Westminster win bodes well for Manitoba beagle breeders

The beaglemay have been considered an underdog in this year's Westminster Kennel Club dog show, but the breed has long been considered a winner for a pair of Manitoba breeders.

Canadian-owned Miss P won Best in Showhonours last night at thedog show in New York.

Now, Frieda and Branko Krpan of Branko's Beagles near St. Laurentare expecting more calls about the breed.

"I was glad to see the beagle get recognition," said Frieda Krpan, "It's an easy dog to care for. It doesn't have a very fancy coiffure, so to speak. It's a pretty plain dog, and yet it's a wonderful dog."

Miss Pwas set to have a full day of TV appearances, meetings with Donald Trump and dining at a Manhattan restaurant today.

TheKrpans have been breeding and selling beagles for 45 years. Frieda Krpan said theywatch the Westminster show every year andknowMiss P's handler and one of the Westminster judges.

"I'm really glad to see a dog [win] that doesn't need all this hairdo-ing, blow-drying and you know, just a nice dog, a 'what you see is what you get' kind of dog.That makes me happy," said Krpan.

But she saidhaving the spotlight on her favourite breedmay not be a good thing.

"I don't like it when dogs of any breed become quote, unquote 'fashionable,'" Krpan said, referring to Dalmations and their popularity linked to the movie101 Dalmatians.

This is the second time a beagle has won the Westminster dog show. In 2008, a dog namedUnotook top honours. Miss P is related.

Krpansaid the dogs she breeds are quite a different hound compared with Miss P.

Krpan's beagles are bred primarily for hunting. Colour is more important with show dogs.

"Our dogs are athletes," said Krpan, "Our dogs are expected to run in the woods after rabbits for 12-plus hours, whereas show dogs are not."

She said she doubts Miss P would do wellpursuing a rabbit.

"I doubt very much she has any hunting instinctleft."