Dog Shows in Pennsylvania

There are hundreds of dog breeds, and while many become welcome additions to a household, others are bred for the purpose of competition. Dog shows are held throughout the world and allow for dogs of all breeds to compete against one another. They are judged according to the distinctiveness of their breed, which includes attractiveness, stance, size, stature and attitude; physical traits are examined as well. There are a number of such events in Pennsylvania.
  1. York Kennel Club/Celtic Classic Dog Show

    • The Celtic Classic offers eye exams.

      The Celtic Classic Dog Show is offered by the York Kennel Club. The show lasts five days and is a joint effort of the YKC and the kennel clubs of Delaware County and Lancaster. Events include American Kennel Club Breed Conformation, American Kennel Club Obedience and the American Kennel Club Rally. There is also a match show--held by a club that has not attained approval from the AKC to hold licensed shows--after the Best in Show category.

      The Celtic Class also features clinics on canine cardiac issues and a visit from the Canine Eye Registration Foundation, an organization focused on examining the eyes of various breeds and determining if they are free of disease. The YKC is an America Kennel Club-licensed organization.

      York Kennel Club
      P.O. Box 346
      York, PA 17405
      yorkkc.com

    Lackawanna Kennel Club

    • Puppy classes are part of the LKC's Point Show.

      The Lackawanna Kennel Club offers a match show and a point show for various breeds. The match show is a pure-breed competition. A point show is one that is sanctioned, and Lackawanna's includes obedience and rally judging. Rally is an obstacle course; judging is not as rigid as in general obedience.

      The LKC point show's categories include Best in Show, as well as typical divisions such as Sporting Group, Hound Group and Working Group. There is judging for Junior Showmanship, which allows those below the age of 18 to show their dogs. The event also offers obedience classes for puppies.

      Lackawanna Kennel Club
      Keyser Valley Community Center
      101 N. Keyser Ave (at Jackson Street)
      Scranton, PA 18504
      lackawannakc.org

    The National Dog Show

    • Philadelphia is the home of the annual National Dog Show.

      The National Dog Show is a two-day event that is televised on a taped-delay basis after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The show is put on by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, which has a 125-year history of involvement. The show offers competition for more than 150 breeds in the categories of First in Group, Best of Breed and Best in Show. The event hosts more than 2,000 dogs from across the United States and is am AKC-sanctioned event.

      The National Dog Show
      Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks
      100 Station Ave.
      Oaks, PA 19456
      nationaldogshow.com