Special Dog Show Coming to Greater Philadelphia Expo Center
There are over 3,000 dog shows that take place around the country throughout the year. Of those, the Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s National Dog Show is something special. It is a “benched” show, meaning that the show dogs and their owners must stay on the premises all day to greet fans. Steve Griffith, director of communications for the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, says that the popularity of dog shows in recent years can be credited to the Purina National Dog Show, which is televised each year on Thanksgiving. It’s expected that there will be more than 2,000 dogs at the Kennel Club’s show, making it the biggest turnout in a decade.
If you love pups, a Philadelphia dog show will be right up your alley.
The show is a great opportunity for pup lovers to get their fix. All the dogs of one breed are stationed together, so you can bask in the cuteness of, say, a dozen Dalmatians all waiting for you to pet them. “The same thing for St. Bernards, the Goldens, Australian shepherds and all down the line,” says Griffith.
Visitors to the show can watch dogs perform feats of agility on an obstacle course, meeting up with pet rescue groups, and browsing the vendors’ tables for pet supplies. It’s a very family-friendly event, says Griffith.
According to the Delco Times, “The new American Kennel Club breed for 2017, the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje, who resides in Jim Thorpe, won’t be eligible to compete until 2018 but will be entered into the Miscellaneous Group at this year’s show. A release noted that the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje, “a small, flashy, orange and white spaniel-like sporting dog,” is an ancient breed of working dog, appearing in the works of the Dutch Masters as early as the 17th Century. Brought to near-extinction during World War II, the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje only became a recognized breed in the Netherlands in 1971.”
The dog that wins Best in Show will, with its owner, become an overnight celebrity. Last year’s winner, a greyhound named Gia, was featured on the Today show.
