Dog Dayz set to attract hundreds of canines

Tim Delaney, whose kennel club is organising the show, is one of only three chow breeders in the country.

Dogs, big, small, short haired and long haired, they'll all be at the Ruahine Kennel Association's Dog Dayz show in Dannevirke this weekend.

On each of the two days 375 dogs and their owners will take to the showrings at the Dannevirke A&P Showgrounds.

"We'll have 87 breeds represented with two judges from Australia, one from the South Island and one from Napier," said Tim Delaney, president of the kennel association.

The decision to move the show from October to this new April date was made to try and avoid the "crap weather", which has arrived along with the hounds in past years.

"We're counting on Mother Nature," Mr Delaney said.

Throughout New Zealand numbers attending shows are down, with fewer pure-bred dogs and fewer breeders.

"There are only three of us breeding chows in New Zealand and I've a huge waiting list for puppies," Mr Delaney said.

One of the Delaney's chowdren, from the latest litter, will be on show with its new owner from Pahiatua.

One of the features of the all breeds show on Saturday will be the Kids and K-9s at noon.
This is an opportunity for children to take along their pet dog and experience the world of dog shows for themselves. Running in conjunction with the dog show will be the East Coast hounds specialty show and the organisers of both events are hoping the year of hard work will pay off with pooches and their proud owners having a great time.

"It's a major effort by everyone to get ready for this show and with up to 350 people here with their dogs it's got to be well run," Mr Delaney said. "We're very fortunate our committee are experienced hands and we run what we consider is the happy show.

"We are a happy club. We have our meetings at the Crown Hotel in Norsewood and the kids come along for the meal and we have a ball."

With 100 prizes for winners on day one and cash prizes on Sunday, the two-day show costs the Ruahine Kennel Association $10,000 to run.

But it's not just a show for exhibitors, but also a great day out for the family.

"It's always entertaining," Mr Delaney said.