Steel Valley Cluster will host four dog shows

Staff report

CANFIELD

Four American Kennel Clubs will come together at the Canfield Fairgrounds beginning July 30.

The Steel Valley Cluster will present four dog shows from July 30 to Aug. 2. The cluster consists of a dog show from each club in the following order: Fort Steuben Kennel Association, Columbiana County Kennel Club, Beaver County Kennel Club and Mahoning-Shenango Kennel Club.

“It’s really four different dog shows,” said Tyne Horvath, president of the MSKC.

Judging begins at 8 a.m. and concludes between 5 and 6 p.m. each day. Judging includes all AKC breeds, specialty breeds and Junior Showmanship for youths from 10 to 18 years old.

Admission is $5 per vehicle.

The shows, supported by Purina Proplan Dog Foods, will include food and about 50 dog-product vendors, offering dog equipment, dog art and crafts.

The dog shows will be limited to pre-entered AKC-registered dogs.

A new addition to this year’s show will allow the public to bring their own dogs. For the first time, the North America Diving Dogs will have a “dock diving” judging, which, for a $10 fee, is open to all dogs, from the show and the public, that can swim.

“We’re giving it a try this year to see what happens,” Horvath said.

Other attractions at the show will include a fair for eye and heart health from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 31 and Aug. 1; and purebred testing starting at 9 a.m. Aug. 2.

This is the 87th dog show for MSKC, which has been in existence since 1935, Horvath said.

The Canfield Fairgrounds had been the site for MSKC’s Sunday show for many years. The SVC was started in 1990 when the BCKC and CCKC joined for a total of three shows in August. The FSKA joined in 1992.