Annual All Breed Dog Show starts Saturday

The Hot Springs National Park Kennel Club will host its annual All Breed Dog Show this weekend at the Hot Springs Convention Center.

The club has held the All Breed Dog Show, which spotlights not only conformation but also Obedience and Rally competition, for the past 17 years, a news release said.

The event is free for the public to attend, although no pre-entered dogs are allowed.

“A number of vendors will be present providing everything from dog beds, treats, jewelry, dog care products and much more,” the release said.

With more than 740 dogs entered from across the nation, the club said the show has a positive economic impact on the city through lodging, dining and shopping.

“An interesting thing,” Hot Springs National Park Kennel Club President Brian Leonard said, is that “many of our exhibitors come a day or two early or stay several days after to enjoy Hot Springs. We feel like we have introduced Hot Springs as a destination to a whole new set of visitors.”

The Hot Springs National Park Kennel Club, organized in 1977, is an affiliate club of the American Kennel Club. In addition to the annual dog show, it also holds spring and fall obedience classes. The latter will start Wednesday.

“According to a 2016 statistical survey by the AKC, a show the size of ours can bring at least $342,500 into the Hot Springs community over a weekend,” Education Chair Leah Warner said.

Show Chairman Deb Johnson said her favorite thing about the show is “we get to introduce the

public to many breeds of dogs they may have never seen before. We have the opportunity to educate them on finding healthy, wellbred dogs that will be a part of their family and fit their lifestyle.”

Judging begins at 9 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday. The general public is asked to park in the city lot across from the front of the Hot Springs Convention Center.