Plethora of pooches prepare to strut their stuff Saturday

Didn’t get your fill of dogs and doggie antics at Auburn’s Petpalooza on May 18?

Relax, the Puyallup Valley Dog Fanciers, the Gig Harbor Kennel Club and the Tacoma Kennel Club have a tail-wagging spectacular for you.

From Saturday, July 6 through Monday, July 8, come eyeball thousands of canines and their owners as they strut their stuff in the show ring at the annual Western Washington Summer Cluster Dog Show at the Washington State Fair Events Center, 110 Ninth Ave. SW, Puyallup.

The annual event is great for the whole family, with free admission and a $5 parking fee, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

For all three days, visitors can greet a variety of different dog breeds, learn all about responsible dog ownership, and chat with breeders, owners and handlers, that is, when visitors can tear themselves away from watching the judging of various breeds in competition while cheering for their favorite, and watching young owner-handlers compete against their peers in the Junior Showmanship Competition.

Every day, they can also watch obedience and rally trials test dogs’ understanding of commands as they maneuver hurdles and retrieve articles, and watch owner-handlers compete in a special series called the National Owner-Handled Series as they vie for a spot in the finals at the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin in Orlando, Fla., in December.

On Saturday only, visitors can watch children as young as 5 years old get started in the sport in a Pee Wee competition, and on Sunday only they can see puppies go at it in the AKC Sanctioned 4 and under 6 Months Puppy Competition.

On-site health testing clinics will be available Saturday and Sunday.