Four-legged beauties

On Sunday evening, we took the kids for the annual dog show conducted by the Kennel Club of India. It had been on from Dec 8-10, but we could make it only on the last day and the most crowded day of all. Thought the kids would enjoy looking at the bow-wows but they were awed by the sight of so many canines that they clung to us for dear life.
The afternoon sun though tamer than its usual self was enough to drain our energies, not to speak of the dogs hailing from the cooler climes of the West.
We had reached at a time when many of the canines were taking their post-noon siesta. While the dogs lazily viewed onlookers, their proud owners arrayed the trophies and cups won at the competition on the rug the pets lay. A crowd circled a massive but friendly French Mastiff that had won a few trophies. Two Neopolitan mastiffs with their crystal red eyes fanged a smile at the curious humans, while a Siberian Husky vied for space with a Golden Retriever atop a cage. The Husky seems to have sensed that she was the beauty among all the beasts present and playfully posed for photos. (Her owner told me that a SH pup was worth Rs.50000 while the GR pup was available for Rs.30,000). I think I will buy a Golden Retriever next - I so fell in love with them.
I didnt see the beauty pictured above left - the Afghan hound. A couple of Saluki hounds were around.
Rottweilers, Bull dogs, pugs (of Hutch fame) and my dear old Labs sat under the shade of trees with their masters. A few award winners seem to be on sale. A kennel owner said his lab was available for Rs.15000! A mastiff from Trichur looked menacingly at Mira while we posed for a snap - the caretaker said he doesnt like children. Its pup would fetch Rs. 40000.
Great Danes and German Shepherds all panted and sweated it out at the rings with their trainers. A obtuse female trainer dressed in a glittering yellow outfit was the star attraction at the show ring. An onlooker commented that her Great Dane would be crushed to death if she fell over it.
The Indian breeds at the show included a Caravan hound (which looked like it had never had food in its life), Mudhol hounds (from Karnataka), Rajapalayams and Madurai-native Kanni (worth Rs.5000 a pup).
Stalls selling dog food and accessories as also stamps and books on dogs were worth peeping in. A few kennels selling dogs were also at the show.
Altogether the dog pageant was worth the Rs.20 entry ticket per head. I wish I had had more time to study and ogle at the dogs. With two babies-in-arms, we were dead tired by the time we made one round of the University Union grounds at Chetpet, not to mention the long trek to the parking lot.
This article on last year's show by Shonali makes fantastic reading. http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2005/01/12/stories/2005011200130100.htm