For the next three days, the Montezuma County Fairgrounds will be full of woofing, barking, yipping and tail-wagging as the Durango Kennel Club holds its annual dog shows.
Organizers are expecting contenders in more than 100 breeds divided into seven groups: sporting, hound, working, terrier, toy, nonsporting and herding. Each day at the show is a separate show, with competitors starting at square one, said one of the organizers, Ginger Jenks.
A show is a series of elimination rounds, resulting in seven finalists who compete for Best in Show. While it’s not quite the spectacle familiar to anyone who has ever tuned into the most famous dog show in the U.S., the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, it’s a junior relative.
Because the Durango Kennel Club shows are licensed by the American Kennel Club, winners can earn points toward champion status for their dogs. Some people will travel here from as far away as California, Texas and Oklahoma in search of those points.
This is the only event for local dog owners where they don’t have to travel four hours or more to show their canines, Jenks said.
The show also will feature a junior showmanship class.
“For people wondering whether a certain breed is right for them, a dog show is a great opportunity to meet breeders and the different breeds up close,” said Jenks, who shows Samoyeds. Her dog Linc currently is ranked third in the country in the breed.
Admission is free, but only dogs that are entered in the shows are allowed on the grounds.
abutler@durangoherald.com
If you go
The Durango Kennel Club Dog Show will start at 9 a.m. today, Saturday and Sunday at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds, 30100 U.S. Highway 160, east of Cortez. Judging generally concludes about 2 p.m. each day.
Admission is free, and refreshments are available for purchase.
