FOX 21 News, KQDS-DT

DULUTH-With a mini heat wave passing through the city more than 1,000 dogs visiting the Twin Ports can feel fortunate the DECC has air conditioning.

This weekend more than 100 breeds competed in the Duluth Kennel Club and the Twin Ports Dog Training Club's annual show.

Owners, numbered about double the amount of dogs, groomed and kept their animals occupied while preparing to compete.

Sometimes the smaller breeds, like toy poodles, take longer to prepare, Carol Millar said.

"It takes a couple hours at least," Millar said. "They have to be elegant. They have to be pretty with very pretty faces."

Some of the "big boys", like Diesel – a Mastiff with his basketball-sized head, just wants to rest after a long weekend.

"His father was a Westminster winner a couple of years ago," owner Judy Corrpi said. "He loves people. He loves children. He just loves life."

And that's the story for most canines at the region's dog show. Chairperson Vicki Russell says she hears it from almost all the entrants.

"It's worth it because we love dogs and believe in educating people about the value of dogs and how to take care of their dogs and what a proper dog should look like," Russell said.

"Each breed was bred to do a specific job and their structure determines whether their able to do that job," Russell said.

Jay Hafford, visiting from a San Diego suburb, took "Best in Show" each day with this 8–year–old Afghan hound named Mogli.

"Which is a character is 'The Jungle Book' – that Mogli," Hafford said. "He represents six generation of my own breeding. I've been breeding Afghans for 40 years."

Built for the mountains of the Middle East, Mogli was decided by judges to be both a winner and a criteria–surpassing entrant in the show.

"My favorite line in the standard talks of them as the 'king of dogs' and they should have that 'king of dogs' attitude and he has it," Hafford said.

"He just has a carriage and a style to him that's not trained, it's who he is. He's always, since he's been a puppy, carried himself in that way," Hafford said.

Organizers say this year's competition even included a "Miscellaneous Breed". The Miniature American Shepherd is not yet included in the American Kennel Club.