The Detroit Kennel Club Dog Show will be at Cobo Center March 3-4. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children under 12 and senior citizens 60 and over. Family packs with tickets for two adults and three children will be available for $35. Tickets are available at the door. Tickets will be sold separately for each show and are good only for that day's show. For more information, visit
www.detroitkennelclub.com or call (248) DKC-SHOW.
Courtesy the Detroit Kennel Club
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If the saying that dogs are a man's best friend rings true, prepare to meet a lot of new canine confidantes. Over 3,000 dogs representing 163 breeds and varieties recognized by the American Kennel Club will be at Cobo Center March 3-4 for the annual Detroit Kennel Club (DKC) Dog Shows.
The DKC shows seek to entertain and educate dog lovers during two days of fun for the whole family. The event includes judging, demonstrations, lectures and other activities from beginning at 9 a.m. each day.
"There's something for everybody," said Erik Bergishagen, president of the Detroit Kennel Club. Dogs of each breed will be judged in different classifications, including puppies, novice, American-bred, bred-by-exhibitor, open class, winners' class and best-of-breed competition. Dog breeds are divided into seven groups: sporting, hounds, terriers, working, toys, non sporting and herding with competition beginning at breed level and moving through groups to Best In Show. Best in Show will go into the ring at approximately 6 p.m. each day.
The show format makes it easy for visitors to meet with owners and breeders of a specific dog in the same location and inquire about breed characteristics, temperament, grooming and other issues. Special events during the shows are entertaining and offer unique perspectives of the strong bond between a dog and his or her family.
Returning to the DKC shows lineup are popular activities like search and rescue demonstrations, breed seminars, a canine first aid presentation and more. New this year will be Leader Dogs for the Blind techniques and demonstrations and the American Kennel Club Rally Obedience program.
Leader Dog representatives will be on hand to demonstrate training and techniques with dogs currently enrolled in the program, such as navigating sidewalks, staircases and other obstacles, said Philip Griffin, assistant director of training with Leader Dogs for the Blind. Headquartered in Rochester, the organization hopes to increase public awareness about the specially-trained dogs and their responsibilities, he said.
The Leader Dogs for the Blind demonstrations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. both days.
AKC Rally is a new dog sport that puts a fresh twist on traditional obedience competition. The dog and handler team move continuously through a rally course of 10-20 signs with the dog at the handler's left side. At each numbered sign the team performs the indicated exercise before moving on to the next sign, according to a press release. This is scheduled throughout the day both days.
Also new this year will be a Flyball demonstration by the Sportsmen's Dog Training Club of Detroit presented at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
In addition, approximately 100 different vendors will attend the shows to offer everything from dog art to dog supplies.
