More than 300 people, most from Outside, attended the Yukon Kennel Club's 35th Annual Dog Show last week at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre.

There were 155 to157 dogs in each portion of the show, says club president Bonnitta Ritchie.

While Outside participants may have numbered twice as many as locals, Ritchie says Yukon breeders did well at the show.

'We had probably the highest number of wins spread among locals in some time,' she said.

Sheila Robertson, owner of the Hello Gorgeous hair salon, was one of those winners. Her Afghan hound, Dean, took two ribbons at the show.

'He's our mascot, he's spoiled rotten,' she said of the immaculately groomed dog whose hair rivalled her own for sheen and volume.

Dean was flown to Whitehorse all the way from Germany, she said.

Robertson says she grew up 'in the pen.' Her parents raised Norwegien elk hounds and she was involved with the 4H Kennel club as a child.

'It's a great show, lots of fun,' she said.

Lise Farynowski was another local who did well at the show. Her big white komondor, Luna, looks like a Jamaican sheep dog with her fir matted into neat dreadlocks.

'She's very affectionate, very sweet, occasionally mellow,' said Farynowski of her dog. Breeder Robbie Benoit says komondors were bred to be guard dogs, protecting the herds of sheep they so closely resemble.

But Luna is not often called on to protect flocks against wolves or other predators. Mostly she just likes to hang out, says Farynowski.

'She's a couch potato.'

Mother-and-daughter team Azalea and Monica Alvarez brought their miniature dachshunds to participate. Azalea brought her wire hair dachshund all the way from Florida, incorporating her visit with her daughter, who lives in Anchorage, with a chance to prance her pup.

'People love their dogs and it's an activity you can do with your dog,' said Monique, explaining the shows appeal.

'It's to show off your breed,' added Azalea.

The tiny wiener dogs ran the ring with much larger hounds in their category, as proud and dignified as any of their larger competitors. Walking around the dog show and seeing all the playing, running dogs, it was almost impossible not to notice a little puddle of puppy sprawled out on the concrete floor.

'He's pretty calm,' says Dennelle Seetomona of her eight-month-old English bull dog, Bruce.

While most other dogs were walking rings, playing with each other, or pacing their pens excitedly, Bruce laid down, face drooping into the floor with his legs spread out in all directions. Bruce didn't seem to care much for ribbons: he was happy to move nothing but his eyes.