The Napa Valley Exposition Center became the hub for dog enthusiasts from all over the state over the weekend as Wine Country Kennel Club held its annual All-Breed Dog Shows.

Fifteen-hundred furry friends came to the Expo along with their owners and handlers to compete in the American Kennel Club-sanctione -event.

Almost every breed imaginable — from fluffy Pomeranians to towering Irish wolfhounds — competed in Napa. Since Wine Country Kennel Club hosts two shows over the weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, it calls the two-day event its 52nd and 53rd All-Breed Dog Shows said Kim Bates, show chairwoman.

“We have some of the top dogs in the country (competing),” she said.

A group of Irish wolfhounds together can be an intimidating sight; the dogs have been called the tallest breed. Owners of these dogs stick by the mantra, “Magnificent when stroked, ferocious when provoked.”

Pope Valley resident Megan Thompson brought two of her own Irish wolfhounds and one that belongs to a friend to the competition. Thompson’s dogs, 2-year-old Liam and 9-month-old Paddy, did not win in their class, but she said that she was pleased with their performance.

“This is fun,” Thompson said. “We get together (and) we make it our event. It’s not just (about) the showing.”

Jean Gauchat-Hargis’ Penne, a 10-month-old keeshond, wowed the judges enough for them to grant it top female dog honors at Sunday’s competition. Because of the win, Penne competed against the winner of the best male dog in her breed, as well as a champion keeshond, for best of breed.

Gauchat-Hargis, who breeds keeshondens, said that Penne had never before competed against other dogs and said she was happy that her dog, a thick-coated pooch that resembles a teddy bear, got a major award this year.

“She is my fifth generation,” Gauchat-Hargis said.

Penne did not win best of breed, but Gauchat-Hargis said that she will continue entering her dog into other shows in hopes that one day she’ll become a champion. A dog becomes a AKC Champion of Record when it accumulates 15 points. Points are gained by winning different show categories and the winner of best of show earns points based on how many dogs it beat. Sunday’s best of show winner gained 1,500 points, one point per dog entered into the show.

Buzz, a lustrous Siberian husky, trotted around a makeshift arena and earned best of breed honors Sunday. Her handler, Grass Valley resident Lauren House, said that Buzz is groomed once a week to keep her pristine coat in good condition. House said that Buzz has competed at several events throughout the year and that Napa’s show is one of her favorites.

Each dog is judged based on the different breed standards, or guidelines used to judge the dogs’ attributes, according to Bates, a member of the Wine County Kennel Club. Judges selected winners in male and female classes, divided by puppy, junior, novice, bred by exhibitor, American bred and open categories.

Those winners then compete against a champion dog in best of breed, best of winners and best of opposite sex categories. The winners of those competitions then compete in their respective groups including sporting, hound, working, terrier, toy, non-sporting and herding. And the winners from those seven groups are placed in the running for best of show. In addition to best of show, Wine County Kennel Club awarded a best puppy honor along with a cash prize of $1,000.

Many vendors were spread out on the grounds of the expo and sold dog grooming equipment, leashes, dog toys and dog pampering products for the hundreds of dog lovers in attendance. Wine Country Kennel Club, which consists of 12 members, is a nonprofit organization that operates under the rules and regulations set forth by the American Kennel Club according to WCKC’s Web site.