Nancy Koval from Kenora, Ontario poses with the ribbons her 4-year-old Saluki named Gibson was awarded at the Prince Albert Kennel & Obedience Club All Breeds Dog Show Saturday. (Teena Monteleone/paNOW Staff)

By Teena Monteleone

Best in Show

Canine contenders look to standout at all breeds dog show in Prince Albert

Mar 15, 2025 | 5:47 PM

Dogs of various breeds and sizes are vying for the overall ‘Best in Show’ top honour this weekend in Prince Albert.

The local Kennel and Obedience Club is hosting its spring show at the Exhibition Centre with 200 entries from all over the country including British Columbia and Nova Scotia, and a few from the United States.

Competitors prep their pooches at the Prince Albert Kennel Club’s all-breeds dog show on Saturday at the Exhibition Centre. (Teena Monteleone/paNOW Staff)

Liana Maloney, who is the show coordinator for the Prince Albert Kennel and Obedience Club, explained there are seven different groups within the competition: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding.

The winner from each category goes on to compete in the Best in Show ring. The dogs are judged against breed standards on overall appearance, temperament and physical features like coat type, eye shape and colour, and bone length among other criteria.

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“This is really the only sport where there is no professional or amateur class,” said Maloney. “So, you can get into the ring with someone like me who has been doing it for 46 years or the professional handlers who get paid and then you can get the young kids and people that are just starting out and you’re all under the same judge, the same playing field.”

The breeds in attendance varied from Shelties and Mastiffs to Old English Sheepdogs and even a Shikoku, which is a rare Japanese hunting dog.

‘Ollie’ is an Old English Sheepdog who was shown by Kaili Wilkins of Saskatoon. (Teena Monteleone/paNOW)

Nancy Koval travelled all the way from Kenora, Ontario to Prince Albert with her 4-year-old Saluki named Gibson. She said Saluki dogs, originally from the Middle East, are among the first domesticated breeds in the world and were originally bred to hunt small game and gazelle.

Gibson is a Canadian Grand Champion Bronze and also an American champion. Koval said they attend an average of two dog shows a month across North America.

Mark Corfield and his wife Ricki started showing their Siberian Huskies in 2021. The couple from Spiritwood, SK have a Grand Champion male, a Canadian Champion female and were showing their puppy at the Prince Albert event. For them, it’s about more than just the ribbons.

“We breed purebred Siberian Huskies, so it proves that they are within the breed for confirmation, they’re built correctly, so if they were ever to pull a sled it means they’re going to do it correctly and do what they need to do,” said Corfield.

Mark Corfield from Spiritwood, SK bred his Siberian Huskie Aurora Blaze Apollo On The Rise, also known as ‘Bandit’. (Teena Monteleone/paNOW Staff)

Barbara Williston brought her 170 lb Mastiff from Dawson Creek, B.C. to compete in Prince Albert but she’s been as far as New York and New Jersey to attend shows.

“We got a group 3rd place yesterday and she’s only 13 months old,” said Williston. “So, it’s a pretty big deal.”

And her mastiff ‘Butters’ is a pretty big dog who will grow to about 200 lbs. They’ll be travelling to the United States in May for the Mastiff Club of America – National Specialty in Tennesssee.

Butters is a 170 lb Mastiff from Dawson Creek, B.C. (Teena Monteleone/paNOW Staff)

While many people show dogs for fun, Maloney said the real purpose is to evaluate quality breeding stock in order to maintain the integrity of the breed.

“We’re dedicated breeders…preservations breeders and we really want to bring forth the healthiest best dogs we can. These shows are designed to help us bring our breeds forward and the judges give us an objective opinion,” said Maloney. “Because when people come and buy these pure bred dogs, those traits and characteristics are carried forward and they know what they’re getting and what to expect.”

Late Saturday it was announced that the Best in Show honours went to GCHS Affirm’s Charismatic – a Lakeland Terrier owned and handled by Crystal Davies of Manning, AB.

The Prince Albert Kennel Club hosts two shows a year. The next one will be held in late August.

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teena.monteleone@pattisonmedia.com