England. A lot of history for each breed, breeders will be more than happy to share.”
The show will be held on November, 9, 10 and 11, beginning at 10.30am on Friday and 9am on the other days.
