The American financial crisis has affected even the dog world as shown by low numbers of dogs registered in the Bermuda All Breed Club International Dog Show which begins today.

Around sixty purebred dogs will compete in agility, obedience and confirmation trials at the Botanical Gardens as opposed to last year's ninety.

"We use to have a lot more dogs at the show, but numbers have been dwindling," said Bermuda All Breed (BABC) club president Marie-Claire Onabowale. "It has been very difficult for people to bring dogs.

"We are losing a lot of our overseas exhibitors. The economic downturn has had a huge impact."

She said when the Government recently banned the importation of certain dog breeds it deemed dangerous, that also had a bad result for the 50-year-old dog show.

"You now need permission to bring in certain dogs on the banned breed list," said Mrs. Onabowale. "I think they are putting the committee together to evaluate cases. When that happened all the Rottweiler people said they weren't going to show their dogs again, so they boycotted the show and we have not had any since."

Nevertheless, the dog show kicks off at 8.30 this morning, when there will be one show. There will be two shows at 8.30 am on November 8 and 9. Six international judges are being brought in from Canada and the United Kingdom.

The BABC is also bringing in renowned dog expert Pat Hastings. She is well-known for producing a dog evaluation video called 'Puppy Puzzle'. "She has been involved with the dogs for many years," said Mrs. Onabowale. "She is an American Kennel Club (AKC) judge."

"She looks at puppy evaluation even from a perspective of if you are breeding a litter of puppies, and you are looking for prospective owners, you should be able to evaluate your puppies.

"Not all puppies should go to every home. They are just as individual as people and some dogs fit better in some situations."

"We are really looking forward to having her come down."

Mrs. Hastings will be giving a lecture about evaluating puppies on November 7 at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute at 6.30 p.m. The cost will be $70 for BABC members and $75 for non-members.

All dogs involved in the show, even those in the agility competition, will be purebred. "Those are the Bermuda Kennel Club rules," said Mrs. Onabowale. "We try to promote purebred dogs, not because it is snobby, but because we feel we have a responsibility to promote the breed. There are so many breeds to fit all types of people."

Mrs. Onabowale owns and shows papillons, and La-Chons and has standard poodles for pets.

"Ten years ago I purchased an English springer spaniel locally," said Mrs. Onabowale.

"The breeder was into showing. I thought it might be fun. So I showed my dog and kept showing.

"Now I have three dogs at home and I co-own three dogs with a friend of mine in Maryland. She has them sometimes and sometimes I have them. They are all coming down for the show."

She said her favourite dog is the standard poodle. "It is, in my opinion, the most intelligent breed," she said. "It doesn't shed. They are the most versatile breed.

"If you want them to fetch, they will fetch. If you want them to lay down they will lay down. They are very loyal.

"They can be bold with other dogs, but can be very standoffish with people. You can tell the brain is thinking constantly."