“This place has really gone to the dogs,” might be the wise crack that came to mind.

Of course, it pretty much literally did go to the dogs and, for the canines, it’s not just an ordinary day, but a day filled with adventure.

Wade Koistinen, of Kansas City, Missouri, was showing Ripp, a Havinese that seemed to be enjoying himself. He even got some last-minute fur touch up and some treats while in the ring showing.

“He loves showing,” Koistinen said. “He’s nearing retirement though; he’s not going to like it one bit.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
“Comet,” a Chesapeake Bay retriever, along with human, Annaliese North, of Stillwater, Minnesota, enjoy a battery-powered fan together Saturday during the Fort Dodge Kennel Club Dog Show on the Webster County Fairgrounds.

Ripp’s routine on a show trip is a little different than his usual day’s routine.

“He’s got to get off the couch.” Koistinen said.

Dave and Sandy Palmer, of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, were showing Norwegian elk hound sisters Breifne and Tirzah.

Their routine was a bit off, too.

“They got up early; they got to stay in a hotel,” Sandy Palmer said, “We had scrambled eggs for breakfast.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
“Magic” a golden retriever who brought his human, Katie Heard, of Grainger, to the Fort Dodge Kennel Club Dog Show Saturday holds on to his fluffy red bone toy.

The highlight for the dogs?

“There’s lots of treats,” Dave Palmer said. “That’s the best part.”

Sarah Carter, of Fort Dodge, was at the show with her miniature Daschhund, Phoebe. The very sleek and streamlined, but tiny dog, is just starting her show career. It was her very first show.

“She hangs out in her kennel,” Carter said. “Then we have a little play time before we come in here and wait.”

It’s tasty for Phoebe, too.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Phoebe, a miniature Dachshund that brought her human, Sarah Carter, of Fort Dodge, to the Fort Dodge Kennel Club Dog Show Saturday on the Webster County Fairgrounds, strikes a pose next to a much larger, but not as sleek, dog. Phoebe, a miniature Dachshund that brought her human, Sarah Carter, of Fort Dodge, to the Fort Dodge Kennel Club Dog Show Saturday on the Webster County Fairgrounds, strikes a pose next to a much larger, but not as sleek, dog.

“There’s always extra treats,” Carter said. “She loves them. She did really well in her solo class, but wanted so badly to play with the other older puppy she was competing against since she hasn’t seen any small dogs like her in training class.”

Rumor, who came to the show with her human, Meredyth Olson, of Osceola, is a blue heeler/border collie mix.

She was busy watching the crowd, the other dogs, and probably wishing she could go and herd all of them.

“She gets new toys today,” Olson said. “A big treat and she gets to hang out with ‘him.'”

“Him” is Rumor’s substitute human, Olson’s boyfriend Frank Thacker.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
“Coal,” a standard poodle owned by Michelle Finch, of Ames, looks out from the inside of his portable kennel Saturday during the Fort Dodge Kennel Club Dog Show.

Norah, a Great Dane who enjoyed the company of her human, Sandy Mauck, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, wasn’t having the best afternoon during obedience trials.

It is, after all, difficult when you haven’t had a nap yet, to remember that “sit” actually means

“sit” and not “do a big stretch in the ring.”

“She did great this morning.” Mauck said. “This afternoon, not so much.”

It was all OK though, because the day is still special — enjoying one-on-one time with her favorite human.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
“Victor,” a Pomeranian who came to the Fort Dodge Kennel Club Dog Show with his human, Shelli Tradup, of Elgin, Minnesota, looks less than 100 percent happy at the approach of the dreaded floof comb Saturday morning before entering the show ring.

“She gets to travel,” Mauck said. “It’s just her and me today instead of the whole pack.”

For Coal, a standard poodle that lives in Ames with his human, Michelle Finch, it meant being just a bit more active than usual. It also meant that he could be a doggo periscope and look around over the top when she’d unzip the upper flap of his portable kennel.

“He’s a big couch potato at home,” she said.

No matter what, though, every human will say the same thing about their dogs.

“We have the best doggos.” Sarah Carter said.

She is, of course, right. Every doggo is the best doggo, even if it’s not best in show.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
“Ripp,” a Havinese being showed by Wade Koistinen, of Kansas City, Missouri, gets a little touch up on the tail do Saturday while the pair work the ring at the Fort Dodge Kennel Club Dog Show at the Webster County Fairgrounds. "Ripp" a Havinese being showed by Wade Koistinen, of Kansas City, gets a little touch up on the tail do Saturday while the pair work the ring at the Fort Dodge Kennel Club Dog Show on the Webster County Fairgrounds.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Norwegian elk hounds Breifne, at left, along with her sister, Tirzah, line up for treats Saturday during the Fort Dodge Kennel Club Dog Show. Their humans, Dave and Sandy Palmer, of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, made sure there were plenty of those on hand.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
“Rumor,” a blue heeler/border collie mix, isn’t quite sure what to make of the day as he shares a little quiet time with his human, Meredyth Olson, of Osceola, during the Fort Dodge Kennel Club Dog Show Saturday at the Webster County Fairgrounds. "Rumor" a blue heeler/border collie mix isn't quite sure what to make of the day as he shares a little quiet time with his human, Meredyth Olson, of Osceola during the Fort Dodge Kennel Club Dog Show Saturday on the Webster County Fairgrounds.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Dachshunds "Perry" at left, along with "Jeordy" at right, hang out with their humans Diane Severns, of Elk Point, South Dakota and Cindy Ruckman, of Hebron, Indiana, during the Fort Dodge Kennel Club Dog Show Saturday on the Webster County Fairgrounds.