BOSTON, Massachusetts — One of the country’s largest AKC dog shows is back at the Bayside for four days of tail-wagging fun.

The Bay Colony Cluster Dog Show will be held from Thursday, December 9 through Sunday, December 12 at the Bayside Exposition Center in Boston. Sponsored by PEDIGREE brand dog foods, The Bay Colony Cluster Dog Show is a series of four shows, with an average of 3,000 pedigree pooches competing each day for “Top Dog” honors within their respective groups and breeds.

More than 32,000 people are expected to attend this four-day event to see over 147 breeds of dogs, among them will be such favorites as cocker spaniels, golden retrievers, and Labrador retrievers, as well as more exotic looking American Kennel Club (AKC) pedigrees such as Belgian Tervuren, Bedlington Terriers, Chinese Crested, and the newly popular Jack Russell Terrier. The newest AKC breeds, the Anatolian Shepard, Spinone Italiano and Havanese, may also appear at this year’s show.

Dogs from all over the country will compete daily in conformation classes, a process of elimination that ultimately awards only one dog the “Best In Show” trophy. Different dog clubs from within the Bay Colony cluster will present each day, so each day’s show will offer a unique mix of competition, special events, breeder referrals, public service booths and holiday shopping.

Throughout the weekend, dogs will also compete in AKC Obedience Trials, which score a dog’s ability to perform exercises such as retrieving, jumping and scent discrimination. The public is invited to learn more about this fun activity.

Most popular with spectators are agility events (a timed competition where dogs work their way over and through a series of obstacles), and fascinating demonstrations by obedience dogs, assistance dogs, and even search and rescue dogs who find people on land and under the water using their advanced sense of smell.

And for dog owners looking for a new sport to share with their canine companions, The World Canine Freestyle Organization will perform a “dancing with your dog” demonstration on Friday (1 pm), Saturday and Sunday (weekend times are noon and 1:30 pm). The unique group is known internationally for their musical routines featuring a human handler-dog dance team and will answer questions about this wildly popular new sport. Greyhound Friends will present a “rescue parade” on Saturday and Sunday (2 pm) celebrating breed rescue organizations and spotlighting pooches of all breeds who have received a new leash on life.

Crazy about your cocker spaniel? Dog lovers will be in holiday shopping heaven, with more than 90 concession booths displaying every type of dog-related merchandise imaginable, including hand-knitted sweaters, specialty t-shirts and hats, grooming supplies, unique pet foods and treats, handmade dog toys, pet safety products, dog beds and even fine jewelry and artwork.

If you are looking for information about a particular breed before making the big leap to dog ownership, approximately 20 public service booths will provide information about breeder referrals, dog-related volunteer opportunities and careers, and purebred and rescue adoption programs. Educational exhibits include volunteers from the Mass. Federation of Dog Clubs & Responsible Dog Owners/Purebred Dog Breeders Referral Service, Northeast Animal Shelter and the Animal Rescue League of Boston, 4H; Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, Search Dogs Northeast, N.E.A.D.S. (assistance dogs), Canine Companions for Independence, Pets & People (pet therapy/visitation), and many breed rescue clubs from throughout New England.

The Bay Colony Dog spectacular, supported by PEDIGREE brand dog foods, is organized and run by volunteers from Eastern Dog Club, Inc., Ladies Dog Club Inc., Middlesex County Kennel Club, Inc., Charles River Dog Training Club, Inc., Concord Training Club, Inc., and New England Dog Training Club, Inc. These local clubs donate part of the proceeds from the show to dog-related funds, such as the Scholarship Fund at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, the Morris Animal Foundation; and Search Dogs Northeast, a search and rescue group in New England.

The Bay Colony Dog Spectacular will run from 8 am to 5 pm Thursday, December 9 through Sunday, December 12, at the Bayside Exposition Center (exit 15 off the Southeast Expressway, Route 93 south). Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for children (8 and under) and $5 for seniors. Tickets are available at the door and discount tickets are available at your local Petco.

For more information and ring schedules, call the Bay Colony Cluster Dog Show event line at (617) 556-7704.