Show Me Pet Breeders to host dog show Saturday

Nevada Daily Mail

The Show Me Pet Breeders, an area group with members in Nevada that reaches as far as Lamar, Butler and Osceola, is hosting a dog show, Saturday, at Marmaduke Park, with the first show scheduled at 10 a.m.

Cathy Blacklock of Show Me Pet Breeders said it'll be a small event as dog shows go; with two rounds of conformation shows scheduled. Participating dogs must be ACA registered; and dogs are to be judged only on their conformation, not on handling or other show aspects, according to American Kennel Club standards for each breed.

"It's not like the Westminster shows" on television, Blacklock said; instead, dogs are shown individually rather than in groups; and classes are more general. Nevertheless, dogs are still judged on how well they fit the conformation criteria for specific breeds.

Although the initial registration deadline was Sept. 8, Blacklock said registered dogs may still enter at the show. The ACA Web site indicated that the late registration fee is $25 per dog.

Representatives of ACA also will conduct a free junior handler training session for youth ages 17 and younger following the 10 a.m. conformation show; and a free youth show in which dogs need not be registered will take place at 3 p.m.

"We're just trying to get the youth involved in a fun event with their animal," Blacklock said.

Since September is Responsible Pet Owners' Month, the group also plans to have informational materials promoting and explaining responsible pet ownership available at the event. "So many of the problems that people have are simply because people aren't always responsible with pets," so the group also is taking advantage of the opportunity to raise awareness about the issue. It's Blacklock's hope that people learn to see responsible pet ownership as "cool."

Spectators also are welcome at Saturday's event.