LOUISVILLE — Sherman, a barrel-chested bull mastiff, eyed a tiny white pooch Saturday — the yappy type that used to bark at him constantly at dog shows.

        But the mild-mannered Sherman never growled, didn't bark. He just stared.

        The short-haired, 4-year-old hunk of a dog whose head is about the size of a basketball, weighs in at 130 pounds — about the same weight as his owner, Tonya Jones, 45, of Columbus, Ind.

        “I just like real dogs. I don't like yappy dogs,” said Ms. Jones, who owns and breeds bull mastiffs and Rottweilers.

        Sherman was among the 4,000 dogs who competed at the Kentuckiana Cluster All-Breed Dog Show, a four-day event. On Saturday the dogs competed in the Evansville Kennel Club Show; the Louisville Kennel Club Show ran on Sunday — the last day of the show — at the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center. Other participants include the Owensboro River City Kennel Club and Kennel Club of Columbus, Ind.

        About 145 breeds were represented — from poodles to cocker spaniels to Rhodesian ridgebacks. The dogs are judged on bone structure, poise and coat, among other things.

        Sherman is an old hand when it comes to dog shows and made the cover of the 2000 Bullmastiff Annual, Ms. Jones said. He also competed at the Westminster Kennel Club's Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York, placing in the final seven in his breed. He is ranked in the top 10 nationally among bull mastiffs, the breed featured in movies such as Turner and Hooch with Tom Hanks, she said.

        “He's proportional, has outstanding movement and loves to show,” Jones said. To keep him in condition, Jones drives a golf cart while he runs along with her. Most dog owners use bicycles to run their dogs, but the bull mastiffs are just too strong, she said.

        While most competitions took place Saturday, this year's show also featured a “Meet the Breed” exhibition. Organizers said it was a chance to educate people about the characteristics of the breeds.

        Judy Melear, 50, of Fisherville, Ky., allowed visitors to pet her Rhodesian ridgebacks, Eli, a Westminster breed winner two years ago, and Ally, an American and Canadian champion.

        Ridgebacks are intelligent hounds, though not always obedient, but Ms. Melear said her dogs are like part of the family.

        “They're like children. They sleep on our beds,” Ms. Melear said. Ms. Melear showed Moab and Regis this weekend, but they didn't win.

        “It's sort of like gambling,” Ms. Melear said. “We win just enough to keep us coming back.”

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