Texarkana lets the dogs out for 52nd AKC show

This weekend, fierce competitors and their fans will gather in an arena to see who will ultimately be crowned "the best of the best."

No, not the Super Bowl in Atlanta. This is the AKC All-Breed Dog Show in Texarkana, now in its 52nd year.

Roughly 1,000 dogs from all over the country will fly and drive to Texarkana for the big show and dog lovers of all ages are invited to come and watch dogs of almost every conceivable breed strut their stuff in the ring.

"This is a huge, huge opportunity for people who are interested in [dog shows] to see the real thing," explains Sandee Lively, publicity chairman for the Kennel Club of Texarkana.

She points out that it will be much like the dog shows people can watch on TV, with one key difference: "When you see a dog show on TV, what you see is the very end of it. When people come to the dog show, they get to see all the different breeds compete."

At this weekend's show, the doors open at 8 a.m. and they launch into the best in breed competitions in multiple show rings scattered across the stadium's floor. There may be a multitude of Maltese over here and a plethora of pugs over there. At another time of day, one may be able to find German shepherds or border collies going through their paces. Once all the breeds in a group have been chosen, those dogs compete for best in group, with those winners going head-to-head in the best in show competition in the late afternoon.

There are actually two separate shows — one on Saturday and one on Sunday, although most dogs will compete in both. Best in breed, group and show winners will be chosen each day.

And spectators aren't relegated to just sitting in the stands. They're welcome to walk around and explore the vendor area or, on Saturday, buy raffle tickets for a chance to win an iron fire pit and other prizes.

If they're interested in a particular breed, they're also welcome to ask dogs' handlers questions, although timing is key. It's best not to approach them when they're in the ring or preparing to go into competition. Better to wait until after they're finished and the pressure is off.

Lively cautions, "Most of the time people don't like spectators petting their dogs."

Not that people have to stay at the arena all day. Free admission means people can come and go as they please. And while there is a $5 parking fee, it's valid for both days.

Thanks in part to a change in date, this year's show promises to be bigger and more exciting than ever.

Lively explains that the Texarkana show has traditionally been held in June on Father's Day weekend: "Every June that I've been involved, it's been so miserably hot."

The heat just makes things unpleasant for dogs and people alike. So, this year, the kennel club asked the AKC if they could move it to another available weekend and they were "so excited" to get the first weekend in February.

Not only is the weather much cooler and easier for the dogs, it also happens to be the weekend before the big Westminster Dog Show. Many handlers from all over the country are bringing their dogs for one last chance to earn points and experience before the Westminster show.

For dog show-viewing fans, some of the handlers and judges will be familiar.

"These are people you see on TV at Westminster," Lively says.

Lively isn't just a coordinator for the show. She's also a competitor, with her Dutch sheepdog, Leah Lively.

The breed, whose official name is "Schapendoes," is incredibly rare in the United States. Lively says there are only about 25 in the country and Leah is the only one between Tucson and Tennessee so there aren't enough to get a best-in-breed competition going. She'll compete Saturday afternoon in the miscellaneous category for rare and new breeds.

With so many dogs of so many different types under one roof, it should be a dog-lover's dream.

"If you love dogs, this is a great place to go," Lively says. "People don't have the opportunity to do this very often."

Weekend on 01/31/2019