Leader of the pack.

• Author: Overman, Ogi
• Position: NC TREND: Triad Region

Ever since pilgrim John Goodman brought his mastiff and English springer spaniel aboard the Mayflower, America has had an affinity for dogs. Now, some four centuries later, more than 5.4 million U.S. households own at least one dog, and man's best friends have mushroomed into a $60 billion industry. While dog food accounts for the bulk of that market, products and services such as veterinary medicine, kennels, training, accessories, therapy dogs and the Animal Planet network are mega industries.

And then there are dog shows, properly called conformation shows because purebred dogs are judged on how they conform to the standards of their breed. Though dog mania has exploded, shows have declined during the last 20 years amid tighter restrictions on breeding and less interest by younger pet owners. "The [American Kennel Club] used to register a million and a half dogs 20 years ago; now, they're lucky to register 500,000," says Bobby Christiansen, president of Greensboro-based MB-F.

His company dominates the industry, and he knows better than to push the panic button. MB-F produces 45% of U.S. dog shows, far outpacing its six main rivals. "We've gained market share even as the total number of shows has dropped off," says Christiansen, who has led the business for 35 years.

MB-F produces about 1,000 shows annually, split evenly between comportment--how dogs behave--and specialty shows such as single-breed and field trial events. "We actually turn down business,"...