It's the Miss USA of dog shows -- a canine competition in which talents take a back seat and beauty and "conformation" rule.

You'll find no demonstrations of agility, no displays of obedience. It doesn't matter if contestants can catch a Frisbee or track a fox.

Yesterday's National Capital Kennel Club conformation show at the Howard County Fairgrounds was the equivalent of a beauty pageant for dogs, Sun reporter Laura Barnhardt writes in today's paper, "a very big beauty pageant."

More than 1,500 canines representing more than 150 breeds too their turns prancing before judges and admirers for a chance to win the coveted "Best in Show" ribbon.

The event used to be held on the National Mall and was a social event in Washington, attended by ambassadors and senators.

The competition was the last in four days of dog shows at the suburban fairgrounds. The back-to-back events draw breeders from across the country, and each day's competition offers the dogs a chance to earn points toward "champion" titles.

Photo: The National Capital Kennel Club contest at Howard County Fairgrounds drew Suzzy (foreground), Fed Ex (center) and Mac. (Sun photo by Algerina Perna)