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All-Breed Dog Show is Oct. 23-24

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Pictured is a contestant in the Rally portion of the show going through the course.

TIMES-REPUBLICAN

The Heart of Iowa Kennel Club will hold two American Kennel Club All-Breed and Obedience shows on Oct. 23 -24 at the Central Iowa Fairgrounds in Marshalltown.

“Although the Westminster Dog Shows or the National Dog Show which is televised on Thanksgiving are considerably larger, our shows follow the same procedures and American Kennel Club rules and guidelines. Our judges may have judged at those shows and we should have top dogs that are nationally ranked. Our judges come from Georgia, Iowa, Connecticut and Illinois,” said Show Chair Shelley Barron.

Each day of the weekend is considered a different show for exhibitors and there are more than 325 dogs entered each day. These dogs will come from all over the United States and often from other countries. Top winning dogs in breed, obedience and rally will be strutting their stuff at these shows.

Breed competition involves judging individuals of a breed against the judge’s idea of the perfect representative of that breed. There are more than 75 breeds or varieties scheduled to compete, from Beagles to Yorkshire Terriers, with Labrador Retrievers, Samoyeds, Cocker Spaniels and Shih Tzu breeds with the most entries. Some of the less common breeds expected to compete are Flat Coat-Coated Retriever, German Wire-haired Pointer, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Irish Wolfhound, Petits Bassets Griffon Vendeens, Treeing Walker Coonhound, Cane Corso, German Pinscher, Bedlington Terrier, Manchester Terrier, Rat Terrier, Havanese, Tibetan Spaniel, Tibetan Terrier, Border Terrier, Chinese Crested, Belgian Malinois, Bouviers des Flandres and Pulik.

There are 104 entries in obedience and rally. Most spectators will recognize many of the basic commands taught in beginning obedience classes such as sit, stay, come, down and stay. Advanced competition includes these basics plus directed jumping, directed retrieves, off-leash heeling and scent discrimination.

Rally obedience has the handler and dog following a specific course with signs indicating the obedience exercise to be completed. The AKC allows mixed-breeds known as “All Americans” to compete in rally and obedience and to win titles.

There are eight boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 18 entered in junior showmanship where the handler is judged, not the dog, similar to 4H and FFA competition. These junior handlers train, groom and present the dogs in the best possible manner in each of the four classes and the winner of each class competes for Best Junior Handler. Some of these handlers may also be competing with the adults in regular breed competition.

Judging begins at 9 a.m. each morning and will run until 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. No unentered dogs are allowed in the show buildings. Spectators should be aware of surroundings, especially in regard to strollers and children and remember that many of exhibitors may have spent an hour or more grooming the dog, so ask before you meet the dog. Many exhibitors show more than one dog or might be in different classes and may be pressed for time. There will be a food vendor available for breakfast and lunch and the club hopes that many people will support this restaurant owner.

All though there are no COVID safety requirements, the show committee hopes common sense COVID recommendations will be followed. Try to social distance and the CDC recommends that un-vaccinated persons wear a mask indoors. For more information on the shows or the club contact Barron at 641-750-2862.

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