Pug life: Every dog has its day

Canines worked like dogs for the Pug Specialty Championship Dog Show trophy

KARACHI:

On a sunny Sunday afternoon, 30 pugs gathered at the Kennel Club of Pakistan for the inauguration of the first Pug Specialty Championship Dog Show, which was organised in collaboration with the Pug Dog Club of Pakistan.

The winner of the best dog of the show award was Akon of the Fantasy Kennel, whose owner, Yawar Yaseen Siddiqui, had come from Hyderabad to participate in the show. According to Siddiqui, Akon is a nine-and-a-half-month-old female pug. Siddiqui said the win was a big victory and that Akon's mother is the winner of the Pakistan championship.



The runners-up trophy went to Freddy of Rude Planet Kennel, whose owner, Soraya, was excited to win the runners-up trophy. She said, "This is the first time [we have won a trophy] and I feel really great to have won the runners-up in the show." She described her pug as extremely naughty and friendly, especially with kids. "I have trained Freddy myself and it's not like a dog or pet; we treat him like a human," said Soraya. According to Soraya's father they have Freddy's family tree tracing back to his great-great-grandfather.

The best puppy award went to a pug named Power Punch. According to the owner, Cooky Rizwan, Power Punch's parents were grand champions of Pakistan. The best baby pug of the show was Litaal who was only four-months-old. "We had bought this pug when it was only a week old and have been training Litaal for two months," said owner Jehangir Hashmi.



"The parameters to judge the dogs are according to international standards, not [comparing] one dog to another," said Mirza Saif Baig, a judge from the Federation Cynologique Internationale. According to him, the pugs were evaluated by looking at their muzzles, top-line, front and hind angulations, movement, weight and temperament.



The show was attended by a number of dog lovers. Fizzah, a guest who attended the show with her family and friends, said, "We must appreciate such activities". She added that Karachi has no dearth of pet lovers but the city unfortunately lacks platforms for these animal enthusiasts to compete with and meet others of their ilk.



According to professional dog trainer M Chohan, the training includes basic obedience, commands, walking, posing, grooming and handling. Ali Chottani, one of the dog enthusiasts at the event, said that pugs are considered an indoor breed and are really playful. Akbar Hashmi, another guest, said that pugs come in two colours, black and beige, and their ears and face are always black. He added, "Pugs love chewing, biting and love to run and are considered as having hyper temperaments."

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th,  2016.