Two dogs follow their lead during Best Pooch in the Noosk dog show on Sept. 29. Photo by Olivia Miller

Via Community News, a University of Vermont journalism internship.

The pack of furry friends waited in the grass, their guardians in tow. Marty McFly, a fluffy white pooch, passed the time in a pink stroller while others curiously sniffed his ride. A few dogs ahead of him sat Boscoe, a 9-year-old Chihuahua in a turkey costume. 

“He’ll take anything — he just likes to be seen,” his owner quipped. “I don’t mind embarrassing him.” 

Boscoe, a 9-year-old Chihuahua, showed up his turkey costume at the Best Pooch in the Noosk dog show in Winooski on Sept. 29. Photo by Olivia Miller

So when Boscoe’s number was called at the Best Pooch in the Noosk dog show last weekend, he paraded in front of the crowd at the Winooski Farmers Market, showed off his turkey getup, then ran over to the judges — two staff members from event sponsor For the Love of Dogs Vermont and Winooski Mayor Kristine Lott. Lott, owner of two Chihuahuas herself, leaned in for a whiff of Boscoe’s breath, pondering if he qualified for the worst breath award. 

“I don’t know if the worst breath is a bragging right, but hey, you won something!” emcee Craig Mitchell said later on while the judges tallied results. 

Boscoe didn’t win worst breath, but he walked home with a $50 Pet Food Warehouse gift card and certificate for best costume with his name on it. 

Dogs and spectators at the Best Pooch in the Noosk show in Winooski on Sept. 29. Marty McFly, the fluffy white dog on the left, won cutest dog. Photo by Olivia Miller

Best Pooch in the Noosk was brimming with wagging tails and smiling owners last Sunday. Some canine competitors in the show came from For the Love of Dogs Vermont, a dog rescue based in Waitsfield, whose staff hoped those pups would be adopted by the end of the event. Goldie, a 7-month-old dog good with children and up for adoption, was given up by her previous owners for being too high energy. Her temporary caretaker, Rory O’Neil, said Goldie has done great in the two weeks he’s had her. 

Goldie, a 7-month-old dog who is good with children, was up for adoption at the show. She had been given up by her previous owners for being too high energy. Photo by Olivia Miller

“She’s still very much a puppy, so she’ll burn all of her energy really quickly, then just crash,” O’Neil said, watching Goldie run up to a group of children for pets and belly rubs. 

Dog trainers from Sit Means Sit Vermont were also at the dog show. Alden Ewell, one of the trainers, said he loves seeing the positive changes he fosters for both pets and their owners. 

“We work with all the dogs. We take the reactive ones, aggressive ones —  the tough dogs are our favorites,” he said. 

Ewell entered his dog of five years, Key, a 7-year-old husky, in the show. 

Key, a 7-year-old husky, with his owner, Alden Ewell. Photo by Olivia Miller

“I try my best to make sure he doesn’t look like a total gremlin,” he said, laughing and smoothing out Key’s fur before the event began. 

Though Key didn’t take home any prizes, he wowed the crowd by jumping into Ewell’s arms on command. 

All dogs put their best paws forward in the tricks department. Tank, who went on to win best tricks, gave his owner high-fives, jumped as high as he could and rolled over. 

“It’s like Cirque du Soleil with this dog!” Mitchell exclaimed, watching on. 

The final prize up for grabs was for the dog who looks most like their human. The winner, Havanese mix Rory, dazzled the judges with curly fur that matched her owner’s hair. The crowd was shocked to learn the bubbly canine was over 16 years old. 

“Woah, Rory!” Mitchell said. “Looking good for your age. What are you eating? I’ll have what Rory’s having.”