SEQUIM — It’s shocking, to a newcomer, how many breeds there are. The Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club Dog Show on Saturday and Sunday — the largest event of its kind on the North Olympic Peninsula — encompasses 136 kinds of canines.
“This is the biggest variety we’ve ever had,” said club spokesman Ron Fye.
Dogs that sound like stiff cocktails will appear: two black Russian terriers are on the judging schedule at 10 a.m. Saturday.
“That’s one of the rarest we’ll have,” Fye said.
Starting off the 10th annual show at 8:30 a.m. Saturday: 28 Akitas, 17 Chinese shar-peis and 21 pugs.
Six Newfoundlands will strut at 12:45 p.m. Saturday; Italian greyhounds will be judged at 1 p.m.
Sunday, a dozen St. Bernards will enter the ring at 9:30 a.m. Twelve French bulldogs will compete at 12:45 p.m., to be followed by one Tibetan terrier at 1:45 p.m.
Those are just a cross-section of competitors to prance, pose and obey in the rings.
Obedience trials will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days, too, so spectators will have much to cover.
“Bring a comfortable chair and good walking shoes,” Fye advised.
Next to Carrie Blake Park
The whole show is outdoors on the Blake family property just southeast of Carrie Blake Park.
Best in show winners will be chosen between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., Fye said.
He encouraged dog lovers to roam the site, shop among the vendors and compare their own pets with the meticulously groomed animals from throughout the Pacific Northwest.
“Always ask before petting,” he said.
“The handlers don’t like you to pet the dog before it goes into the ring. You might slick down the Pekingese’s hair after the guy has spent the past hour grooming it.”
The show’s six Pekingeses will compete, by the way, at 10 a.m. Saturday and at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
During the lunch breaks, there will, of course, be dancing.
For some years now, Carolyn Money of Sequim has drawn crowds to her demonstrations of canine partner dancing.
This weekend, human-dog pairs from Seattle and the Paws2Dance club of British Columbia, will join her.
Thousands of dogs will participate in the Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club Dog Show from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Judging and obedience trials take place at the Blake family property just southeast of Carrie Blake Park, 202 N. Blake Ave. in Sequim.
Admission is free, though on-site parking is $3 per vehicle. For details call Kennel Club information officer Ron Fye at 360-681-3707.
To see the judging schedule, visit www.barayevents.com and use the “Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club” link on the left side of the home page. On the next page, scroll all the way down to the “Judging Program” under “Show Documents.”
