GreenPaws Dog Show joins Hot Rods Run

DOGGY talents from around the region stepped out for the GreenPaws Dog Show, held on the Tea Gardens waterfront as part of the Hot Rods Run on Saturday 7 March. 

The show was chock-full of talent categories (aka dog-agories) that allowed more than a few of the 40 pets to shine like the flashy cars around them.

Prestigious prizes included “Best Trick”, which went to a border collie named Koda, and “Waggiest Tail”, which was taken paws-down by Lily.

“Fancy Dress”, in keeping with the hot-rod theme of the day, went to Nellie and Coco, and “Pooches on Parade” was won by Max the chihuahua.

There were, of course, special GreenPaws prizes.

These were awarded to the favourites of Sharon and Teddy, with one going to 17-year-old little Miss Doris.

The grandest pooch prize of them all, Best In Show 2026, was taken out by Lord Desmond I, a stately pug whose demeanour far outweighed his stout form.

“Desi, as his close friends know him, was a true character,” Sharon from GreenPaws told News Of The Area.

RADM Peter Sinclair (Retd) and son Peter Sinclair Jnr returned as special guest judges, a role the former Governor has been relishing for over a decade now.

The GreenPaws Dog Show was created about 16 years ago as an integral part of the original Myall River Festival. GreenPaws proprietor Sharon previously judged a pet show that included species beyond canines, but being bitten by a ferret led to her specialising in dogs.

“Teddy The Wonderdog came along in 2012, a border collie-cross-kelpie who showed great talent with a ball and frisbee, and for many years he opened the show with his tricks and leaping and flying after the ball.

“[He] was a real talent and crowd pleaser.”

In total, Sharon has judged 20 years-worth of dog shows, with only a few missed.

Prior to moving to Tea Gardens from Sydney, and setting up her mobile dog washing business, she trained more than 5000 dogs over 14 years.

By Thomas O’KEEFE