From Chile to Norway, Council Parker tours the world as a professional dog show judge. Kennel clubs fly him to shows and pay between $300 and $500 for his expert opinion on herding dogs, hounds, sporting dogs and work dogs.
Now, he's in Missoula judging the Five Valley Kennel Club all-breed dog show, and he's impressed with the quality of dogs and the organization of the event.
Tuesday is the last day of the annual three-day show at the Western Montana Fairgrounds. With 2,400 dogs registered and 19 rings for competition, the fairgrounds is abuzz with manicured dogs and their formally dressed handlers.
"Once you win, you get hooked," said Lorianne Amadeo who drove from British Columbia to meet with friends and show her borzoi, also know as a Russian wolfhound. "After this I'm off to Ontario."
The contestants arrived in Missoula from 46 different states and all over Canada to find out how their dogs compare to others.
Six-year-old Kylee Carpenter travels to several shows a year in the Northwest with her brother, sister and grandmother to show her Irish setter, Erin.
On Monday she was pleased with winning her division as a junior handler. Having already shown for a year, it was not her first win, but she said she was happy just the same.
From professional handlers in luxury RVs to families in midsize cars, more than 6,000 people have come to be part of the show, which is one of the largest on the West Coast, officials said.
Shown by amateurs and professionals, several of the dogs competing are ranked No. 1 in the county and will compete in New York's Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in February, said Cary Cyr, chairman and organizer of the show.
The show runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cyr said the best time to come is after 2 p.m. when parking is free and group judging has begun.
"It's the best time because you can see the winners from all the different breeds," Cyr said. "They are just beautiful."
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