The Vancouver Pet Lover Show, the largest pet show in Western Canada, returns to Tradex in Abbotsford for its fourth year on Feb. 27 and 28.
The show features live entertainment across five stages, seminars from top industry experts, and hundreds of exhibitors offering the latest in pet products and services.
New this year, attendees are invited to bring their own well-behaved pets to the show.
Features this year include agility coursing presented by Dog Lovers Days. Developed over 30 years ago, these courses were originally used to train sight hounds like whippets and greyhounds.
Now redesigned for dogs of all breeds and sizes, this course combines ability and speed in a layout of hoops and tunnels. The course will also be open to show goers, with proceeds going to the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society.
Highlighting the Amazing Dog Stage this year are Gracie and Sam, whose owner Heather Van Oene will lead them in a jazz performance. Sam will also show off his skateboarding skills during their demonstration.
Back for another year, the Canadian K-9 Detection dogs will also be at the show, performing a demonstration of their contraband detection skills.
Demonstrations at the show will be kid-friendly and interactive as the team hides small pieces of foam and paper covered with various scents of illegal substances in the audience for the dogs to sniff out.
Seminar speakers include Raisa Stone, who talks about traditional Ukrainian animal
communication.
Ukrainians were among the first groups of people to tame horses, a feat accomplished through communication with body language and telepathy.
Stone will discuss how by communicating directly with animals, she is able to address and resolve difficult behavourial issues. Show visitors are invited to bring a photo of their pet to the seminar.
Also at the Pet Lover Show, trainer Kira M’Lot leads her dogs through a series of challenging obstacles on the Amazing Dog Stage, and trainer Sarah Nicholl from Fat Chance Ranch will be on hand to present “The Wonderful World of Llamas.”
Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets are $12 general, $8 for seniors and youth, and free to kids five years and under.
For more information or to purchase advance tickets, visit petlovershow.ca
