HAS YOUR DOG CLUB TRIED TO MAKE CHANGES TO YOUR DOG SHOW (TO SURVIVE)?
BY MARLENE GROVES
All are likely to agree that our dog show world has changed and is continuing to change; and that we do have many challenges at the AKC, with our own clubs, and with our shows.
I have tracked dog show entries in my dog show area for several years: the entry numbers, the entry fee amounts, and which dog events they offer; and I watch the judges who are hired (often repeatedly). With a few exceptions, most clubs in my area indicate: the Entries Numbers are Down and the Entry Fees are Up; and it’s hard to pull majors in many breeds. Dog Show enthusiasts are getting more selective about the shows they enter and the judges they show to, and they are looking for the best value and the most they can get for their money.
I am the Treasurer for one of my dog clubs, and for 2026, I also inherited the role of Show Chair. The Board of my club made some deliberate choices to try to change up some things at our show, specifically, the cost side of things. While most other clubs raised their entry fee, to at least incorporate the increased AKC fee, we voted to LOWER OUR ENTRY FEE. We wondered, if we tightened our expenses and tried not try to “make money” (many allbreed clubs make a lot of money from their annual shows), but tried to find a good break-even or make a little money, could we do it? The answer was YES!
Specifically addressing our entry fee income, we did drop our income here: about $4,000. But our entries were up overall; and we had majors in many breeds, which people appreciated!
“Maybe if you and your club have mastered having an easy and profitable Health Clinic you would be willing to write an article about the same; as I’d sure love to read it!”
In addition to lowering our entry fee, we rescaled our grooming from larger spaces to a bit smaller, and then we also LOWERED OUR GROOMING FEE. Our three-day grooming spot fee was $35; the prior year it was $45. We had more spaces to sell, and we had plenty of free grooming too. Grooming income was down about $500 overall, but we had rave reviews from people who thanked us for the price and because we accommodated all those who needed it.
We added some additional events and worked hard to promote the same. We had grateful exhibitors from coast to coast in Colorado, and many were new to our show! We already had been offering Fast CAT, but we added Dock Diving (a NADD regional as well). We also added Fetch and offered CGC, Trick Dog, and Temperament Tests.
Having both Fast CAT and Dock Diving is a fabulous combination, and our Fast CAT income went up 50 percent. Fetch brought in a bit of income as did the Dock Diving and the Dog Testings. All this adds up, and it all helped fill the entry fee gap.
We made other intentional decisions, about large expensive rosettes (which everyone loves and now almost demands at every show). We did order nice rosettes, but we made absolutely certain to get them sponsored (something often overlooked or not a priority for clubs, boards, and show committees). We also had nice prizes. Again, we made certain they were sponsored (not just ordered).
One area which did not help us was having a Health Clinic. Yes, people want it, as do the area vets, but the time and scheduling and emails, compared to the minimal revenue, was not something I or anyone involved would want to do again. Maybe if you and your club have mastered having an easy and profitable Health Clinic, you would be willing to write an article about the same, as I’d sure love to read it!
Our judge fees were slightly up; there is not much you can do here unless you are hiring judges who are at a lower price point. But our judges’ hotel expenses were down quite a bit; in part as we renegotiated our hotel room rate. (Sadly, the prior contract rate was actually higher than the rack hotel room rate.) So please remember, when your club is the customer and you are spending club money, negotiate! And by negotiate, I mean pretend it’s your own personal money you are trying to save!
I’d like to also mention that hiring judges who are not at every show is a good idea, as is bringing in some judges who draw wonderful entries. Another club in my area does a stellar job here, even bringing in international judges; and they have a tough contract, so judges are not judging at their show if they are also accepting assignments from other clubs in the area. Many dog participants in my area love this; and for this club, they have (I think) the highest entry fee but pull a good entry because of their judging panel. So, that’s another thing for clubs to possibly ponder.
The club I am using as the example here made under $10,000 with their 2025 show, and made about $9,500 at their 2026 show.
The changes we make may not work for your club; but as a retired business consultant and someone who generally likes to think outside the box, I encourage you to think about what you might be needing to change or what you might be interested in trying.
I’ll end with a quote I love from Georg C. Lichtenberg that I really think applies to the AKC and the sport of dogs: “I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better.”