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Calgary Herald

Wet paws and wagging tails take centre stage at Alberta Kennel Club's annual Summer Classic dog show

Grey skies and muddy trails didn't keep crowds, or canines, away from the Alberta Kennel Club's annual Summer Classic dog show this weekend. Article content Held for the second year at the Okotoks Agricultural Society, the show showcased everything from high-speed agility courses to costume contests and new scent detection trials. Article content Article content 'Last year we didn't allow any public out here because we didn't know how much room we had,' said Wendy Hamilton-Petkau, president and show chair of the Alberta Kennel Club. 'We had a pretty good turnout, I think, even with the rain.' Article content Article content One of the country's largest dog shows, this year's event saw over 5,000 dogs compete, drawing between 750 and 1,000 visitors to take in the sights, and make some new furry friends. Article content Article content Miller's miniature bull terrier Bubba won multiple awards at his first show, including one best of breed and best puppy in show. Article content 'He hasn't been to a show, training, anything. So, it was a really nice win,' Miller said. Article content As always, crowd-pleasers like agility courses and obedience trials kept spectators entertained, and The Canadian Scottish Terrier Club even held a costume contest on Sunday. New additions like the scent detection competition added some fresh excitement to the lineup of events. Article content Article content 'Our big event this year that we have not done before is scent detection,' Hamilton-Petkau said. Scent detection involves dogs sniffing out specific scents hidden in boxes or around the area. Dogs must locate these scents on their own without cues from their owners. Article content 'It's fascinating watching them do the job without somebody encouraging, because the owner has no idea where it is . . . The dog has to search for it, so it's pretty interesting to see and it comes naturally,' said Hamilton-Petkau. Article content Brian Howlett, who sponsored the show and streamed it on his Youtube channel, The Woofi Show, said the show had something for everyone. Article content 'We love the Summer Classic, here. It's a mix of different things, whether it's showing dogs, the agility, scent work, obedience. There's a lot to do for dog people,' he said. Article content I actually think more people should come, because they'll learn a lot about different dogs, different breeds. Whether it's someone that's looking to get a dog or already has one,' said Howlett. Article content Article content And despite the rainy weather, organizers found a way to make the event accessible for anyone to watch – even from home. Article content 'There's less spectators this year, because no one wants to come out in the rain, right? But we were lucky enough to be able to live stream as well, so that even despite the rain and the thunder, people can still enjoy it.' Article content The secret to the show's lasting draw, Hamilton-Petkau said, is simple. Article content