Over the weekend, dozens of people gathered at the Toe Blake Arena in the Greater Sudbury community of Coniston for the annual Sudbury & District Kennel Club dog show.

Paula Martel has been a dog handler and breeder in Sudbury for more than 20 years, so she knows what the judges are looking for.

"They're judging according to the breed standard of that breed so what they're looking for is breed type, structure, soundness, good temperament." said Martel.

The local kennel club has been putting on shows for more than 40 years and people travel from all over the country to participate.

Linda June Faulkner is the dog show chairperson.

"People have come to show from across Canada. There's people here from B.C., Alberta, Maritimes, and of course all over Ontario." said Faulkner.

Not only were there people from near and far, they were all ages as well.

12-year-old Alissa Seguin has shown other people’s dogs for a few years now, but this show is extra special for her.

"This time, I get to show my own dog because I just got my new puppy in July. I like doing this because, I don't know, it's fun. I love being around dogs and it's funner(sic) when I have my own dog because I have a bigger connection." said Seguin.

Not only is the dog show a place for handlers, it’s also a great event for those looking to purchase a puppy.

"It’s the best place to go for information because you'll find breeders like myself who have been breeding for a long time. They can give you information on the breed, if it's a dog for you. It's a place to meet the dogs to make sure that's what you want into your house, if it’s shedding, non-shedding. It’s the best place to find a purebred dog." said Martel.

All weekend dogs competed for the Best in Show title, but at the end of the day, that’s not what matters most.

"We all come thinking that we have a better dog and we do because we always take home the best dog. We take home our own dog, whether there's a ribbon in front of it or not. It's the dog we love." said Faulkner.

146 dogs and 21 puppies participated in the weekend’s events.