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SMITHFIELD -- Three regional kennel clubs will present the Friendship Cluster Dog Show Friday through Sept. 4 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds at Friendship Park.
Officials from the Fort Steuben Kennel Association, the St. Clairsville, Ohio, Kennel Club and the Beaver County Kennel Club said the combined event will feature AKC all-breed dog shows, obedience competitions and rally trials that will attract participants from all parts of the United States, Canada and overseas who will seek to gain championship points.
Exhibitors, owners and handlers and spectators, as well as the volunteer club members, benefit from cluster shows, according to Donna Simpson, president of the St. Clairsville club.
"This show is a great attraction,'' Simpson said. "You will get to see more than 125 breeds and dogs ranging from 4 months of age to adult."
There are 515 entries for Friday, 663 entries for Saturday, 649 entries for Sunday and 499 entries for Sept 4. At the end of each day, one dog will receive best in show in conformation and one dog will receive high in trial in obedience.
In conformation, AKC judges look for the dog that meets the written standard for a particular breed. The dogs are judged and evaluated for structure, movement and temperament.
Dogs also will compete in obedience, in which each purebred or mixed breed dog and its handler work as a team to perform a set of exercises.
The rally competition consists of dog and handler teams completing a course that has been designed by the judge. The dog and handler proceed at their own pace through a course of designated stations (between 10 and 20, depending on the level), with the handler permitted to talk, praise and encourage the dog.
On Friday, the St. Clairsville club will partner with the American Cancer Society's Bark for Life and will be accepting donations each day. Bark for Life helps to fund life-saving cancer research, detection, prevention, treatment and patient services. It honors canine caregivers who show unconditional love and compassion without judgments of a cancer survivor's abilities or appearances.
Sunday is the Fort Steuben club's responsible dog ownership day, where visitors will be able to meet and pet many of the dogs being exhibited.
"We encourage you to touch the dogs and really get to know the breeds," said Robert Damron, Fort Steuben club president. "Presenters will be able to discuss the good points, bad points and health concerns of their breeds. If you are considering adding a dog to your family and not sure which breed will fit your lifestyle, the dog show is the perfect place to start. It gives people an opportunity to get up close and personal with breeders and to interact with a wide variety of breeds. We want to make this a fun, public event for families and dog lovers."
Younger canine and human competitors will have events of their own.
"We also have a special treat on each day -- it's the 4-months-to under-6-months-old puppy competition, which gets puppies ready for the show ring when they can enter the show for points when they are 6 months old," said Tom Davis, president of the Beaver County club.
The junior showmanship competition is for boys and girls ages 10-17. They'll compete with others of their own age and will be judged on how they present their dog. Juniors also compete in other performance events.
Drawings for baskets and other items will be held daily and there will be a bake sale on Sunday, sponsored by Beaver County club.
A rabies and microchip clinic will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 4.
Judging hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Group judging will start at 12:15 p.m. on Friday, Sunday and Sept. 4 and at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
There is no admission cost for the show, but there is a $5 parking fee, officials explained, adding no unentered dogs will be permitted on the show grounds and no strollers will be allowed under the tents or in the building. A variety of food will be available and vendors will have dog-related items for sale.
For information about the the show or to find out what time a favorite breed is showing, visit Labor Day Weekend Friendship Cluster All Breed Dog Shows on Facebook or call (740) 346-0842.