Duluth Kennel Club hosts purebred dog show at DECC

DULUTH, Minn. — The DECC has literally gone to the dogs this weekend. The Duluth Kennel Club is holding its all-breed show now through Sunday … and the public is invited and encouraged to attend the show.

When the title of the show says “all breeds,” it means it! 138 dog breeds compete for recognition this weekend. This is an AKC-certified event, meaning all dogs are purebred and owners are expected to follow the ethical principles set forth by the American Kennel Club.

Caroline Lichty of the Duluth Kennel Club is also the show’s chairwoman. “They’re called conservation breeders because they want to preserve the breed they’re working with. They want to make sure that the dog with that trait looks like the perfect dog.”

Erica Brookshire is a 3^rd She is a 3rd generation breeder of English Springer Spaniels, and her daughter is the fourth generation breeder. Her family has been breeding for more than 50 years. This week she brought seven of her English Springer Spaniels to the show in a large van. Brookshire hopes people will come to the show, but has a request for visitors.

“Please come and interact with the dogs. The most important thing is to ask the owner or handler of the dog before petting them or approaching them,” Brookshire said. “Sometimes it’s OK to pet them, other times they’re getting ready to go into the ring and are focused. But it’s great for them to come and interact with the dogs because the dogs love it and it’s great for socializing the dogs.”

All dogs compete for the coveted title of “Best of Show.” Admission to the show is $5 for adults, $3 for children, and free for children under three.