Wagging its tail gleefully and obeying the commands of the master meticulously, different breed of canines entered the rink to entertain the viewers who assembled at the grounds to witness the dog show here on Sunday.
From big Golden Retrievers to bushy Spitz, restless Yorkshire Terrier to friendly Beagles, exotic breeds such as Poodle to Shih Tzu, Labrador Retriever to the miniature Dachshund, over 500 dogs and 45 breed varieties sashayed down the arena at the event organised by Vizag Canine Welfare Association (VCWA) at A.S. Raja Grounds.
While some sported bright coloured collars, others walked around wearing a figure-hugging t-shirt. The docile dog breeds waited patiently for their turn to spring into action at the fashion show and the aggressive ones gave their owners a tough time to control their frenzied barks when they tried to distract them from socialising with other canines. “Socialising has become a luxury these days for canines. This kind of platform gives them required space to be themselves and socialise with other pets,” said R. Ramakrishnan, DGM in-charge (Operations), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited.
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The zone also gave an opportunity for many pet owners to exchange best practices. “Apart from sharing nutritional requirements for pets, we can also build our own network to exchange ideas on breed-wise maintenance and grooming regimen,” says Sitarama Raju, a businessman who came with his pet Poodle.
According to canine specialist and president of VCWA V. Peda Somulu, the annual dog show was meant to bring dog owners on to one platform and help them educate on the intricacies involved in maintaining their pets. “Each breed demands different sort of tending based on its age and size. More attention is required while offering food as dogs are prone to worm infestations,” said Dr. Somulu. Besides a rest lounge wherein a mammoth spotted Great Dane and German Shepherd along with other canines were taking a break, the venue was also dotted with several stalls that provided pet accessories, toys and food. VUDA Vice Chairman T. Baburao Naidu, who inaugurated the show, said there was a need to promote dog show at a larger level involving participation from districts across the State. DCP (Law and Order) Navin Gulati attended the show.