MS Gulf Coast Kennel Club and MS Gulf Coast Working Group Club to host Annual Dog Shows at Harrison County Fairgrounds Nov. 1 – 3
The Gulf Coast Mardi Paw Cluster Dog Show, hosted by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Kennel Club and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Working Group Club will be held beginning Friday, November 1st thru Sunday, November 3rd at the Harrison County Fairgrounds, 15321 County Farm Road in Gulfport (Exit 28 off I-10).
Approximately 900 total entries representing some of the 201 breeds approved by the American Kennel Club will compete for both Best in Show and Reserve Best in Show titles each day. The club will also welcome the AKC’s newest member, the Lancashire Heeler, which is eligible to compete in the Herding Group. FastCAT and CAT events will begin each morning at 8:30 AM near the dog park, with other events starting at 8:30 AM in the show arena. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.
The show will be held under the rules of the American Kennel Club and superintended by Foy Trent Dog Shows. In addition, Junior Showmanship and National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS) competitions, as well as 4 to 6 month Beginner Puppy competition will take place during all three days of the show. On Saturday and Sunday, there will be a Pee Wee event, where children ages 5 to 9 will have the opportunity to show their dogs in the ring. Vendors will have treats and supplies for your family’s four-legged members and concessions will be available.
On Friday at 10 AM, the MGCWGC will hold two limited breed shows featuring the 31 breeds that make up the Working Group. Dogs of the Working Group are intelligent, strong, watchful, and alert. Bred to assist man, they excel at jobs such as guarding property and livestock, pulling sleds, and performing water rescues. The Mississippi Gulf Coast Herding Group Club will also hold a match on Friday. There will be Junior Handling and a 4 to 6 month Working Group puppy match. Friday evening, the Danish-Swedish Farmdog Club of America will present a judge’s education seminar. Details are included in this release.
Specialty breed shows will also be held on both Saturday and Sunday, featuring the Boxer Club of Louisiana and the Boston Terrier Club of Louisiana. The MGCKC will also hold two CAT (Coursing Ability Test) and two FastCAT trials each day, operated by Running Dog Coursing of Mobile, Alabama. AKC Temperament Testing, Canine Good Citizen Testing (all levels), and Trick Dog testing (all levels) will also be available.
According to statistics furnished by the AKC, a three-day show with 650 entries can bring approximately $890,000 to the local economy, averaging $982 per person. This includes expenses such as lodging, meals, fuel, etc. The AKC sanctions over 26,000 events nationwide each year (including 179 in Mississippi), which include conformation shows, agility/obedience trials, specialty breed/group shows, and more.
Additional information is available at the American Kennel Club website (www.akc.org), or the Foy Trent website at www.foytrentdogshows.com. More information is also available on the clubs’ Facebook pages. Per AKC Regulations, only dogs participating in the events will be allowed on the show grounds and no strollers or wagons are permitted.
