I spent last weekend at the IKC Show along with about a dozen other Topline members.  For those who are unfamiliar with the International Kennel Club Cluster of Dog Shows, it is one of the largest AKC all-breed benched shows in the country, attracting over 10,000 purebred dogs from 150 breeds and over 100,000 visitors over a 4 day period. It is held every February at McCormick Place in Chicago. Because it is a benched show, the exhibitors are required to be in the benching area when not showing. The public is able to walk through and look at the different breeds and talk with the owners, handlers and/or breeders about their breed. Many Chicagoans come to the show shopping for a breed that will fit into their lives.

For the 5^th year, Topline GSD Club took advantage of this valuable opportunity to educate about our breed by manning an educational booth there. Topline members and their dogs were on hand to answer questions and provide information on training and responsible dog ownership.  We also did an obedience demo on Saturday and Sunday. Our dogs did us proud, showing off their calm, confident temperaments; demonstrating in a very visual way the partnership between good breeding and training.  Several of our schutzhund dogs were also on hand and helped to dispel the myths that protection training makes a dog vicious, unsafe or unreliable.

During the long weekend our members were able to educate the public about the importance of avoiding puppy mills and inferior breeders while explaining the benefits of adoption or purchasing from responsible breeders. We provided handouts about the German Shepherd’s structure, desired temperament, potential health and training concerns, responsible pet ownership and responsible breeding.

Working the IKC Show is a long and exhausting weekend for our members and their dogs.  It is also a considerable expense for our club and our members. So why do we do it?  Booth space: $225.00, banners, posters, flyers, $250, parking $400 (paid by members) The knowledge that we may have helped even one German Shepherd find the right owner or a perspective owner find the right German Shepherd or helped someone realize that the German Shepherd is not the breed for them before, not after, they get that new puppy.  PRICELESS.

Sade was not able to attend because she is in season and would have been a huge distraction for the male dogs in such tight quarters, but here are some photos one of our club members took of Saturday’s Obedience demo.