A weekend with Bangalore's canines

This week has been a disastrous week for India. 200 precious lives lost and many more injured in yet another terrorist strike on India's metros- this time it was Mumbai. Innocent people who were busy with their own lives and duties, butchered for no fault of theirs, how gruesome can these guys get. Right from wednesday, I have been watching nothing else on TV but the news channels and the same old reporters covering this entire terrorist-flushing event in the Taj Hotel. Kudos to our NSG commandos for braving it out for 62 hours and taking out the extremist elements but I seriously think our authorities need to step up their security measures if we are to avoid another such mishap. We should concentrate on building a superbly equipped and extremely skilled counter-terrorism force like the British SAS, the French GIGN or the American SEALs.

This weekend my parents and I decided to check out the latest Dog show organized by the Bangalore Canine Club at Palace Grounds, Mekhri Circle. As a member of the Kennel Club of India, I was initially supposed to participate in this event with my dog Ginger. Sadly, the awful careless idiot that I am, I forgot to fill the application form in time. So for this time I was only an observer and a photographer :(

Around 400 dogs belonging to 40 different breeds participated in this massive event. Around 2000 spectators for this event ensured that we had to search for a vacant car parking space for around half an hour in Palace grounds. Finally after finding a vacant parking space and parking the vehicle, we got down from the car only to realize that we were standing in some kind of quicksand-like muddy-slush (due to the week-long depression-inflicted, incessant rains in Bangalore). After trudging our way through 100 metres of this slushy terrain we managed to reach the entrance of the dog show. Once inside, time flew by and I never seemed to realize. At the entrance were various stalls by some popular kennels in Bangalore, presumably trying to sell their pups on the spot and make quick bucks. Some visitors were happy to just stand alongside these or cuddle them and pose for a photo.

Also near the show entrance were various pet-store stalls, selling dog food at buy-1, get-1-free offers, collars and leashes and dog shampoos and perfumes at 50% off. Making our way through all this, we managed to reach the main show ring where they were actually exhibiting and judging the dogs. Different categories of shows were being held- Mixed breed, Best-of-breed, breed speciality, etc. I somehow managed to get hold of a front row seat so I could catch all the action without any interference and could photograph things.

During the evaluation, batches of dogs are judged alongside one another on a number of criteria. When your batch starts, you enter the show ring with your dog beside you all the while. There are 6-7 other dogs/owners as well. You are expected to have the dog trained before-hand to avoid reacting to distractions and avoid interfering with the other dogs/owners in your batch. Misbehaviour on the part of your dog (or even you!!) could lead to disqualification. One by one, the judge calls each of the dog/owner pairs; He/She will inspect the dog for a few minutes. The judge will then ask you to run around the ring for a full circle and come back. You then have to "stack" your dog- this is a kind of position when you exhibit the dog by stretching him/her and kneel down next to your dog. The judges evaluate the dogs based on health, character, behaviour, maintenance and the bloodline (the parentage of the dog). Of course, when you run with the dog they are actually testing whether it is a healthy specimen and whether there are any defects. Also they check the level of co-ordination and the mutual love and understanding between you and your dog.

I got to view 6-7 batches of such evaluations. One was a batch of Afghan hounds. The long-haired canines seemed to have the audience spell-bound. This round invoked the maximum whistles and applause from the crowds. I also got to view a speciality round of Golden Retrievers, the breed which I myself own. I noticed that not all dog handlers were adults; many were children as young as 5 or 6 years old. In fact there was an instance when a 4 year old boy won a round with a German Shepherd that was twice as big as him. He would have looked more like a miniature horse race jockey had he mounted on the dog!


I managed to capture on camera a magnificent Irish Setter, a bunch of cute pugs and a handsome German shepherd in action in the show ring.




Here's a picture of the pug speciality round.

A gorgeous grey colored Afghan Hound

A magnificent Irish Setter

A Black Pug

A German Shepherd in action

A golden English Cocker Spaniel awaits its turn outside the ring

After spending a few hours watching the spectacular canines in the show ring, we decided to leave. And how could I just leave without shopping for my beloved Ginger in the stalls. I ended up picking up a doggie T-shirt for Ginger! (I didn't even know earlier that such a thing existed!) I also saw another stall that advertised the list of vacation places that you could take your pet to, mainly resorts who allow customers to take their pets with them. The next time I go on a vacation (if ever I could afford one) this is the list I will choose from :)

Please do visit the Mysore Kennel Club dog show on December 28th, '08. I will be participating with Ginger in 3 categories- the 'Best Adolescent 9-15 months age' category, the 'All-breeds championship' category and the 'Golden Retriever Best-of-Breed championship' category. Your sheer presence in the audience will lift my spirits and confidence ;)


A big woof-woof to all dog lovers :)
KK