Cranbrook will host more than 200 dogs this weekend as the Cranbrook & District Kennel Club holds its 37th annual dog show, obedience and rally obedience trials. The show begins Friday, Aug. 27 and continues until Sunday, Aug. 29 at Moir Park.

Judging at the shows starts at 8:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. on Sunday, with judges for the dog show and trials coming from Finland, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Montana and B.C.

Show Superintendent Dick Lopaschuk said Best in Show on each of the days should be between 3 and 4 p.m. He said it is nice for there to be an audience at the dog show, especially at Best in Show.

Lopaschuk said Best in Show is a process of elimination that takes place throughout the day. First, all breeds compete at a class level, where one is awarded Best of Breed. Then all of the Best of Breed dogs compete at the group level for Best in Group. There are seven groups and all of the Best in Group winners compete for Best in Show.

“Best in Show could be any breed and could be from any group,” he said.

There are also events in conformation, obedience and rally obedience during the weekend. In conformation shows, the judge is comparing each dog to the standard of excellence for the breed, rather than to other dogs in the group.

There will also be a Junior Handling competition on Saturday at noon and a Puppy and Veteran Fun Match after the Best in Show on Saturday.

Those attending the show are asked to leave their own canine companions at home.

“That’s important for people to know because we don’t allow them on the field and we don’t want them to be left in cars while the owner stays,” Lopaschuk said. “It is one of the rulings of the Canadian Kennel Club that only dogs participating in the show can be in the show area.”

There is no admission to take in the events of the dog show from Friday to Saturday. Anyone interested in the times when particular breeds will be shown can drop by Moir Park to see the schedule. There will also be an information table for people with dogs who are interested in joining the Cranbrook and District kennel Club or knowing more on the different sports and activities that are offered for dog owners by the local Club or the Canadian Kennel Club.

Lopaschuk said there will also be about half a dozen vendors selling a variety of products that pertain to dogs and the canine community.