S.B. Kennel Club Dog Shows
More Than 175 Breeds at This Year’s Gathering
Mostly Santa Barbara is known for its beautiful beaches and weather, but in canine circles, it’s also noted as one of the oldest Kennel Club Show sites. The November 6, 1920, issue of Field and Stream magazine claimed that the Santa Barbara show, which was at the Ambassador Hotel off West Beach, “may well go down in history as the most picturesque dog show ever assembled.” Now held at Earl Warren Showgrounds, the S.B. Kennel Club’s dog show is still going strong nearly 100 years later.
More than 175 breeds will be represented at this year’s annual gathering, competing for various titles, including Best in Show. For the third year, the “bully” breeds — which include bullmastiffs, American Staffordshire terriers, mini bull terriers, Boston terriers, bull terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, bulldogs, and French bulldogs — will get to strut their stuff at Bullyganza. Good news for hound fans, too, as a new event has been added: the Sighthound Spectacular. Eligible dogs include Afghans, basenji, greyhounds, Italian greyhounds, Irish wolfhounds, Rhodesian ridgebacks, and saluki, among others. And back for a fifth year is the Breeders Showcase, which offers a purse of more than $15,000.
The dog shows begin Friday, August 22, with the Simi Valley Kennel Club Dog Show, followed by the S.B. Kennel Club events Saturday-Sunday, August 23-24, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., at the Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real. Cost: $8, adults; $20, per family; $5 kids under 12 and seniors. For more information, call 687-0766 or visit sbkcdogs.com.
