Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Going to the AKC/Eukanuba National Dog Championships this weekend?

This weekend is the big dog show in Long Beach (see link below for details). I’m going on Saturday and possibly on Sunday too (I may be helping out at the booth for the Lomita Obedience Training Club). If you haven’t been to this show before, I encourage you to go because it’s the unique in several ways— the dogs that attend have had to earn a high number of points showing throughout the year in their various events—ie, in conformation, in obedience, and in agility. Only the top-scoring group of dogs are invited to attend this show (that’s what makes it a National Championship).

Last year when I went and observed the obedience competition, I was brought to tears watching a woman compete flawlessly with her magnificent Doberman. The woman was born without arms. She has eliminated the word “limitation” from her vocabulary and when she and her dog entered the ring, you could hear a pin drop. She had to enter and exit the ring with her dog on leash, and for her that was a very thin leash which she held with her toes (she competed in bare feet). I later spoke with her. She is a CPA from Louisiana, and has never let her disability stop her. I was in awe and it was very inspiring in many ways.

On a lighter note, there will be the most wonderful selection of dog collars and leashes and beds and toys and everything else you can imagine. There will be every kind of dog in the book. It’s going to be a lot of fun. For a quick video of an agility run from last year’s competition, click here. For some real comedy, see the really BIG dogs running--

Only dogs entered into competition are allowed in, so this is a “don’t bring your own dog” event. For a few of you on my list here who are in the market for a dog, this is a great place to meet breeders and do your homework and meet dogs and ask questions.

If you decide to go and want to try to hook up, call me on my cellphone (see below), I’ll have it with me.

http://www.ocweekly.com/events/akc-eukanuba-national-championship-586893/
At the 2009 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship this weekend (the nation’s largest dog show), more than 3,000 of man’s best friends will be exhibiting their obedience and athletic skills, while competing in a variety of live and televised competitions.

Diane Bassett
cell: 310-896-6419


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