Editorial: September 27, 2024

This coming weekend, Terrier fanciers from around the country will gather in Macungie, Pennsylvania, to attend the 89th annual dog show of the all-breed Montgomery County Kennel Club, which only offers classes for Terriers. It’s one of only a few all-breed kennel clubs that caters to one variety group. The show no matter the venue is awash with clothing of different plaids and tartans and hats galore. It is home to 23 national specialties and four supported entries, with a total of 1,299 dogs making a total entry of 1,631. The Terrier Group might be the smallest in number of the seven variety groups, but it is the most unique. A dedicated group of fanciers who work all year to have their dogs presented in the best possible condition compete in the strongest competition of the year. Sadly, the ranks of “Terrier People” are depleting every year, and fewer and fewer newcomers are joining. One reason is the overall lack of interest in the sport, and the second is the amount of grooming and the time it takes to condition these Terriers to get ready for the show ring. The third and certainly not the last reason is the large number of judges getting approved to judge the dogs in the Terrier Group without much experience. There is much to learn about Terriers — the conformation, temperament and conditioning — but sitting ringside with some talking head is enough to move forward in judging these dogs. Of course, the rush to approve judges to multiple group status is not unique to the Terrier Group; it is symptomatic of the entire sport given the number of dog shows approved by the American Kennel Club. We digress for a moment: This Friday on Long Island, a one-time hotbed of competition, the American Kennel Club approved two Sporting Group shows in one day that drew an entry of 68 dogs, and two Working Group shows in one day with an entry of 37 dogs. On Saturday and Sunday, both all-breed shows held two shows in one day, which drew 240 and 230 dogs, respectively. Going back to a happier subject, Montgomery is a great dog show that is unique among the rest, with a huge number of national and supported specialties held in one location on the same day. Even this great and unique weekend of shows, which climaxes with Montgomery on Sunday, has felt the strain of too many dog shows. But it still holds it together, and kudos to those involved, especially Bruce Schwartz and Ken Kauffman, who continue to get the quality and tradition of a great dog show.