Dog lovers have taken over Qwest Center Omaha this weekend for the 2009 Nebraska Kennel Club Show, drawing people and pets from across the country. Man's best friend is finding more acceptance in public places.

Plenty of pampering, a little dancing and of course a good meal. Dogs like the rottweiler Turbo deserve the very best.

“He is trained through the highest level of competitive obedience that American Kennel Club has to offer, but he's also a therapy dog, an award-winning therapy dog," said owner Pat Crawford from Valley View, Texas. "He truly is a working dog with a wonderful disposition,"

Turbo works with pre-K through fourth-grade students. Crawford drove nine hours to show Turbo, but it's also a vacation for her. “We eat at all the local restaurants, stay at the local hotels, shop at the local shops when there's time. He goes everywhere I go."

Many dog lovers feel the same way and more businesses are finding it pays to be pet-friendly. "It's part of who you are as far as the pets you have," said Wil Snider of McFoster’s Natural Kind Café.

A handful of Omaha restaurants like McFoster’s allow dogs in their patio dining area. "As long as they're good-natured and everything else like that, we love to have them,” said Snider. “We bring out water for the pets, too."

Dog owners usually give the cafe a business boost. "It brings in a clientele that you know, some people are just walking their dog and they want to get a juice or a smoothie."

A few stores and 26 hotels in Omaha are pet-friendly. "No problem in Omaha finding a pet-friendly hotel, absolutely none,” said Crawford.

“They're very accommodating,” said Denise Carroll of Colfax, Iowa. “A lot of times they'll even have dog biscuits out on the counters for them."

That's important to Carroll, who has eight dogs. "We really have a good time wherever we go, but Omaha's very friendly, very pet-friendly."

It’s her seventh time coming to Omaha for the Kennel Club event and she’ll be among the dog lovers who will be headed to a local restaurant. "After you have a big win, like he got best in breed today, so we've got to go out and celebrate," she said holding Dudley.

This time though she’s not looking for pet-friendly. "I want to eat my meal in peace and not have to share," she laughed.

The Web site dogfriendly.com has a listing of pet-friendly hotels, restaurants and stores in Omaha.

The Nebraska Kennel Club Show continues through 5 p.m. Sunday.

The metro area also has five dog parks. Click here for a listing.