Dogs of all shapes and sizes are competing for best in show and other awards at the Orchid Isle Dog Fancier Club competition in Hilo.
The annual All-Breed Dog Show, which finishes today, is held at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium, where participants are happy to see it go to the dogs for the weekend.
Lei Taft, club president, said dogs are judged on how they conform to the standards of their breed. She said it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to compete, as shown by the well-groomed and trained animals.
“It’s a huge commitment,” Taft said.
“You have to love dogs to do this obviously,” she later added. “Exercising your dog, training your dog, all those things all kind of come into play. And some dogs require a lot of care.”
Taft said there are four shows in total during the two-day event, with about 85 participants in each. She said that’s down from previous years, which saw more than 100 in each show.
“But the show must go on,” said Taft, who noted the event still brings quite a bit of money to Hilo as people fly in from across the state and from the mainland to compete.
The club has been holding the competition since 1974.
Sharleen Perreira flew over from Oahu with her springer spaniel named Maddox, which has won 17 best of shows.
She said she started showing about 33 years ago and easily got hooked.
“If you love animals and you have a good support system, it’s really rewarding,” Perreira said.
“And once you win you are done, you are set for life.”
She noted training is an “everyday thing.”
“Be the boss but love them,” Perreira said, when asked for advice. “Give them good reinforcement.”
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.