If you’re reading these pages at all, chances are you’ve already given a lot of time and money to the cause of purebred (and other) dogs. Perhaps you think I’m “preaching to the choir.” Maybe that’s a fact, but then again, maybe the choir needs to tune up a bit.
Meet the Breeds, held on February 7-8, 2026 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, was its usual crashing success. Preliminary tickets sales exceeded 27,000 and actual attendance was over 34,000. That’s a lot of pats and kisses.
It’s notable that the officers of so many of the parent clubs feel that MTB is so important to their breed that they themselves attend every year, often traveling across the country to make it happen. Bruce Schwartz, Laurie Freisen, Vicki Kubic, Jan Ritchie Gladstone, Lori Pelletier, and Lorna Menaker, along with dozens of other parent club officers, all put in two long days of answering questions, offering suggestions, and explaining the benefits (and the cautions) of their breed. To them, this public outreach is of equal importance to the notable dog show that precedes it. Most of them have attended MTB since its beginning in 2009.
Overall, there’s an impression that each of the visitors who pay a hefty ticket price for admission are all New Yorkers. Nothing could be further from the truth, and Meet the Breeds, like Westminster, has a global constituency. Some of these visitors were simply in New York on holiday and made the most of the opportunity, while others made a special trip in order to learn more about a breed they were considering. We talked at length with one couple from China who planned their trip to coincide with Westminster and MTB. Another came from Texas in search of “real information” about their breeds of interest.
Unfortunately, there are far too many familiar faces behind the black-draped tables, and many of those faces are beginning to show some age. You can almost predict who will be there and who will be actively promoting their breed. For some of the breeds, the 10 by 20-foot space provided and furnished by the AKC isn’t even enough. The Norfolks and Norwich combined their adjacent spaces to provide a wide and welcoming display. The Bedlington Terriers sent canine ambassadors out into the aisles to greet passersby, almost all of whom went to the booth for more information.
There’s always a “major” in AKC staff, with President Gina DiNardo leading the effort full time, both days, and a smattering from the Board of Directors and many, many support folks who took time from their “day jobs” in Raleigh or New York to make it all run smoothly. Most of all, though, a tip of the flat cap to the man behind the curtain, Michael Canalizo.
Yet despite all of this success, there are breeds that go unrepresented. Sometimes these are from among the low-entry breeds that may have difficulty getting people or dogs into the metropolitan area. It’s these breeds, though, that are most in need of public exposure and education. AKC tries to alleviate this by offering financial reimbursement to the exhibitors and, while it may not pay for a trip around the world, certainly helps with the high cost of travel and accommodation.
Most often, a breed’s absence from MTB is well noticed, not by the other exhibitors but by people who traveled to the Javits Center and paid for tickets only to find that the breed in which they were interested is not represented or is underrepresented. Some very popular breeds had a presence on Saturday, but the space was vacant on Sunday. It’s a two-day event, and the folks who came on Sunday paid the same price for their tickets as those who attended Saturday. It’s a disservice to them to be greeted by an empty space.
In just a very few other instances, the booths were manned, and there were dogs in crates behind the tables, but the volunteers kind of “closed ranks” among themselves, sat in a circle, and left the dogs in their crates most of the time. I certainly know how they feel. Seven hours (9am-4pm) is a long time for both humans and dogs to face the crowds. Some breeds solve this challenge by having a goodly number of dogs and handlers present and alternating table duty, aisle duty, and lunch and potty breaks.
AKC goes all out to make it the best possible experience for the exhibitors and the dogs. A very good lunch is provided, together with a reserved space in which to eat it, meet up with friends, or just unwind for a bit. There are well-maintained (and accessible) ex-pens for the dogs, and the climate and ventilation are just right for man and beast, although the vendor of heated vests (and dog coats) seemed to do a great deal of business.
Many clubs devote additional budget to the preparation of printed material and other giveaways to promote their breed. One of the most creative solutions this year was by the Clumber Spaniel Club of America. When I passed by their booth, there were neither people nor dogs, but there were enough life-sized cut outs that I stopped in my tracks. No sloppy kisses, but enough of an attention-getter that I stopped in my tracks and picked up their literature. Even with a low-entry breed, they got the job done!
Now, the whole purpose here is public outreach, education, and awareness. Most of these people are new to dogs. They not only want to see the dogs, but they also want to talk to a knowledgeable person about the breed. You don’t have to be a lifelong breeder, an old, grizzled Conformation judge, or a parent club member to talk about your dog and your breed. My neighbor is a longtime pet owner who volunteers every year because “my dog loves it.” He’s our hardest working ambassador and happily attends to many dogs in addition to his own. I’ve suggested (tongue in cheek) that the event be subtitled “Chats and Pats.”
The point is that Meet the Breeds is probably the most important thing that we, as exhibitors, judges, and breeders, do for our breed. There is no other way that we can contact 34,000 or so interested and financially prepared prospective dog owners. Over the years, I’ve sold a few puppies (often years later) to folks I’ve met at MTB, and for certain, I’ve discouraged a few who might have had a less than pleasant experience with a breed they were considering. That’s important too! You don’t have to bring a dog to be part of the team.
Prior to the pandemic, MTB was held in some other cities. Without corporate sponsorship, that isn’t feasible today. So, the New York event stands alone. Still, we’re reaching out across the country and around the globe. Meet the Breeds helps all of us and it deserves our nationwide support.
All of us have given generously of our time and money to the sport of dogs. We’ve donated, contributed, volunteered, and served in many different capacities. Fact is, we’ve all benefited as well. Whether it has come back to us in puppy sales or just in the sheer joy of seeing the expression on kids’ faces when they meet a dog up close for the first time, we’ve had our rewards. It’s time to pay it forward, and MTB is the easiest and most effective way to get ‘er done! Whether you come with a dog or come to man the booth, or whether you organize for your club or even just promote and support the event, you’re having a direct impact on the people we need the most.
Whether you’re involved with a low-entry breed or a French Bulldog or Labrador Retriever, Meet the Breeds needs and deserves your support and involvement. Will we see you next year? 
