CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The Red, White and Blue Rosette for Best in Show will be the goal at the Heart of Iowa Kennel Club AKC shows on Oct. 14-15 at the Central Iowa Fairgrounds in Marshalltown.

The Heart of Iowa Kennel Club will hold two American Kennel Club All-Breed and Obedience shows on Oct. 14-15 at the Central Iowa Fairgrounds in Marshalltown.

According to Show Chair, Shelley Barron, “Although the Westminster Dog Shows or the National Dog Show which is televised on Thanksgiving are considerably larger, our shows follow the same procedures and American Kennel Club rules and guidelines. Our judges may have judged at those shows and we have should top dogs that are nationally ranked. Our judges come from Georgia, Iowa, Connecticut and Illinois.”

Each day of the weekend is considered a different show for exhibitors and there are more than 460 dogs entered on each day for 525 entries each day. These dogs will come from all over the United States and often from other countries. Top winning dogs in breed, obedience and rally will be strutting their stuff at these shows.

Breed competition involves judging individuals of a breed against the judge’s idea of the perfect representative of that breed. There are more than 105 breeds or varieties scheduled to compete, from Afghan Hounds to Yorkshire Terriers, with Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Samoyed, Boxer, Cardigan Welsh Corgi and Papillion breeds with the most entries. Some of the less common breeds expected to compete are Flat Coat-Coated Retriever, American Water Spaniel, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Black Russian Terrier, Bracchi Italiani, Cane Corso, Dogo Argentinos, American English Foxhounds, Grand Basset Griffons Vendeen, Borzoi, Ibizan Hound, Otterhound, Portuguese Podengo Pequenos, Barbet, Coton de Tulear, Clumber Spaniel, Berger Picard, Sealyham Terrier, Biewer Terrier and Mudi. A new competition this year is Beginner Puppy with 31 puppies of 22 different breeds.

There are 119 entries in obedience and rally. Most spectators will recognize many of the basic commands taught in beginning obedience classes such as sit, stay, come, down and stay. Advanced competition includes these basics plus directed jumping, directed retrieves, off-leash heeling and scent discrimination.

Rally obedience has the handler and dog following a specific course with signs indicating the obedience exercise to be completed. The AKC allows mixed-breeds known as” All Americans” to compete in rally and obedience and to win titles.

There are 15 boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 18 entered in junior showmanship where the handler is judged, not the dog, similar to 4H and FFA competition. These junior handlers train, groom and present the dogs in the best possible manner in each of the four classes and the winner of each class competes for Best Junior Handler. Some of these handlers may also be competing with the adults in regular breed competition.

Judging begins at 8:30 a.m. each morning and will run until 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. No unentered dogs are allowed in the show buildings. Spectators should be aware of the surroundings, especially in regard to strollers and children and remember that many exhibitors may have spent an hour or more grooming the dog, so ask before meeting the dog. Many exhibitors show more than one dog or might be in different classes and may be pressed for time. There will be a food vendor available for breakfast and lunch. Other vendors will be selling dog supplies, breed related items, plush items and doing scissor sharpening.

For more information on the shows or the club contact Barron at skycutter@heartofiowa.net or 641-750-2862.