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Kevin Kwong

IT'S ALL ABOUT showing off - the posture, the personality, the glossy coat, the shiny curls ...

'But not the fangs,' said Shen Jui-ming, chairman of the Hong Kong Kennel Club. 'One growl and you are automatically disqualified.'

Welcome to the Spring Championship Show, a biannual pageant that gathers some of the finest canine breeds throughout the SAR.

Organised by the Kennel Club, this year's contest will be held on Sunday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. More than 250 dogs will compete for three championship titles this year and double that number are expected to attend just for fun.

Mr Shen, whose father was a dog breeder, said: 'According to our records, this championship has been running since 1948 and has only been cancelled once or twice due to bad weather.

'All the competitions used to be held outdoors, inside the Happy Valley racetrack, but the venue was moved to the Convention and Exhibition Centre. It is far too hot for the dogs to hang around outdoors, especially during summer.'

As well as the Spring Championship Show, Sunday's programme also includes the All Breed Championship Show and a special show featuring one selected breed.

'We have chosen to feature the German shepherd this Sunday because the breed is very popular in Hong Kong,' Mr Shen said. 'In fact, there has been a huge demand for this breed on the mainland recently because they are very versatile and can be trained as guard dogs.'

To ensure fairness in the competitions, two overseas judges - one from the United Kingdom and one from the United States - have been invited to preside over the event.

'It's hard to find local judges who have the same breadth of knowledge as their overseas counterparts simply because there are not that many different breeds in Hong Kong,' Mr Shen said.

'Also, we have a small circle of breeders here so everyone knows one another and it is hard for them to be totally impartial.'

Indeed, given the local weather - and tastes - you can only find a certain number of canine breeds in the SAR.

According to the Kennel Club, the most popular breeds in Hong Kong are the miniature schnauzer, golden retriever, German shepherd, Pomeranian and Pekinese. Others include boxer, pug, shih-tzu, chow chow and Siberian husky.

But like fashion trends, Mr Shen said this list changes from time to time.

The Spring Championship Show, however, is not just about dogs. There is also a competition category for their masters or handlers.

Despite the current economic downturn, which Mr Shen believes is the reason for the slight drop in participants, it is hoped that the event will continue to draw crowds.

He said: 'All the dogs you see here will be very well-trained and behaved. It is quite a spectacular event.'

2002 Spring Championship Show, April 28, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (New Extension) Hall 2B, Level 5. From 10am to 6pm. Admission: $10 for students. Enquiries: 2523 3944 or www.hkkennelclub.com.hk



Dig those dogs