The dogs, some national champions, will participate in three days of American Kennel Club-sanctioned competitions Sunday through Tuesday, starting at 8 a.m. each day.
There will be a photo display of nearly all 50 years of the Missoula dog show, as well as an anniversary celebration after the Best in Group competition Tuesday.
"There are so many breeds out there available," Cyr said. "This is a nice opportunity to see that there are more dogs out there than Labradors and golden retrievers."
And people will be in abundance, too. The fairgrounds will be covered with more than 200 recreational vehicles, trailers and campers.
"We offer kids and families a chance to see the different varieties of dogs," said Zane Sullivan, Five Valley Kennel Club president. "A show this size can be a great opportunity for the community."
The AKC estimates that a show this size can bring close to $300,000 to the community, Cyr said.
Dog shows can be a bit tricky to understand.
There are seven groups of dogs - working, sporting, toy, herding, hound, terrier and non-sporting - and each group is divided by breeds. The Akita, Great Dane and St. Bernard are all breeds that belong in the working group, for example. Each breed is then divided into different classes based on age, gender or hair type.
The show begins each morning with class competitions, and the winners in each class move up to compete with each other in breed competitions. The winners of the breed competitions compete against each other in group competitions.
The seven winners of the group competitions compete against each other for Best in Show.
Each day of the dog show is a new day of competition, with different rotations for each judge; therefore, three different dogs could be voted "Best in Show."
Group competitions begin about 2 p.m. each day and offer the most viewing variety.
"That would be the time when you'd see the most breeds - that's what they show on TV competitions," Cyr said.
Go to the dogs
The Five Valley Kennel Club All-Breed Dog Show and Obedience Trials at the Missoula County Fairgrounds begin at 8 a.m. each day Sunday through Tuesday. Group competitions begin about 2 p.m. each day and offer the most viewing variety. The show is free, but parking costs $5.
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