Editorial: May 29, 2026

As if four and five days of dog shows don’t seem to be enough, sadly we are seeing more and more kennel clubs offering two shows in day. This past weekend there were seven shows held in five days. Which included two in one day and specialties held within the all breed show.

When will the board of directors of the American Kennel Club realize there are far too many dog shows? When discussing these two-in-one events some of the defenses used are, low entries and financial. So the band-aid, is to hold two shows in one day. So, let’s break down the expenses associated with two shows in one day. According to the American Kennel Club, each show has its own recording number making to two separate events, even though they share the same name and held on the same day. Financially it’s a great deal for the American Kennel Club that gets double the listing fee for the same dogs to be entered twice in one day. But it doesn’t stop there. The Show Superintendent and the show giving club benefit as well. The only losers in these unnecessary two show in one day events, are the overworked judges who get no financial benefit for judging both shows. If, in fact, we are keeping these needless two-in-one day events, then a judge should be hired for each event. Judges are hired to judge one dog show. If this same show-giving club was back-to-back events, a judge would be paid for two days for two separate events. The same should be true for the two-in-one day events. Judges should be hired for each event and judging contracts would be rewritten that a judge agrees to judge each event as a stand-alone event, just like the American Kennel Club recognizes them to be. You don’t have to look into a crystal ball to see entries in conformation are falling as exhibitors cannot keep up with the expenses, absence from home or work for these long weeks, no longer just weekend events. We all know the great and unique feature of dog shows it is still a pro/am sport. But these long days of shows are discouraging exhibitors to keep on participating in events that start on Wednesday or Thursday and expect them to arrive for a Saturday and Sunday event. Major points are a rarity even with the entry needed reduced to ridiculously low numbers, they are proving harder to find. So, the American Kennel Club, in order to be everyone’s friend, throws the faithful little bones of cheap points to keep us in the game. The American Kennel Club isn’t just our friend, it is our parent, and as a parent sometimes you have to make decisions that are not popular. But to let this more shows, more days, more clustering, we are slowing driving nails in our collective coffins.