Fans lap it up as dogs take a bow wow

DANCING dogs and 20 new canine breeds are attracting a record number of people to the Dog Show in Dublin.

This year's competition also attracted a record entry of 3,000 dogs.

It is the biggest date in the Irish canine calendar and with over 700,000 Irish households keeping dogs, it is expected to attract at least 10,000 visitors.

Recent years have seen a steady increase in numbers, as people come to catch a glimpse of some of the unusual breeds.

The ever-popular agility and obedience competitions took place yesterdayYvonne Robson and Gina Pick travelled from England with their dancing dogs to show off their unique "Heelwork to Music".

Yesterday afternoon Yvonne and Teddy, her American Cocker Spaniel, sashayed to If They Could See Me Now from the classic movie Sweet Charity, while Gina and her Collie Racertook to the floor to Gene Kelly's famous hit Singin' In The Rain.

Until 1920, the show was run by the English Kennel Club. Since then, the Dog Show always coincides with St Patrick's Day a tradition started by patriot Michael Collins. Collins was a member of the Dublin Irish Blue Terrier Club.

He owned two show-stopping Kerry Blue terriers Lady Markievicz and Convict 224 (the number of his jail cell in England).

As The Big Fella gained admirers so did his dogs. Collins and fellow club member Dr Oliver St John Gogarty first organised a very successful Kerry Blue breed show outside the jurisdiction of the English Kennel Club in October 1920.

They then committed the ultimate act of defiance by holding a show that included other breeds on St Patrick's Day in 1921.