Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Dogs’ day out in city

— PHOTO: V. GANESAN

BEST IN SHOW: Jedai, the prize-winning Shih Tzu, with its handler Papitchaya Sukonoi in Chennai on Sunday. Its owner Vetri Duraisamy (right), chief guest Jayanthi (left) and Madras Canine Club secretary C.V. Sudarsan are in the picture.

CHENNAI: This is perhaps the only beauty contest where the contestants are required to bare their teeth and win points for doing it without turning up their nose.

The 78th and the 79th dog show, organised by Madras Canine Club here on Sunday, had over 200 contestants from across the country strutting to prove their pedigree. Over 30 breeds participated.

Saturday night’s shower had cooled the grounds sufficiently to keep the participants in good spirits when the show began at 9 a.m.

But as the temperature rose most of them rested in their kennels. Owners and handlers found shady spots under the trees around the venue — the University Union Grounds in Chetpet — for themselves and their pets. By 3 p.m. even as the other contestants did the routine loops some lolled on mats. One rested in an air-conditioned van.

The light evening showers before the finals was a welcome relief that lifted the participants’ spirits.

Children weaved their way around the crowds and fussed over the smaller breeds like the Pug but steered clear of big ones like the Great Dane and the German Shepherd.

The dogs were assessed for obedience, agility, and beauty. The club, established in 1977 and affiliated to the Kennel Club of India, aims to improve the breeding of pedigree dogs and popularise fast-vanishing Indian breeds.

In the contest, the judges expertly ran their hands over the body, checked the teeth and only those that quietly and gracefully walked the loop without unnecessarily putting their tongue out won their approval. Participating pets that conformed to the international standards were considered for prizes.

The age of the participants ranged from six months to eight years, said C.V. Sudarsan, secretary of Madras Canine Club.

A panel of judges selected 20 dogs as finalists. Prizes were given to the best puppy and the ‘best in show bred in India.’

A Whippet, a Boxer and a Shih Tzu were adjudged impressive by the judges in the finals. But the ‘Best in show’ prize went to a two-year-old Shih Tzu called Jedai owned by Vetri Duraisamy.

Former bureaucrat Jayanthi gave away the prizes.

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