More than 500 purebred dogs representing roughly 100 breeds are descending upon the Montezuma County Fairgrounds this weekend for the 2015 Durango Kennel Club Dog Show.
The three-day dog extravaganza is composed of a series of elimination contests within seven dog groups: sporting, hound, working, terrier, toy, non-sporting and herding. Dogs also will compete for the “Best in Breed” title as well as the coveted honor “Best in Show.”
Samoyed owner, author and dog coach Ginger Jenks, of Durango, said she got “hooked” on dog shows after competing in Cortez 13 years ago.
“Cortez was my first show. I had never even been to a dog show, but I thought before I neuter my dog maybe I’ll go try it out. I won the first day and got hooked,” said Jenks. “It’s really about glory, and is just a fun thing you can do with your dog.”
Jenks says that at the Cortez show, competitors from the Four Corners area and beyond make it out to Montezuma County.
“Some come from Texas, California – we’ve had people come as far away as Oklahoma and Indiana,” she said. “One thing that is different about this particular sport: It’s one of very few in world where amateurs can compete with professionals.”
For those who just want to watch the show, most of the fun comes from checking out the sheer variety of breeds and learning more about them, Jenks says.
There are will be the standard Siberian Huskies, Golden and Labrador retrievers, Jack Russell terriers and German shepherds. But several more exotic dog breeds like Samoyeds and Boykin Spaniels will also be making the rounds.
The AKC has a growing roster of recognized breeds, currently standing at 200. Four of the most recent additions include the Cirneco dell’Etna, Bergamasco, Spanish waterdog and South African Boerboel.
“It’s about celebrating the love of dogs. Dogs make people smile, and so if you go and watch the dog show I can guarantee you’ll walk out with a smile.”