The tension is palpable, the excitement is mounting and the heady scent of competition is in the air as hundreds of eager contestants from across America prepare to take part in what is undoubtedly one of the greatest events of their lives -- the Mayflower Dog Show.
The canine contestants and their owners are as wondrously diverse as the great country that has bred them. There is Harlan Pepper (CHRISTOPHER GUEST), a fly-fishing shop owner from Pine Nut, North Carolina, who hopes that his Bloodhound, Hubert, may be the first of his kind to win top prize at the show.
In their upscale Illinois home, yuppie lawyers Meg (PARKER POSEY) and Hamilton Swan (MICHAEL HITCHCOCK) anxiously ready themselves and their somewhat neurotic Weimaraner, Beatrice, for the big event.
Meanwhile, in Fern City, Florida, mild-mannered menswear salesman Gerry Fleck (EUGENE LEVY) and his vivacious wife, Cookie (CATHERINE O'HARA), happily prepare their Norwich Terrier, Winky, for the most important show of his competitive career.
In New York, professional handler Scott Donlan (JOHN MICHAEL HIGGINS) and his longtime partner, hair salon owner Stefan Vanderhoof (MICHAEL McKEAN), happily anticipate the event as they feel that one of their Shih Tzus, Miss Agnes, stands a very good chance of winning the cup.
Although the fabulously wealthy and elderly Leslie Ward Cabot (PATRICK CRANSHAW) and his voluptuous young wife, Sherri Ann Cabot (JENNIFER COOLIDGE), are confident that their two-time champion Standard Poodle, Rhapsody In White, will keep the crown, they aren't taking any chances and have hired ace handler Christy Cummings (JANE LYNCH) to assure their win.
At the Mayflower Dog Show, everything is being organized with the utmost precision under the watchful eye of Mayflower Kennel Club President Dr. Theodore W. Millbank III (BOB BALABAN) and the show's chairman, Graham Chissolm (DON LAKE). Trevor Beckwith (JIM PIDDOCK) and Buck Laughlin (FRED WILLARD) are the Mayflower dog show commentators.
Finally, the hundreds of contestants come together under one giant roof, the audience throngs the massive arena and the competition begins in earnest as television cameras bring the wonderful world of dogs to millions.
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