Shanghai - Dog shows in China started about 15 years ago and are gaining popularity among a fast-growing sector of upper-class Chinese.

Chinese pet owners are willing to pamper and doll up their darling pooches.

It is also common to hear of pet owners shelling up top dollars to acquire the best breed of dogs. Rachel, the offspring of an award-winning dog, was bought by her new owners for 35,000RMB (S$7,000).

Before a dog show, the owners even send their pets to a dog boot camp to get them set and ready to compete with other top breeds at the Shanghai International Dog Show 2013. The pets learned skills to do tricks and were also groomed to perfection.

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