CUMBERLAND — The Upper Potomac Valley Kennel Club is hosting its annual Summer Mountain Cluster 4 Day Dog Show through Sunday at the Allegany County Fairgrounds.
The event, in collaboration with the Laurel Highlands Kennel Association, kicked off Thursday and features four days of conformation shows, rally trials and obedience trials, along with a junior showmanship competition.
Entry into the show for spectators is $5 per car.
“It’s a wonderful thing for families and for kids to get involved,” Laurel Highlands Kennel Association President Gladys Knox said.
The Upper Potomac Valley Kennel Club started in 1952 and has hosted its dog show since 1954.
Judges and exhibitors from across the country have come to participate in the event this year.
“Years ago, it was to promote the interest in purebred dogs,” said Milt Haderer, president of the Potomac Valley club.
“That’s changed over years, and now it’s to promote the interest of dogs and dog sports.”
Conformation is the traditional competition that measures how well a certain purebred dog conforms to its breed’s standard.
“No dog is perfect, obviously, but you’re looking for as close as you can get to the standard in each of the individual breeds,” Upper Potomac Valley Kennel Club member Lindsey Gilson said.
The competition is good for purebred breeders looking to evaluate the quality of their litter, said Gilson, who breeds Jack Russell terriers.
While this aspect of the dog show used to be the most popular, dog sports have become more popular, Haderer said.
“When I started in the club, it was almost all conformation. Now there’s way more people in performance,” Haderer said.
The dog show features two dog sports, including obedience and the American Kennel Club Rally.
In the obedience trial, which is one of the American Kennel Club’s oldest sporting events, dogs demonstrate their ability to obey different commands efficiently.
“The point of it is to make the dog want to work in partnership,” said Carolyn Lathorp, who has 60 years of experience with obedience trials. “It’s called obedience, but what you’re really trying to do is make the dog want to be with you and do what you want.”
For Lathrop, obedience trials are the best part of the dog show.
“It’s what I do,” Lathrop said. “And because when you own a trained dog, you’re never going to want a dog that isn’t trained.”
The other dog sport is the rally trial. In that competition, owners help their dogs navigate an obstacle course where they must work together to complete different skills such as navigating through cones and jumping.
“It takes a team,” said Marcy Hardinger, who competes and coaches others on rally. “Both of you have to be in sync at all times.”
Hardinger said competing in rally is a great way to build a strong relationship with her dog and to take an opportunity to focus on herself.
“That is my joy,” Hardinger said. “That is what keeps me going.”
Along with competitions, the community that comes along with rally and the kennel club generally is worthwhile, she said.
“It is truly a rally family, and that is special, because we all have the same interests and we can help one another,” Hardinger said.
Haderer said that while national kennel club trends are seeing fewer enrollments and age disparities, the Upper Potomac Valley Kennel Club is seeing better enrollment.
“Actually, we’re growing and getting younger, which is bucking the national trends,” Haderer said.
He said he thinks the junior program and focus on dog sports helps connect with more people.
“I think we’ve diversified,” Haderer said. “We’re really pushing this, and we’re bringing members in.”
The club hosts meetings on the third Thursday of each month at the Christ Lutheran Church in LaVale for members and nonmembers alike.
“Guests are welcome,” Haderer said. “Anyone is welcome to come to the meetings.”