How often, when talking about Montgomery County, has weather been a primary topic of conversation? Quite often, I’d say, and the 2007 show followed suit, except this time it was a warmer October than I ever remember in Pennsylvania. No matter... the 73rd event of the all-Terrier show was a success from start to finish.
This was the third year that Montgomery was held at the Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, Pa., after 32 years at Temple University in Ambler. A handler (whose name I won’t mention in case she would prefer that I not) who has been to Montgomery only a handful of times mentioned that the first time she walked onto the show grounds at Ambler she felt as though she had entered a cathedral of sorts, albeit outdoors, while at the new venue she felt like she had walked into... well, a dog show. It’s true that there was an aspect of majesty and splendor about the former show grounds that can’t be duplicated at Blue Bell; I guess the consolation is that we’ll all have fond memories and lots of stories to tell about Montgomerys past.
As I mentioned two years ago, though, there are advantages to the new show grounds, not the least of which is that with the rings all concentrated in a more central area one can actually keep tabs on several breeds at a time, see the results in different classes and watch lots of the contenders in various breeds, which is what many of us go to Montgomery for in the first place — to see not just one breed, but the best the breeders have to offer in lots of the Terrier breeds. I’m certain, too, that the layout at the new site makes it more likely that the professional handlers will make more of the dogs they’ve brought to show, resulting in happier owners in the long run.
Want to read the full story? Order your December 2007 issue of DOGS IN REVIEW today, or subscribe to receive the best show dog articles and dog news every month!