Bob Edwards has been a top dog at the Puyallup Valley Dog Fanciers and Tacoma Kennel Club shows for 30 years.

And after the winners were named and the dogs left the fairgrounds Sunday afternoon, he went back to being a spectator.

“I have been doing this for enough years,” he said. “I’ve been doing this long enough that pretty much everybody knows me.”

Edwards was the cluster coordinator for the show inside the Puyallup Fair’s Americraft Showplex. About 3,500 dogs and their owners packed the building for the two-day event to show off and catch up with the organizers and competition.

“It’s about the relationships you build and the love of the dog, and just the fun,” said Lynne Hakkila of Bend, Ore.

Owners and their dogs, ranging from the tiniest toy dog to the largest Great Dane, trotted around the rings. Woofs and applause filled the room each time a breed was announced.

Hakkila came up with her 2-year-old Great Dane, LaLa. She said her interest in dog shows began when a friend took her to a show about 10 years ago. She decided to jump in, and has been working to better herself and her dogs since.

“It was something I had never done before, and I wanted to see if I could improve myself,” she said.

The shows are serious business to owners, who travel around the country with their dogs.

Brian Black of Whidbey Island has been showing his beloved basset hounds for the past eight years. He said he travels to about 50 shows a year, and keeps coming back to the Puyallup event because he has good luck with the judges. The luck paid off Sunday afternoon, when 2-year-old Hawk won best in his group.

“There’s a natural competition. … There’s an occasional personality, someone who sticks their nose in the air, but it’s all a part of the dog show family,” he said.

Edwards said he isn’t leaving the family quite yet. He will return to watch the dogs, and root for his favorite breeds – usually the Great Pyrenees. And it will be more relaxing next time.

“I just won’t have responsibilities, someone else will,” he said.

Brian Everstine: 253-597-8374

brian.everstine@thenewstribune.com