Longview Exhibit Center hosts UKC All-Breed Dog Show

LONGVIEW, Texas (KLTV) - The Longview Exhibit Center has gone to the dogs. Now that sounds like a bad thing, but it’s actually pretty entertaining.

The United Kennel Club is holding their United Dog Owners Group All-Breed Dog Show at the Longview Exhibit Center this weekend. It’s also a great place to get advice on a dog for you and your family.

There were dogs all over the place and rarely a bark. These are some well-behaved pooches. UDOG Show Trial Secretary, basically vice president of the show, Ann Bridges is from Carthage and has a competition Australian Cattle dog.

“It’s basically a way to show off our dogs and have fun and hang out with friends we’ve known forever,” Bridges said.

In fact, one of those friends, Stephanie Ayres, came in from Cedar Creek to pit her Australian Cattle Dog, Clive, against Ann’s, Mystic.

“Right there, that was the judge going over each dog and determining which of the dogs in the class, in this case two of us, which one most closely fit the breed’s standard,” Bridges said.

The “standard” would be the perfect example of a given dog, according to a judge.

‘So, every breed has a different standard, that there are things that they look for and things that they absolutely do not want to see. And so, between the dogs that were in there she chooses the one that she thinks, that’s the best,” Bridges said.

“The judge was looking at both dogs, decided that Mystic was the best specimen according to the breed’s standard today in this show,” Ayres said.

No hard feelings though.

“So now we go into the group competition. Whoever wins group will go into best in show. And that’s what everybody wants,” Bridges said.

And everybody who wants a family dog, wants a good one, right?

“If you’re looking to have a new companion join your family, this is a great place to talk to breeders. Most of us are breeders. So that way you can get a chance to meet a specimen in your breed,” Ayers said.

It’s free to get in, and the advice is free as well. Pretty dog gone good deal. Especially since a pet may reduce your blood pressure, Ayers said.

There is also a performance competition. The show at the Longview Exhibit Center is Saturday and Sunday starting at 8 a.m.

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