All-Breed Dog Show exceeds expectations with over 700 dogs

JACKSON, Tenn. — A room full of dogs sounds like it could be noisy, right? But this is no ordinary room of dogs.

These dogs are groomed, polished and trained to a tee for the 2019 Jackson Dog Fanciers Association All-Breed Dog Show.

This year’s dog show was extra special because the show kicked off Saturday on National Puppy Day, said Mark Doran, president of the Jackson Dog Fanciers Association.

“That was a happy coincidence for us. We normally pick the same weekend of the year, the third weekend of March, and this year it just happened to fall on National Puppy Day,” Doran said.

Dogs and their owners showed up and out by exceeding some people’s expectations with over 700 dogs, forcing organizers to expand the show.

“We partnered with the Tupelo Kennel Club so that we had three shows over three days instead of our normal two,” Doran said.

Doran said the show has brought some people miles away from home, even from Kentucky.

“It’s close enough we can drive it with a camper in a day, socialize with some really good friends,” one dog owner said. “I think it’s a good show and a beautiful fairgrounds.”

With all these dogs, the judges had their work cut out for them.

“People will bring in their dogs and they will show them with the same breed. They’ll pick the best of that particular breed,” Doran said.

“You don’t even start judging until you’ve been in dogs for 10 years, so you’re observing all the time, and you start on breeds that you know well,” judge Jim Reynolds said.

A portion of the proceeds from the dog show will go to the American Kennel Club.