All Breed Dog Show seeks best of the best: hundreds drawn to Anchorage to show their purebred dogs.(Alaska This Month)

They pose, strut and glide, exhibiting their best qualities in brief moments before onlookers and the judges. If the lights, judging and attention get a little hot, some even pant-their tongues lolling way out of their mouths. But that's not held against them. The dog owners and handlers still hope for a shot at the Best in Show title.

This month the Alaska Kennel Club, with the Kenai Kennel Club, holds an All-Breed Dog Show Jan. 27 to Jan. 28 at the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center in Anchorage. Organizers say the shows are great opportunities for dogs from Alaska and elsewhere to compete, and for animal lovers to see exquisite examples from their favorite canines.

"It's a good place for families to come and learn about specific breeds," said Barbara Brandt, president of the Alaska Kennel Club. "It's a lot of fun." But it also is a serious competition for purebred dogs.

The judging often is done by experts brought from outside the state. Brandt said this month's competition will have several judges from Virginia, and one each from California and North Carolina. "They are selected for their abilities to judge specific breeds," Brandt said. "We bring them from all over the place."

Typically, the summer shows get more entries due to the increased interest of travel into Alaska during that season. But the shows can bring between .500 and 600 dogs. This show will judge the animals on confirmation, which means the judges compare all the aspects of the animal to the standard of its breed.

The public is invited to the dog show, but Brandt said there are some things to know and consider. On the kennel club's Web site is a brief list of tips and rules for how to behave at a dog show and what not to do as well.

"You will have a great opportunity to watch the competition and talk to knowledgeable people about specific breeds," Brandt says in a letter to those interested. "These people can help you decide if a particular breed would be the right addition to your family."

She adds: "Always ask the owner or handler's permission before petting a dog. If the dog is ready for competition, hours of grooming work can easily be destroyed by careless hands. Please also remember that baby strollers are allowed in spectator areas, but not in the aisles. Keeping ring entrances clear allows exhibitors access. Spectator seating will be found outside the rings away from entrances."

Grooming and crating areas for the dogs will be scattered around the perimeter of the show rings. This is where each exhibitor prepares the dog for the show ring. Visitors are encouraged to walk through this area, as this is the best place to talk to the exhibitors who will generally take the time to answer questions. Non-competing dogs are not allowed into the showgrounds and visitors are asked to leave their pets at home.

"The judging of individual breeds is done from the morning until early afternoon, followed by group judging, where the dog awarded Best of Breed represents that breed in the individual group competition," Brandt said. "The first-place winners of the seven groups then compete for Best in Show at the end of the day."

For more information about the Alaska Kennel Club or the upcoming dog show, check online at www.alaskakennelclub.org or call 346-1601.

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