The Grammys, the Oscars -- they're fine and all, but for dog lovers, this is their event. It's the Westminster Dog Show, and several local pooches are in the running.

Shadow, a Siberian Husky from Northampton Count,y is one of them.

"He commands attention," said owner Mary Spatz. "He just is like, 'Pick me, or I want to go first.'"

Shadow has already won six American Kennel Club titles; he's also a Grand Champion. Now, this husky from Hellertown is about to hit the biggest stage of all.

"It's huge," said Spatz. "It would be like the Super Bowl of dog shows."

Only 2,000 of the world's courtliest canines are selected to compete for dog show royalty at Madison Square Garden in New York. The event began Monday, but Shadow competes on Tuesday afternoon.

"It's extremely hard to get in," said Spatz. "We've been told it opens and closes within 15 minutes."

Shadow's not alone, though. He comes from a whole family of competitors. Shadow's sister Crystal is an accomplished show dog in her own right, as are the Spatz's other dogs.

But Westminster is a first for this family, and they'll be competing with several other dogs from our area.

"We're just happy that he's showing at Westminster," said Spatz's husband, Michael. "It's an honor unto itself."

Shadow will faceoff against 19 other huskies for the chance to appear on prime time television Tuesday night.