Each of us has a story.  Today may find us as judges, breeders, professional handlers, owner-handlers, juniors, dog sport enthusiasts, ring stewards, show secretaries, superintendants, or photographers, but if we cast our minds back to our very first dog show, we all began in the same place - with the love of a dog.  We continue for the same reason.

When we took those first steps into the dog world we not only began our own journeys, we also became part of something bigger than ourselves.  Important dates and events form a narrative history of the sport of purebred dogs, covering everything from the world's first organized dog show at Newcaste-upon-Tyne, England in 1859, to the founding of the Canadian Kennel Club at Tecumseh House in London, Ontario in 1887, the publication of Kennel & Bench in 1912, the Halifax Kennel Club's first dog show in 1943, founding of the Canadian Professional Handlers Association, establishment of the Dog Legislation Council of Canada in 2003 and much more.  Between those important dates are the stories of millions of dog devotees just like us.  People made these important events happen, and it is their stories -- OUR stories -- that we will gather to celebrate in September.

Each year, the Canadian Professional Handlers Association joins with organizations, patrons and sponsors from across Canada to celebrate the people and the dogs writing the newest chapters in our collective history.  Our annual awards banquet honours the Top 10 Dogs All-Breeds (Conformation), their breeders, owners and handlers as well as Canada's Top Obedience competitor, Top Junior Handler, Top Owner-Handler and the Wenrick Sportsmanship Award winner.

This year, the CPHA will continue its tradition of honouring Canada's Top Dogs by celebrating the mosaic of the Canadian show scene that supports them.

In 2010, we will:

• explore our history, including the incredible changes seen in our sport and in our breeds over the past century;

• raise money for the Dog Legislation Council of Canada, an organization standing up for all of our rights;

• recognize the contributions of Canadian history-makers through the Wenrick Sportsmanship Award as well as awards for Top Obedience Competitor, Owner-Handler of the Year and Top Junior Handler;

• highlight the accomplishments of Canada's Top 10 All-Breed dogs and their breeders, owners and handlers;

• and we will shine a light on YOUR story by celebrating successes at all levels of competition in Atlantic Canada (share your story here!)

This is not your mother's Top Dog Banquet, Canada.