Last week, I had the opportunity to travel to Kalamazoo, Mich., to attend the United Kennel Club Premier dog show.
The four-day event packed in everything you ever wanted to do with dogs: conformation, agility, dock diving, terrier races, weight pull, obedience, junior handling and dog sports.
As UKC President Wayne Cavanaugh mentioned to me at the event, the UKC’s philosophy is the “Total Dog,” meaning a sporting dog should be able to walk out of the conformation ring and go directly to the dock-diving event. An American Pit Bull Terrier should leave the show ring, put on his harness and enter the weight-pull event.
Indeed, I witnessed much of this as I wandered the fairgrounds. I spoke to one owner who had just finished showing her Parson Russell Terrier. As we chatted, she removed her armband and mentioned that she and her dog were headed over to the terrier races.
The people I met at the Premier were some of the friendliest around. In fact, a particularly kind attendee was gracious enough to introduce me to her coated American Hairless Terrier, a breed I had not yet met in person. As I started to ask about the breed’s personality, the little dog leaned over and gently licked my nose. Enough said.