MAN'S BEST FRIENDS AIM FOR BEST OF SHOW DESIGNATIONS

Derby, a year-old bull mastiff, waited for the long ride home to Tulsa, Okla., Sunday afternoon after the annual Southeast Missouri Kennel Club Dog Show.

After placing her feet just right, smoothing her hair one last time and kissing her on the head, Charlotte Marie was ready to go, and Virginia Crowell-Book knew it.

Crowell-Book who has been showing dogs for 30 years, entered the Judges' ring with the 6-month old dachshund Sunday during the 81st annual Southeast Missouri Kennel Club Dog Show at the A.C. Brase Arena Building. The dog is owned by Jo LaFentres of Perryville.

More than 800 dogs of every size, shape and color were entered in the show both Saturday and Sunday. The Best of Show award was chosen by judges each day.

Showing dogs can be a difficult task. "There's a special knack to showing dogs," said Bill Busch, show chairman. "Some people have it, others don't."

That's why kennel owners LaFrentres and her husband, Cliff, chose Crowell-Book to introduce Charlotte Marie to the world of professional dog shows.

"She's a miracle worker," said LaFrentres. "And she really loves my dogs."

Charlotte Marie didn't win Best of Breed, but she did capture a Best of Opposite Sex award.

Getting a dog ready for show is a big task. Most people don't realize how much goes into getting ready, Crowell-Book said. Spending a half-hour grooming the dog's coat, walking and feeding the dog are part of the daily tasks.

"It can take as long as two hours to get a dog ready on show day," Crowell-Book said. "A show dog gets far more hands-on attention than most pets."

Julie Foster of Leesburg grew up around dog shows. Both her parents show dogs professionally. "As a kid, you either love it or hate it," she said.

Graham Pence, 12, of Atlanta, loves showing dogs. It's sort of a family tradition -- her mother and grandmother also show dogs. She showed a Norwegian elkhound for one of her mother's clients Sunday.

Cecil Holman prefers to enter the ring himself to show his dog, Cedar Creek's Tympani, a 3-year-old smooth dachshund.

"She really doesn't like to show," Holman said. "I show her now because she has a pedigree as long as your arm. I think I owe it to the breed."

Tympani has won 17 Best of Variety awards for her Hazelwood owner. She will be breed in September, so she'll get a break from shows, Holman said.

The Best of Show award Sunday went to a 4-year-old German shepherd, Mooreheide Yuma V Leebos. Foster showed the dog for its owners, Lisa Howard and Sherry Nolan of Anderson, Ind. A golden retriever, Wynde Hill's Simply Smashing, received Saturday's Best of Show Award.

Dogs from 35 states were represented in the two-day show.

Organizer Busch was pleased with the turnout, which included 802 dogs Saturday and 812 entries in Sunday's show.