Winter in India is a busy time for professional dog breeders. Each week, from August till March, thousands travel to compete in dog shows across the country. The breeders spend great sums of money to import pedigree dogs, hire professional handlers and fly these animals to various shows.
The average person may consider a dog show to be a glorified beauty pageant for canines and a rather superfluous affair. Dig a little deeper though and you find that dog shows in India have a rich history. The first such show was held in 1896, and was patronised by the British colonial elite and the Indian aristocracy. Now, the Kennel Club of India, which was established in 1978 and combined all regional clubs into one central body, supervises the shows.
These are highly competitive events, where dog and master must put their best foot forward. There is usually no prize money to be had but breeding a winning dog can eventually lead to big financial returns.
(Karan Vaid is a Delhi-based photographer)