OODLES OF POODLES

Kaz’s latest dog show triumph is the culmination of years as one of the world’s top trainers of the breed

- PECULIA MUSHWANA

HE’S been called an artist who tends his poodle’s poufs as if they were bonsai trees from Japan – and it’s an accomplishment that’s made him the top dog in a world where the hair of the hound means everything. Kaz Hosaka recently made headlines

when his impeccably groomed miniature poodle, Sage, took the honours in the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, the crème de la crème of global dog competition.

Four-year-old Sage became the first female to win in the non-sporting category since 2020 and beat more than 3 000 entrants from around the world.

Kaz (65), a veteran dog show competitor and a professional dog groomer and handler, was so delighted that he had to fight back tears. “I’m so happy she gave me a great performance and I’m so proud of this dog,” he said.

Sage’s recent victory was the cherry on top for Kaz, who’s retiring after 45 years of competing in dog shows. Non-sporting dogs are judged on their personality, appearance, size, coat and temperament and Sage behaved like a champ.

“Poodles aren’t easy,” says Kaz, who came to the US from Japan as a teenager. “But she did well with all the echoes [in the stadium] and a lot of people applauding. Maybe I was more nervous than she was. “I’ve been in America for 45 years – I’ve been lucky and done a lot, especially at Westminster. This is my seventh group win for poodles. That’s more than I could ask for and it’s my perfect ending.”

This is Kaz’s second best-in-show trophy. In 2002 Sage’s great-grandmother, Surrey Spice Girl, took the prize.