Vicksburg will go to the dogs today when the National Retriever Club Championship Stake shows up for its first visit to the city.

The event will feature 91 dogs from across the country that will compete in hunting and field trials throughout next week, Nov. 14-20, event chairman Joseph Broyles said.

“The best dogs in the country will be there,” said Broyles, a physician in Baton Rouge. “After 20 minutes people will have figured out what is going on and it becomes a lot of fun.”

He said 91 dogs and their trainers are expected to begin arriving today to spend a week getting the canines acclimated to the climate and the field at Ronnie and Randy Lampkin’s property near 2911 Bovina Cutoff Road.

Then, next weekend, events will be free to the public as the competition begins. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

The dogs, all types of retrievers from Labradors and goldens to Chesapeake Bay retrievers, are scored on technique, responsiveness and their ability to take direction from handlers.