Annual AKC dog show continues today
The fur is flying this weekend at the Four States Fairgrounds as The Kennel Club of Texarkana sponsors the 52nd annual All-Breed American Kennel Club Dog Show. This year there are 886 dogs entered in the show, with 305 entered in the Owner-Handled Competition and 36 entered in the 4-6 Month Beginner Puppy Competition.
On Saturday, the show ran from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with individual breed and group showings. The show concludes today with breed and group competitions with a different set of judges. The show begins at 8 a.m. and will finish around 4 p.m.
Admission is free, but there is a $5 parking fee.
The AKC was founded in 1884 and recognizes 202 dog breeds. Dogs registered with AKC must be purebreds.
“AKC Breeders are responsible breeders — we are preservation breeders — and that’s important to keep these ancient breeds going — to keep them from being extinct,” said Christal Prince, assistant show chairwoman and secretary of the Kennel Club of Texarkana.
“You won’t see us selling our puppies on social media, nor will you see them in kennels. An AKC breeder will guarantee the puppy you buy from them is healthy, and they will buy back the dogs if you decide it’s not for you. Each AKC dog has had X-rays to ensure there is no hip dysplasia and it’s fed the most nutritional food. It’s never kept in a small outdoor pen; they are treated like family, not a commodity.”
The annual show brings entries from all over the United States to Texarkana and is always held the first weekend of February.