Measuring Progress: All-Breed But Not Every Breed

Few all-breed shows today are able to draw 2,000 individual entries, the targeted goal that had long been the gauge for determining an event’s success. Of course, Westminster and “Orlando” certainly come to mind for their ability to reach their entry limits, but it now seems that 1,000-dog shows have become the new benchmark. Many clubs, however, are only seeing entries hovering at around half that total; this seems to be the rule rather than the exception. Though these events typically remain competitive at the Group level, the Breed rings can be disappointing for exhibitors and judges alike, with few majors on offer and little depth of quality to evaluate. In fact, many breeds are now represented at all-breed shows only by a single entry hoping to score a Group placement or advance to Best in Show. And an equal number of breeds might be missing altogether, creating a “some-breeds” kind of dog show that beckons the question: Is there still much value in holding all-breed shows throughout the country if all breeds are not represented?

To consider this current state of affairs—and determine what dog shows are likely to look like in the future—it’s essential to revisit their original purpose… and accept the fact that most shows have morphed into something completely different.

When dog shows came upon the scene in the late nineteenth century, they were genuine social events that brought together people from all strata of society. The Victorians experienced everyday life as a spectacle, so the chance of encountering never-before-seen breeds of dogs from around the world was a wonderfully satisfying experience for ladies and gentlemen as well as the working-class citizenry. Then as now, dogs attracted attention simply by virtue of their utility and diversity. For well over a century, residents of every major American city and visitors to local and state fairs have experienced the thrill of touching hairless dogs from Mexico and gazing upon the sight of exotic hounds from the Hindu Kush. People were (and are) truly spellbound by these encounters with purebred dogs.

Now, in the information age where life can be lived without ever having to leave home, it is no longer necessary to go to a dog show to see specific breeds and meet the people who breed them. Similarly, degrees can be earned without attending college, shopping can be completed without going to Main Street or the mall, and doctor visits only require access to an online portal (and proof of insurance) rather than a crowded waiting room. The same can be said for people who used to wait an entire year for the dog show to return to the nearby convention center or fairgrounds. When people go searching for a dog today, they need look no further than their smart phones.

All of this is to say that the past is not returning any time soon. Today’s dog clubs may be doing their best to hold all-breed shows in a world that seems to value virtual experiences over one-on-one connections, but public perception and rising costs have made the task increasingly difficult. Most shows now offer Companion and Performance events to help offset expenses, and some even include booths for Meet the Breeds and breed rescue organizations that are specifically designed to lure the general public. Nowadays, the site of beautiful dogs running in a circle is no longer enough. Exhibitors and visitors alike expect more, though this doesn’t necessarily mean more recognized breeds, more awards, more titles, or more dog shows with fewer dogs competing. What everyone really wants is a more authentically rewarding experience.

One of the more encouraging responses to the decreasing entries at all-breed shows has been the rise of limited-breed and Group shows. Just as the energy crisis of the 1970s spawned the proliferation of show clusters, the current economic realities appear to support clubs that hold shows where fewer breeds means a greater expectation of finding quality competition in the ring. Clubs like the Montgomery County Kennel Club (Pennsylvania) and Progressive Dog Club (New York) have long welcomed fanciers of the Terrier and Toy breeds respectively, but these organizations have been joined in recent years by newer clubs that have followed their lead. The Red River Sporting Society (Texas/Oklahoma), Mount Rainier Working Dog Club (Washington State), and Orange Blossom Non-Sporting Club (Florida) could represent the future of dog shows, where the focus remains on individual breeds—but only those that share a common purpose or an interconnected history. Whereas most all-breed dog shows can seem increasingly diluted in scope, these events remain rooted in one of the sport’s original purposes: the evaluation of breeding stock by judges with in-depth experience in specific breeds.

Today when most people today think of a “dog show,” the thought of “spectaculars” like the AKC National Championship, the National Dog Show, and the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show readily come to mind. (Victorian-era breeders, exhibitors, and spectators would easily recognize these shows despite the distractions imposed on them by all the cameras and cell phones, and the Jumbotron at Madison Square Garden.) The reality, however, is that these well-known and widely supported events are in a class of their own; they are present-day extravaganzas that connect us to our past while bringing hope for a brighter future. Conversely, most all-breed shows today merely mimic their club’s early days, and some appear to be “going through the motions” just to remain relevant. And it’s that relevancy that’s at the core of the matter when it comes to all-breed shows: Are they as significant as they once were, or should they continue to be reimagined to better reflect the realities of the modern world and the communities they serve?