Show Dates: May 18-21, 2023

8am-4pm each day

Location: Cumberland Fairgrounds, 174 Bruce Hill Rd, Cumberland, Maine.

$5 per carload each day

*Per American Kennel Club rules, only dogs entered in the shows are allowed on the show grounds. Exceptions are service dogs with appropriate identification.*

Vacationland Dog Club and York County Kennel Club welcome everyone to our shows.

Step 1: Grab a Program

When you arrive, you’ll be told where to navigate to spectator parking. From there you may want to head to the Secretary/Superintendent tent. There you can get a free program that lists all the breeds showing, what ring they’re showing in and what time.  The program also indicates what time special events start, such as Groups and Best in Show. Each day has its own program, and you can request one for the day your arrive as well as the other days.

Step 2: Navigating the Site

Armed with your program, you’re now ready to walk the grounds. Obedience and Rally are in the fenced off show ring, not under the tent. Spectators may watch outside the fenced area.

Conformation happens under the large tent with the ring gates sticking out from it. Each ring has a tall numbered sign. Spectators may watch from under the tent but be mindful that it gets very crowded with many handlers and their dogs. It’s best to watch along the ring gates outside of the tent.

Another large tent beyond the show ring tent is the grooming area. Handlers set up space under this tent to wash, dry, comb and clip their dogs prior to entering the ring. Spectators are allowed to walk around the grooming area and speak with handlers as they work. However, as with all dogs at these shows,  please ask before attempting to pet a dog. This is a great opportunity to find out about the different breeds, particularly if you’re looking to acquire one.

Vendors selling food and dog-related items are parked in designated areas beyond the big tents. Please consider patronizing them.

And below is a list of what we’re hosting this weekend:

Rally — 2 Sessions Saturday & Sunday. Handler and dog move together through a signed course, following the directions on each sign. Teamwork is vital in order to complete the course as quickly and accurately as possible. Rally is open to all dogs, even mixed breeds who are enrolled in AKC’s Canine Partners Program.

Obedience — 2 Sessions Saturday & Sunday. In this sport the handler and dog must follow the judge’s direction from simple commands of long down to navigating over obstacles. Obedience is open to all dogs, even mixed breeds who are enrolled in AKC’s Canine Partners Program.

National Owner-Handled Series — Thursday & Sunday. This competition involves dogs shown only by their owners, as opposed to a professional handler.

Best Bred-By Exhibitor Competition — Friday. The handler of each dog in this competition has to be the breeder and owner of the dog. These handlers generally know their dogs better because they’ve bred them.

4 to 6 Month Beginner Puppy Competition — Friday & Sunday. This event gives handlers and their new pups ring time and valuable socializing. It’s also one of the most adorable activities happening during the show weekend.

Best Puppy Extravaganza — Saturday. All puppies 6 months old to 12 months entered this day are automatically entered in this special event. The best puppy in each breed goes on to compete in Groups for best in each Group. Then each Group winner goes on to compete in Best Puppy in Show just before regular Best in Show.

Pine Tree State Doberman Pinscher Club, Inc, and the Bearded Collie Club of America, Inc Supported Entries — Saturday & Sunday. What’s a supported entry? Generally speaking a breed-specific group declares that it will support the entries of its breed during that day’s show. They may give special rosettes or prizes for the their Best of Breed and they may encourage their members to enter the show. More entries in a breed mean more points toward championships. And if you are looking to get a particular breed, a supported entry usually means there will be many examples present.

Maine Golden Retriever Club Designated Specialty — Saturday. The Maine Golden Retriever Club has designated Saturday as its specialty show. In addition to the regular conformation entries, the Goldens who enter the show may choose to compete in the sweepstakes covering puppies and veterans.

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