If you care about seeing the preliminary rounds for certain breeds, find the schedule and go then. If you care about the TV show, it's late in the day. Otherwise, you can see the dogs in their crates and the booths any time

Fill your pockets with bacon

How many tea services do you plan on doing? I recommend at least 8 kimonos.

Also. Don't leave your Busy Bee in the hotel room.

Parking at the venue is HARD. Just be ready to have to walk pretty far from your spot to the hall (if you find one). Going earlier is better if you're more about seeing the dogs and not the show/judging part. It's a benched show, so all day the dogs will be out being groomed etc, plus the inter-breed judging will be going on outside the stage area. Dogs get tired as the day goes on, so I like to go early to talk to everyone and pet doggoes while everyone is fresh and not too grumpy :)

The show judging is in a separate area - it can be very crowded and takes some time to get into and out of. But it's fun too! that culminates later in the day.

Check the breed judging times for the dogs you're interested in, I usually determine what time I'm going based on that. My breed (Chow Chow) is often doing their breed judging early b/c they DO get grumpy. They never win groups so I don't worry too much about going into the TV/group judging area but my kids like to. they've ended up on TV a few times.

Have fun! It's great fun. I know other fanciers/handlers/breeders so I end up there for hours but normal people won't need more than two hours probably. Again it depends on if you want to watch the interbreed judging (like, seeing how they pick the best Golden Retriever to send in for group judging). That's done out on the "floor" where the benches are.

I went last year, arrived after 10 and wandered around for a few hours.

The breed competitions are spread out over several large expo rooms where you can just walk up and watch for however long you want. There are 100+ breeds and these last for like 45 to 90 minutes each so we thought it was best to just peek for a few minutes and then move along to another. We may have watched one breed compete in full. Some of the viewing areas have folding chairs if you’re very invested or need a rest. There’s a big board near the entrance that lists what time and location each breed is competing, but I don’t remember being able to find that anywhere online last year so it was kind of luck of the draw.

They started filming the group competitions and best in show in the “arena” area at 1. We grabbed general admission seats probably 30 minutes before it was set to start. They run through each group relatively quickly and not everyone stays for all of them so you can probably find seats as they open up. We stayed for the Herding and Toy groups which together took about an hour. They were doing a skills competition during a break period when we left the arena.

There are concession stands open with snacks throughout the expo but it was not a great food selection so we left around 3 and got dinner in Phoenixville.

🎶 God loves a Terrier! 💕🎶🐶

I've gone a number of times years ago. It's a great time.
I found the most fun was just walking around the booths and seeing the variety of dogs. All of them are friendly so it's like one huge petting zoo.
Some of the show part seemed a little stupid with people prancing around with their dog - but it was entertaining in itself.
One great thing (if they have it) is Jack Russell racing. They have it set up so that maybe 20 Jack Russel dogs come out of chutes and chase something while jumping over little obstacles. It was really fun to watch. Those little dogs are fast as shit.
So go. You'll have a great time and the entrance fee is usually pretty cheap.

I love going around 10 if I can to see the dogs being groomed before their individual breed groups. If you’re going alone you should have no problem finding a seat to watch the actual show. It’s easy and an usher will usually help you. I’ve gone the last 4-5 years and love it. Also good expo prices on dog items like beds and toys! Have fun!!!

I’m sure you know but it’s held outside of Philadelphia. Pretty far from the city. King of Prussia mall is near if you want to shop. Phoenixville is very close too and it’s absolutely worth a visit. Good food and breweries. Conshohocken and Manayunk are within distance also.

First of all.. I have lived in this city for 18 years now and have never once thought to do this! Second, I cannot think of a better way to spend a day! See yous at the dog show!

The vendors have all kinds of everything for your favorite dogs. And prepare to walk from a spot closer to Lowes if you get there later in the day.

I used to go every year. I had a friend who lived in the area and she would show her dogs every year, but she moved away and it wasn't as much fun for me. I haven't been since a couple years before the pandemic.

I enjoy the breed judging so I would go very early, like 8 am. The schedule is online if there is a particular breed you like. Also it's a lot easier to find parking near the venue if you go early. The breed judging is extremely unglamorous, they set up temp fencing in the big exhibition room and the different breeds set up wherever and are judged. Keep in mind they judge isn't looking for the prettiest or cutest dog, it's the dog that adheres most closely to the set breed standards. It's different for each breed so you will see the judges checking out, for example, if a dog has loose skin on its scruff because that is part of the breed standard. They will literally grab the scruff. (That's for some terrier breeds because historically terriers hunt rodents in holes and the owners would pull them out by the scruff.) They feel the dog's musculature and check their teeth and make them run around so they can see the dog's gait and movement. For male dogs they check that the dog is intact and that both testicles have descended (yes, by touching them. The dogs are well trained to put up with being handled ..one time a Chihuahua snapped at a judge and it was quite the scandal; apparently, that particular Chihuahua had a reputation. Now you know why I miss my friend giving me the gossip).

I also used to really enjoy walking around the benching areas to see the different breeds and sometimes interact with them. However, the last couple of years I went, I felt like very few people had their dogs out, despite a lot of signs saying that the benches would be audited and you better have your dogs out or you'll be fined. The breeders tend to be much friendlier than the professional handlers (though when I went with my friend, she would tell me all the gossip about them). The pros don't want anyone touching their dogs especially if they moved on to Group.

Group judging, which is what is shown on TV, starts around noon. It never ever ever finishes on time and often goes till 8 pm. If you leave you might not get a good seat when you come back because there are always crowds coming in. Some of the seats are behind steel beams. And the announcers are not J. Peterman (though he is there and you can see him ringside) but if it's the usual guy he's fantastic and tells you about the breed and each dog. Also they edit it for TV, the group judging goes on much longer in person. And then at the end they have Best in Show, which consists of the winner of each group.

There is also dock diving and other active things like frisbee catching set up in the area between the benches and the main arena.

It's a long day, and being an introvert I find it loud and exhausting, but it can be so much fun, too, especially if people have their dogs out in the benching areas. Sometimes you see famous people like Mary Carillo filming something in the benching area. And in the main arena, it's interesting to watch the camera guys moving around to get the shots.

FYI, there is a cafe that sells expensive food and a small seating area where you will compete for a seat. I think they have some vending machines for beverages, too.

Like I said, I haven't been in several years so things may be different now.

I made the mistake of going to it thinking I'd get to pet a lot of doggies.

Nope. Those dogs are for looking at. Not for touching or giving head scritches.

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