Fri, 10/24/2025 - 2:02pm
Editorial: October 24, 2025
Right Question Wrong Weekend
The American Kennel Club’s Government Relations Department sent out a survey about “spending you incurred while traveling to/from and attending the October 2025 Morris & Essex Kennel Club dog show and associated events.” Among the questions asked in the survey were: “Lodging, Dining, Other Food and Beverages, Transportation Expenses, Vehicle Rental Fees, Pet Items, Merchandise, Equipment, Local Services, Medical, Veterinary Services, Entertainment, Donations and Miscellaneous.”
Where was the question of entry fees and the amount of money that goes to the American Kennel Club as a weekend expense? We applaud the American Kennel Club for finally involving the show-going community about the cost of attending a weekend of dog shows. Curious, though, why not ask those very same questions of their own AKC National Championship week in Orlando, where six day of consecutive dog shows are held every year? Where the prices of all those questions they ask are significantly higher than those in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Why select a weekend that includes the biggest one-day dog show that is only held once every five years and refer to the companion events as associate events, Hatboro Dog Club and Devon Dog Club and the Montgomery County Kennel Club show that hosts over twenty National Specialties in one day? I dare say, a very prominent and respected dog show on its own, the mere fact that it is an unusual weekend starting with Morris & Essex that attracted over 4,500 dogs in of itself is unique. The significant drop in entries the following days is testament to the popularity and uniqueness of that event. So let’s ask those questions and the reason for asking on a more weekly basis. Among the reasons stated for this questionnaire is to “help preserve venues for your shows and events, raise awareness of the good works that clubs do, demonstrate the value of purebred dog events, and defend your rights as a dog owner.” Is this the same American Kennel Club that promotes and supports over 50 all breed dog shows in one location taking those clubs away from their original homes and away from the public who they hope will be interested in participating in dog shows and local politicians who the American Kennel Club want to influence? They might also ask the question, that many question, is the amount of dogs show clustered together weekend and weekend out. Using the term weekend has been a euphemism for Wednesday to Sunday weekends. If you are really interested in this and other surveys to be meaningful and helpful, ask the right questions about every weekend.
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Fri, 10/24/2025 - 2:02pm