Puppies on Parade (From The Argus)

Puppies on Parade

7:38pm Wednesday 8th July 2009 in Blogs By Alice Wright - Reluctant Housewife

PRIZE BITCH: Lola, she was a Showgirl!

Another beautiful Brighton weekend and we decided to take advantage of the sunshine and yet more local events by dropping in on the Paddle Round The Pier festival on Saturday. We weren’t sure what to expect but entering the ‘festival village’ it became clear – bar the beer tent and smattering of kids rides - it was little more than a trade show for watersports fans. Still we meandered for half an hour and watched the ‘paddlers’ out on the waves, but it wasn’t really for us. We knew we were in for something rather more exciting, glamorous, sparkly and err woofy (?) on Sunday. The Pride Companion Dog Show is a popular part of the Pride in Brighton & Hove series of events (or Pride By The Seaside to give the charity its really fabulous new theme name!) and we decided to take our own pooch along on Sunday to see what all the fuss was about. Held at the Hove Rugby Club grounds this canine gathering is a proper Kennel Club registered event held in association with a local veterinary group. So all the bone fides (get it?) were in place but what about the camp glamour we were also expecting? Well, the whole event had the feel of a well run country show about it, but that’s certainly not to its detriment - maybe the traditional country fair is the new camp?

We were greeted by plenty of well managed stalls catering for most dog needs, and plenty for dog-owners too (cute girls t-shirt that says ‘Stop Staring at My Puppies’ anyone?), plus you could take part in any amount of dog-charity related raffles or tombola. And there was also a small marquee dedicated to Pride and its local work. But the real action was taking place in the three rings marked out in the grass as crowds watched all manner of different hounds being put through their paces and agility courses.

There were, of course, pedigree and condition classes (our boy is a pedigree but until they have a round for stupidest dog we won’t be entering him for anything) but everyone was much more interested in the novelty classes! Oh yes there were rounds for the Waggiest Tail, Prettiest Bitch, Best Fancy Dress etc etc all judged by a statuesque drag queen who took her responsibilities very seriously and still managed to look fabulous in the tallest wig I have ever seen despite the heat!

We were with some friends who entered their puppy Lola into nearly every novelty class they could and it was great fun to watch them walk round the ring and shout out Lola’s name! She was ultimately rewarded with a prize - with joint-mummy Stevie - for The Best Six Legs category and we were all thrilled. Thankfully the rugby club had opened its doors and so celebratory drinks could be had.

So we have another year until the next one and I am going to spend the time wisely training our boy so that maybe next time we can take part too!