The Charleston Kennel Club, South Carolina’s oldest, holds its annual dog show at The Exchange Park Fairgrounds Saturday and Sunday, January 24 and 25, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The show is drawing over nine hundred registered dogs that will be competing in different classes over the two day event.
The main event for the Charleston Kennel Club show is conformation, with judges trying to determine which dog best conforms to the standards of that particular breed. The dogs are paraded around the ring at the judge’s command, offering the judge the opportunity to see the dog from different vantage points and watch the dog’s stride and speed.
More than 100 breeds are recognized, with dogs competing for best of their breed. After that judging takes place, the winners from the various breeds compete in one of seven categories — Sporting, Hounds, Working, Herding, Toy, Terrier and Non-sporting. The winners from those categories then compete for the top award — Best In Show.