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Ringside at the American Kennel Club National Championship

American Kennel Club Show Dogs

Last week I went to the Canine Extravaganza and American Kennel Club National Championship in Orlando. One really cool thing was sitting ring-side in the press area during the National Championship. I got an up-close-and-personal look at how the handlers managed their dogs during down time. It was a lot of fun seeing the dogs spritzed with water, combed, fluffed, fanned, and generally pampered while they waited their turns.

The Dogue de Bordeaux got his own personal electric fan to keep him cool.

Ringside at the American Kennel Club National Championship
Dogue de Bordeaux

Here’s the Great Dane and his handler checking out a text message from his owner.

Ringside at the American Kennel Club National Championship
Great Dane: “Who’s calling?”

And here’s the Cane Corso giving me the once over.

American Kennel Club National Championship Urban Dog
Cane Corso Checking Me Out in the Press Area

The Doberman Pinscher kept warm between trips around the ring.

 

Ringside at the American Kennel Club National Championship
Doberman Pinscher

For those that don’t know, dog shows are all about “conformation.” According to the AKC:

… the true purpose of conformation showing is to evaluate breeding stock. The dog’s conformation—his overall appearance and structure—is an indication of the dog’s ability to produce quality purebred puppies, and that is what is being judged in the ring. That’s why mixed-breeds and spayed or neutered purebreds are not eligible to compete.

Ringside at the American Kennel Club National Championship
Corgi Getting the Once Over

The Australian Shepherd and his handler share a moment.

Ringside at the American Kennel Club National Championship
Australian Shepherd and Handler Sharing a Moment

I got an up-close look at a Bergamasco Shepherd, a relatively new addition to the list of AKC-recognized breeds.

Ringside at the American Kennel Club National Championship
Carpet? Or Bergamasco Shpeherd?

Here’s what the Bergamasco looks like when it’s not doing an imitation of a shag carpet with a nose and tongue.

Ringside at the American Kennel Club National Championship
Bergamasco Shepherd

This is one of my favorite dogs, the Neapolitan Mastiff. Here he is getting a spritz in the ring.

American Kennel Club National Championship Urban Dog
Neapolitan Mastiff Getting a Spritz

And here’s another dog giving me “The Eye” … the Alaskan Malamute.

Ringside at the American Kennel Club National Championship
Malamute

The Belgian Malinoise whispers in his handler’s ear.

Ringside at the American Kennel Club National Championship
Belgian Malinois

The German Shepherd Dog was at the front of the line in the Herding Group.

Ringside at the American Kennel Club National Championship
German Shepherd Dog

The Bullmastiff gets ready.

Ringside at the American Kennel Club National Championship
Bull Mastiff

The Boxer won “Best in Group” in the Working Group.

Ringside at the American Kennel Club National Championship
Boxer Wins Group!

The winner of “Best in Show” for the American Kennel Club National Championship was a Puli named Preston. Here is he strutting his stuff during the Herding Group competition.

Ringside at the American Kennel Club National Championship
Preston the Pulli. The Champion!

For more about handlers, check out the American Kennel Club’s Registered Handlers Resource Center and for some funny stuff read about these 13 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets of Dog Show Handlers from Mental Floss.

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Sean Sheer

Sean is a passionate dog lover and the proud owner of Urban Dog’s Official Spokes-Dog, Bodhi the Weimaraner. His family has always owned dogs, but Bodhi is the first he's been fully responsible for since puppyhood… and he couldn't be more doting. As a longtime New Yorker of more than 20 years, Sean knows what a dog's and dog owner's lifestyle is like in NYC. Besides being a doggy dad and top dog at Urban Dog, Sean also has a "real job" experience as co-owner of a Palm Beach, Florida-based private investigative firm, and as a licensed (pet friendly) Real Estate Salesperson with Douglas Elliman in NYC. Sean also exercised his creativity and business sense as an award-winning journalist, producer, TV marketing exec, and private investigator. When not blogging, working, or playing with Bodhi, he is an avid adventure traveler who has circumnavigated the world, bird-watched on all seven continents, safari-ed in Africa, and SCUBA-dived in exotic waters.

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1 comment
  1. Adam says:
    January 4, 2017 at 4:09 pm

    Wow! The Bergamasco Shepherd really looks like a carpet. I can’t believe it!

    That’s probably the most funny looking dog I’ve seen in a while. Impressive imitation 🙂

    /Adam – The Doggy Institute

    Reply

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