Dog fight

Thousands of pooches and their parents have descended on Palmerston North for the New Zealand Kennel Club National Dog Show.

For the uneducated, this film is a hilarious exaggeration.
But for those taking part in the 2006 New Zealand Kennel Club National Dog Show, held in Palmerston North this weekend, the movie is anything but far-fetched.

``It's not a movie, it's a documentary,'' says New Zealand Kennel Club chief executive Greg Kerr.

Palmerston North doberman breeder Shirley Herbert agrees. ``The dog- show people love that movie. They laugh at it, but only because it's so true.'' For Mrs Herbert, dogs are a way of life. She has eight dobermans who have the run of the house. The front gate sports a life-size cut- out of a doberman, and even her husband of six years had to accept the dogs as part of the package.

``When I met my husband, I had four dobermans. All he had was a plaster cocker spaniel, so it was a case of love me, love my dogs.'' Pippy Long Stockings is one of two dobermans Mrs Herbert will be showing at this weekend's event. Although the top prize is a long way off for the 10-month-old puppy, Mrs Herbert says they are aiming for it this weekend.

``It would be like me winning the lottery, but you still take a ticket.'' And the way to win is to practise, primp and preen. MORE>>