Trenton gone to the dogs

For at least a couple of days, Trenton could have been known as dog town.
This past weekend, the town's dog population increased by 192 which included canines of at least 70 different breeds.
And that had organizers of the Pictou County Kennel Club annual dog show at the Trenton rink smiling.
This year's show was proving to be one of the best turnouts in the history of the event.
"This entry level is one of our best," said John MacDonald, the show secretary. "We're ecstatic."
One of the trainers to participate in Saturday's competition was Allison Foley of South Rawdon. Foley, who had 12 dogs at the show, including an English setter, a standard poodle and a beagle, has been showing dogs professionally for 21 years.
Grooming a dog for a competition takes time and patience more than anything, she says. But owners should keep these tips in mind.
"I think the most important thing that people don't do is make sure their dogs are actually really clean," Foley said.
And because grooming can take hours, especially for a breed with course hair, like the standard poodle, it's vital the dog be trained properly.
"You have to make sure the dogs are trained to be on a grooming table."
During a competition, judges refer to a written standard, which outlines "from the top of the nose to the tip of the tail" what each dog should ideally look like according to its breed. That means everything from the length and texture of the dog's coat, to the dog's eye colour is taken into consideration.
But when showing a dog in competition, personality and showmanship count, too, Foley says.
"Some breeds are just naturally more appealing and charismatic than other breeds. The standard poodles, airedales, and setters are all breeds that are kind of glamorous and say 'look at me,'" she explains. "It's harder to win with a breed that is laid back and isn't as well known."
Stephane Laliberte of Quebec has been showing dogs for 15 years. He had just one dog at the Trenton competition, however - a three-year-old black Labrador retriever named Preston.
Laliberte explained the challenges in showing a shorter haired dog like a Labrador compared to a more glamorous breed, like the Standard Poodle.
"I have to have a dog that represents the written standard as closely as possible," he said. "And I need a dog that's in great condition and is showy because where (the dog) lacks in hair (he) has to make up for in animation and attitude."
It's also important the trainer feel a strong connection with the dog, because if the connection exists it will be obvious not only to the judges but to the audience as well, he adds.
"The dog has to cue in to me, because when we're in the ring the bond has to be absolute," he said. "It has to click that we're a team."
Preston is a seasoned veteran in the business - he's already been in about 20 dog shows this year. He was even at the most recent Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, and was a finalist for his breed. His half-sister won for her breed at the prestigious competition.
The Westminster show takes place in Madison Square Garden in New York and features dogs from around the world. The competition has been taking place since 1877.
"A show like this isn't as stressful and doesn't have as much prestige as the Westminster dog show," Laliberte said. "But we're campaigning here in Canada for top lab (as decided by the Canadian Kennel Club), so it's important for us to come to Canadian shows."