Bench Dog Shows in the USA

In times past, all dog shows were benched, meaning that the dogs had to be placed on exhibit backstage when they weren't being groomed, shown or taken out. They had to stay there all day, as long as the show was going on. As time went on, exhibitors began to find this an inconvenience. They drifted towards shows that allowed a handler and their dogs to leave as soon as their class was over. However, a few kennel clubs still offer benched shows, namely for the educational purposes. These shows allow fanciers to come in direct contact with the breeds they love and their handlers, owners, trainers and breeders.

  1. Westminster Kennel Club

    • The Westminster Kennel Club is an all-breed, benched show that takes place every year in New York City. Dogs and handlers pour in from all over the country to compete in this most prestigious show. Next to the Kentucky Derby, the Westminster Kennel Club is the longest-running sporting event in American History.

    Golden Gate Kennel Club All-Breed Dog Show

    • Golden Gate Kennel Club (GGKC) hosts a yearly all-breed benched show. The show is hosted at Cow Place in San Fransisco, California. Admission is significantly less expensive than that of other benched shows. This is a two day event consisting only of the benched show. GGKC brings in catered food for the event, one of the few dog shows to do so.

    UKC Licensed Purina Points Bench Show

    • Hound at show

      The UKC Licensed Purina Points Bench Show is a yearly show for UKC registered dogs in the hound group. Held in a southern state, the show is often a winter, two-day affair. This event consists of both a winter hunt as well as the dog show. Dogs are judged singly and in pairs depending on how they hunt.

    International Kennel Club of Chicago

    • The International Kennel Club of Chicago hosts two bench shows a year, both all-breed. There are also obedience and rally offered at the same shows. The shows take place in Chicago's North building. The International Kennel Club succeeds the older Chicago Kennel Club.

    Detroit Kennel Club

    • The Detroit Kennel Club (DKC) offers an annual benched all-breed dog show. DKC is one of the few kennel clubs to offer concurrent events such as obedience, rally and agility trials. While a dog can compete in all events, entries for those events must be in before entries for the benched dog show. Remember that you must be at the trial and show all day long.