Welcome to the official website of the New Zealand Kennel Club's 2003 PEDIGREE® National Dog Show.
25th 26th 27th September 2003
NZKC Exhibition Centre
Prosser Street, Porirua, Wellington

BEST IN SHOW 2003 WELSH CORGI (PEMBROKE) 5140 NZ.& AUST.CH. DWYNELLA ROYALE FOOTMAN 09849-2000. 19/09/00. NZ CH SALVENIK SUPER CHANCE (IMP-UK) 3036CI/CH. DWYNELLA ADICT'D TO LOVE 08622-1994. Bred and Owned by 10640 Mrs D Dickinson

BEST IN SHOW! The ultimate accolade for any show dog and something that most can only dream about. But Best in Show at the Pedigree NZ National Dog Show is on another level altogether. At the show this year, there will be over 1600 entries split over 135 breeds. They will all be vying for the prestigeous Best In Show award. Along with the breed competition we also have almost 200 Obedience entries and over 160 Agility entries.

PEDIGREE JUNIOR HANDLER 2003 Winner - Shelley Ball Congratulations to Shelley Ball from Te Puke who took out this year's Junior Handler title. She will represent New Zealand at Crufts next year.

The Pedigree NZ National Dog Show is all about the annual bringing together the cream of the show dogs in New Zealand. It is THE most prestigious dog show in New Zealand and to win your class at “the National” is something to boast about. In the breed judging the dogs are divided into males and females and then into 6 classes distinguished primarily by age. The first step for a dog on the journey to Best in Show is to win his class. He/she then competes against the other class winners of the same sex for the Challenge Certificate. A “National Challenge” is something exhibitors respect. The best of each breed is chosen from the best of each sex and the winner of the Best of Breed represents that breed in the judging of the Best of Group.

The dogs are divided into seven groups. Which group a dog belongs to is determined mainly by the purpose for which they were originally bred. For instance, a Welsh Corgi is in the Working Group because it was originally bred for herding cattle. Best of age classes are also judged at Group level and to win such an accolade is a real achievement to be proud of. The 7 winners of the Best of Group awards then compete for the ultimate title of BEST IN SHOW. The tension, drama and emotion leading up to this award is electric and cannot be duplicated. It is THE ultimate – just like winning a Gold medal at the Olympics – absolute dream material.

There are four judges in the breed section this year and this assignment for them is every bit as prestigious as it is for the dogs and exhibitors. Three of the judges are highly experienced international judges and are straight from the pages of “Who’s Who” of the dog world.

Goran Bodegard from Sweden is a very experienced and well-travelled judge known in particular for sighthounds. Donna Cole from Canada is very well known for her Boxers and Boston terriers and is active in teaching conformation. Chan Weng Woh from Malaysia has had considerable success with his Smooth Fox terriers and has been Director of the Malaysian Kennel Association. Our own Carolyn Cederman has judged since 1988 and is a reputable breeder of Irish Setters.

So, as the Ringmaster would say…………… LET THE SHOW BEGIN