AKC Canine Experience July 31, 2011

What is an AKC Canine Experience Event?

 “An AKC Canine Experience is a multi-club, multi-sport event that introduces and welcomes dog owners to and educates them about the sport of dogs. The day-long event features educational presentations and provides an opportunity for potential owners to be mentored by experienced exhibitors and club members prior to an afternoon match, during which new exhibitors and future fanciers practice their newly learned skills.”

Last year we had over 200 exhibitors, of those 54 were new exhibitors to our sport, with over 500 spectators.

Host Clubs

Suffolk County Kennel Club, Inc.

Suffolk Obedience Training Club

Participating Clubs

Palisades Kennel Club                                        Berkshire Valley Basset Hound Club

Cane Corso Association of America               Grt NY Bichon Frise Fanciers 

L.I. Weimaraner Club                                         LI German Shorthaired Pointer Club 

Irish Setter Club of L. I.                                      Dachshund Assoc of LI                    

The Collie Club of LI                                          Siberian Husky Club of Greater N.Y.

Cocker Spaniel Club of L.I.                               Labrador Retriever Club of LI 

Afghan Hound Association of L.I.                  N.Y.Newfoundland Club

LI Golden Retriever Club                                   English Springer Spaniel Club of L.I.

Dalmatian Club of Greater NY                       Xoloitzcuintli Club of America

NE Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club               Sand & Sea Kennel Club

Stewards Club of America                        Field Spaniel Society of America

Canine Good Citizen Test 

Obedience, Rally &

Agility Run-throughs

Retrieving Demonstration

Earth Dog Demonstration

Grooming Demonstrations

Handling Classes

Admission: Free/Donation accepted                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Directions to show:

St Johnland Nursing Center, 395 Sunken Meadow Road, Kings Park, NY

L.I. Expressway to Exit 53; Sunken Meadow Parkway North to Exit SM4.  Take Pulaski Road East (at the intersection with Rt. 25A it becomes Old Dock Rd.)  Go approximately 1½ miles to Sunken Meadow Road (Traffic light.).  Turn LEFT and enter the site at the 2^nd entrance on the right.

General & Breed Specific Information

2011 AKC Canine Experience Premium List 

2011 Conformation, Rally & CGC Pre-entry Form

2011 Obedience Pre-entry Form

2009 AKC Canine Experience Event

Watch a short video of our 2009 AKC Canine Experience Event

http://www.akc.org/public_education/cee_video.cfm

AKC Canine Experience Match  by Barbara Wicklund

“We’re having a great time…we love it.” Those were the sentiments expressed by one of the many brand new dog show exhibitors participating in the Aug. 9, 2009 AKC Canine Learning Experience Match Show staged successfully through the combined efforts of several Long Island-based all-breed and specialty dog clubs.

This family, showing their long-haired dachshunds for the first time, found everything “so relaxed and everyone so friendly and helpful” that they intend to get involved in the world of dog shows. Their 14-year-old son proudly clutched his Best of Breed ribbon and hopes to pursue Junior Showmanship.

The show was organized by the Suffolk County Kennel Club, the Westbury Kennel Association and the Suffolk Obedience Training Club, with 22 other all-breed and specialty clubs from New York and New Jersey joining in.

The primary purpose of the canine experience match shows is to introduce potential new exhibitors to dog shows and encourage their further involvement. At the Kings Park, Long Island, event, the conformation match drew 106 entries, 27 of them from brand new exhibitors. The overall entry was almost double what it was last year, the first year the Long Island event was held.

It didn’t stop there. More than 25 dogs were entered in rally, five of them new exhibitors. Obedience was over-booked and went on long after all other activities had ended, again with many “newbies.” The agility ring had the same experience

Of the 14 dogs taking part in the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen test, 13 passed, living proof that people are taking seriously the need to train their dogs.

For the spectators, many of whom had never attended a dog show before, there were side attractions to hold their interest. The Dachshund Club of Long Island put on an earth dog demonstration, and the Long Island Golden Retriever Club showed off their dogs’ retrieving prowess.

Specialty matches were held by the Afghan Hound Association of Long Island, the English Springer Spaniel Club of Long Island, the Long Island Shorthaired Pointer Club and the Golden Retriever Club.

Grooming demonstrations were given, and handling classes were set up in two rings, one for ground breeds and the other for table breeds, with AKC judges Tom Feneis and Phyllis Rosinsky providing the instruction.

Donating their time to judge the all-breed match were Susan Nelson Smyth, Janet Cohen, Mimi Winkler, Brian Meindl and Andy Ritter.

Throughout the day, representatives of all-breed and specialty clubs staffed their booths and were available to talk to spectators and novice dog owners about the different breeds and about dog shows in general.

Bob Eisele of the Suffolk County Kennel Club and chairman of the event said he was “very pleased with the number of new people who attended. This type of event is what they need to get them involved.”

He found it “encouraging to see the Long Island clubs working together…I hope we’ll continue working together in the future.”