Meet the North Carolina Coast Competitors
The National Dog Show presented by Purina is the most watched dog show in America, according to the show’s webpage.
More than 2,000 of the top dogs sanctioned by the American Kennel Club will compete for the titles of Best in Breed, First in Group and Best in Show on November 18 and 19, but the show airs on NBC after the parade Macy’s Thanksgiving Day. The show is held in Oaks, Pennsylvania and 205 breeds are eligible to compete.
“The competition is extremely tough,” said Surf City resident Maureen Rogers. “It’s a very big special show.”
Rogers said preparing for the show often involves a lot of preparation, handling and in-ring experience.
Wrassy, the call name of a Brussels Griffon owned by Rogers, will participate in the show.
“She is one of the winningest Brussels Griffons,” Rogers said. “She’s in the top five, so she’s competitive in a very strong group of toys.”
The name of Wrassy’s show is CH Calicops Sassafras Gonnakikurass.
“That’s what she’s going to do,” Rogers said, noting the humor of her title. “She likes to show off.”
The Rogers Brussels Griffon has previously won national specialty awards from the American Brussels Griffons Association.
Various dogs owned by Rogers have participated and received prizes at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, among others. His other dog is the sire of a previous national specialty winner.
Oak Island resident Vicki Smith is the owner of two dogs participating in the upcoming event: a Great Dane and a soft-coated wheaten terrier.
“(My Great Dane) was a top 20 winner two years in a row,” Smith said. “We’ve never done this show, but it’s kind of our swan song on our bucket list for her,” Smith added, noting that the dog has previously participated and received awards in various other exhibitions.
Felize, the nickname of Smith’s Dane, is 8 years old. Its series name is Happily Ever After by GCHG CH Hauer N Luciana.
“She showed it her whole life,” Smith said. “It shows what good breeding can produce; you have an 8 year old who is really competitive with the young Danes.
Ana, the nickname for Smith’s wheat, will also participate. Her series name is Summerland Luciana’s Beach Baby.
“My wheat has what I consider the ‘it’ factor,” Smith said.
“There’s a lot of good dogs in every breed, but sometimes there’s one that…when they get in the ring, it’s like ‘here I am,'” Smith said. “She’s got this.”
Owners in the following locations in North Carolina also have dogs participating in the 2023 National Dog Show:
- Asheboro
- Asheville
- Boone
- Burnsville
- Chadbourn
- Chapel Hill
- Charlotte
- Cherryville
- Clemons
- Currituck
- Durham
- Fayetteville
- Franklinville
- Fuquay Varina
- Collect
- Greensboro
- Henderson
- Hillsborough
- kitty hawk
- Black
- Lexington
- Marion
- Morrisville
- Oak Island
- Oak crest
- Pinehurst
- Raleigh
- Ramseur
- Rocky Mountain
- Rutherfordton
- City of Siler
- Surf town
- Wax saw
- Wendel
- Williamston
- Winston-Salem
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