By Heidi Clayton
The National Dog Show airs on Thanksgiving Day on NBC, immediately following the Macy’s Parade. It is filmed nearby in Oaks, Pa., at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center. The show and filming are open to the public at large and are widely attended. Here is a breakdown of what you can see at one of the biggest dog shows of the year.
There are a total of 1,866 dogs entered at this year’s show. If you like Siberian huskies, there will be 55 of them entered for you to meet and see.
The National Dog Show is actually hosted by the Philadelphia Kennel Club, which is one of the oldest kennel clubs in existence and predates the American Kennel Club. Their first recorded show was held in 1876 under the name of the Philadelphia Exhibition, which three years later morphed into the Philadelphia Kennel Club. The first Best in Show winner was actually my breed, a bull terrier.
One hundred and forty-three years later, the Kennel Club is still going strong. It uses the money generated by hosting this show to donate to different dog causes and research projects.
The National Dog Show is also one of the few remaining benched shows in the country. Benched shows require that all dogs that exhibit remain on the premises to be viewed by the public. Every year I meet people who come just to meet a bull terrier and talk about bringing one into their lives. My dogs get petted and doted on by literally hundreds of kids. If you are looking to bring a particular breed of dog into your life, this is a great place to come and meet the people who live for that breed.
The top two registered breeds in the AKC, the French bulldog and golden retriever, will be well represented with entries of 31 and 45. If you are looking to learn more about these popular breeds, this is an excellent chance to meet people who are passionate about them and who love chatting about their dogs.
The National Dog Show isn’t just about conformation. There are also vendors and informational booths to visit. My favorite dog collar maker, MacKenzie Belts, is always there. Every year, despite not really needing a new handmade collar, one of my dogs is getting a new collar. White Dog Bone is another excellent vendor where you can buy bulk dog treats like bully sticks to bring home to your dog.
There are flyball and agility demonstrations and a chance to meet the hosts of the show David Frei, John O’Hurley of “Seinfeld” fame, and Mary Carillo who is just always an absolute delight and really enjoys meeting the dogs.
The National Dog Show will be held on Nov. 18 and 19, but Saturday is the day to go. You can watch the filming of the groups that are shown on Thanksgiving Day and cheer your favorite on. Tickets are $16 for adults, $7 for children 4-11, and children 3 and under are admitted for free. The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center is located at 100 Station Ave., Oaks, Pa.
If you are looking for a fun day for the family, I never see anything but smiles on all attendees. If you make the trip, please visit me and my bull terrier Grand Champion SoraBully’s Hot ‘n’ Spicy Miso Soup, better known as Miso Soup, who hopefully will be a winner!
If you have any questions, please feel free to email heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net.
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
