In 2007, Aspen Myst Prince of the Island, aka an Alaskan malamute named Buffett, won First Award of Merit at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City.

Not quite 2 years old at the time, Buffett was the youngest dog to have ever won the title.

Next month, Buffett and his owners, Steve and Susan Rich of Elder Mountain, and Buffett’s trainer, Ginny Kladis, of Chattanooga, will head to New York City, where Buffett will again compete for championship titles at Westminster, America’s most prestigious dog show.

Having a championship dog was not originally Susan Rich’s goal.

“I just wanted a pet,” she said, noting that she had begun to admire the breed as an adult. “I really didn’t know anything about dog shows except that they were fun.”

But when she and her husband, a retired physician, purchased Buffett from breeders in Canada, she had to commit to showing Buffet at least once.

“We had to fill out a five-page application to buy the puppy,” said Mrs. Rich, an attorney. “Good breeders want their dogs to go to good homes. They’re not just in it for the money.”

The Riches saw Buffett in photos just after he was born. They knew right away that Buffett was the dog for them.

“The breeders had nearly 50 applications for Buffett, so we were so excited when we were told we got him,” Mrs. Rich said. “But that’s when we learned that most good breeders are also ‘show’ breeders. When puppies are born, they get other breeders to tell them whether a puppy is show quality or a pet puppy. Buffett was show quality, so before we could take him home, we had to commit to showing him in at least one dog show.”

Mrs. Rich touched base with the American Kennel Club and was soon taking classes on handling show dogs. Today, nearly five years later, dog shows have become a way of life.

It’s also a way of life for Ms. Kladis, a full-time professional handler/trainer. She will be in the ring with Buffett as he goes for Best of Breed and, she and the Riches hope, Best of Dogs at the prestigious show.

With a few wins behind him, including an American National Championship title, Buffett has qualities that could nab him the No. 1 titles, Ms. Kladis said.

“He’s such a beautiful and good dog,” she said, noting that she shares a special bond with Buffett, who weighs about 100 pounds.

“Dogs can see more than we see as people,” said Ms. Kladis, 31, a native of Springfield, Ill., who moved to Chattanooga two years ago. “They can see inside you, and some people do have a special energy with dogs.”

An entourage of about 20 people will be cheering for Buffett at the Westminster show Feb. 9-10. Ms. Kladis and Buffett will be heading there Feb. 5. Ms. Kladis will blog about the experience for the Times Free Press at timesfreepress.com beginning Feb. 6.

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