A contestant draws in a carriage during the inauguration of the Jamshedpur Kennel Club dog show on Saturday. (Srinivas)

Jamshedpur, Jan. 8: The 45th and 46th Championship Dog Show got underway at the JRD Tata Sports Complex today with star canines taking centre-stage as judges studied their gait and posture, followed by the all-important obedience test.

Dressed in different colours, the four-legged contestants strutted their stuff once V.V. Subramanian, administrator of Kennel Club of India, Chennai, inaugurated the show. The proceedings started with a march past by students of Jamshedpur Public School with their school band. Not to be outdone, canines made their presence felt with dog squads from Tata Motors and Tata Steel participating in the agility test.

Addressing the audience, Subramanian said the steel city’s dog show was on the map due to the efforts of Jamshedpur Kennel Club (JKC) members. “I am certain that in their able hands this show will be a great success,” he said.

The popularity of the event could be gauged from the fact that 253 dogs from Jamshedpur, Calcutta, Ranchi and Dhanbad are participating. Entries have come from Allahabad and Lucknow as well.

German Shepherds, Labradors and Dalmatians preened and posed before jumping through hoops and negotiating a slide. Their ability to follow orders and level of obedience were judged by Dr Agus Wardhana of Indonesia and Matgo Law and Mike N.G. of Hong Kong.

Sunday is reserved for the all breeds show. Afghan hounds, Siberian huskies, poodles, Irish setters and giant schnauzers will jostle for attention with pugs, Alsatians, rotweillers, Dobermans, labradors and Great Danes.

R.K. Sinha, joint secretary of the Kennel Club said, “Twin shows are hosted at the event which are organised inside two numbered rings. Every year, the championship carries the numbers of the rings. This year the number is 45 and 46. We have been following this practice since the club was established in 1977,” he said. It is the only registered kennel club in Bihar and Jharkhand.