Summer Classic Dog Show Poised To Unleash Canine Fun
By Carol Bryant, Professional Pet Blogger
Asking, “Who let the dogs out?” is so Y2K. Wondering, “Who let the dogs in” is totally on trend.” Stay cool indoors as we gear up for this year’s hottest canine multi-day sporting extravaganza.
The Oklahoma State Fairgrounds is home to this year’s Summer Classic five-day event where “dogs go to play.” Not only is the event fun and open to the public, but admission is also free.
Pet King Brands, Inc., renowned for its veterinarian-recommended pet health brands, including ZYMOX® Dermatology and Oratene® Brushless Oral Care, is thrilled to announce its prestigious sponsorship of the Oklahoma Summer Classic Dog Show. You can meet us there and get some surprises and samples, too.
Here’s what it’s all about and how you can get involved for nearly a week-long of sizzling, memorable canine fun.
SIZZLING START TO THE SUMMER DOG SHOW SEASON 2023
The Oklahoma Summer Classic 2023 will occur at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds from June 28 to July 2. Spanning five days, from 8 am to 5 pm, this show offers free admission and parking, ensuring an affordable and enjoyable summer experience for the entire family.
The five-day affair is a canine lover’s dream come true, featuring competitions and attractions including, but not limited to:
- Conformation
- Obedience
- Rally
- Barn Hunt
- Dock Diving
- Scent Work
- Weight Pull
- Fast Cat
- UpDog
- Vendors
- Silent Auction
If you’ve never seen dogs compete in sporting activities, this is an opportunity to get an up close and personal look and cheer on your favorites.
FAST FACTS ABOUT ATTENDING THE OKLAHOMA SUMMER CLASSIC 2023
Pet King Brands is proud to support the Top Dog Challenge with over $7,000 in cash, prizes, giveaways, and neck sashes for the victorious canines. Participants in nine events accumulate points based on their performance, with bonuses awarded to those who achieve new titles. The top three results from each participant contribute to the total points.
While most of the performance events take place Friday, June 29 through Sunday, July 2, attendees are welcome to attend all five days for the maximum experience.
Dog sports have been around for a long time, but they have been more popular in recent years. Competing with your dog in a sport enhances the human-animal bond and keeps both owner and handler active.
There are many choices from which to choose, as you can see in our dog sports list above. Fortunately, the American Kennel Club (AKC) has a 10-question fun quiz you can take to determine which sport is best for your pooch.
If you just aren’t sure which sport you and your dog might enjoy, the AKC says almost any dog and any breed can try their paws at:
- Rally
- Fast CAT
- Scent work
- Farm dog
- Trick dog
Having shared life with a trick dog, I can attest that our already strong human-canine bond elevated several levels as we trained over tricks and rewards.
DOG SHOW PRIMER TERMS
If this is your first time attending a competitive dog show arena, there are a few terms with which to familiarize yourself.
Barn Hunt: Dogs compete using their noses to find rats hidden in hay bales or a straw maze.
Breed standard: Each breed has a written standard against which he is judged. The Parent Club sets the standard, such as that written for the Boxer breed.
Conformation: Breed judging based on a dog’s overall appearance and structure compared to the breed standard. It isn’t a beauty contest but how each dog stacks up to the written breed standard.
Fast CAT: It sounds like a speedy feline, but Fast CAT stands for ‘coursing ability test,’ wherein dogs are timed in a 100-yard dash chasing a lure.
Obedience: The dog must perform a set of exercises on which he is scored, such as heel, sit, down, and come when called.
Rally: This dog and his handler must complete a specific course with stations along the way for specific skills to be performed.
Ring: The area where dogs are shown.
UpDog: A dog sport that involves playing games with a flying disc.
UNLEASHING INNOVATIVE CANINE HEALTH SOLUTIONS
While there, attendees are encouraged to stop by the Pet King Brands booth to discover antibiotic-free solutions for common canine ear, skin, and oral conditions. Lay your paws on some samples, snap some ‘thought bubble’ selfies, and walk away with a treasure trove of ideas to help keep your dogs healthy all summer.
HOW TO MAINTAIN CHAMPIONSHIP HEALTH IN YOUR DOG
You already know your dog is the champion of your heart (and we agree.) If you’d like to partake in some warm-weather activities with your dog, now’s a great time to start.
Fortunately, ZYMOX® offers antibiotic-free solutions for common canine ear, skin, and oral conditions using the patented LP3 Enzyme System.
FAQS ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA SUMMER CLASSIC 2023
How can I enter my dog in the competitions? Everything you need to know about entering the show can be found on the Oklahoma Summer Classic How to Enter page.
What if I want to stay over so I can attend for several days? Visit the Accommodations page for RV and hotel information.
Will there be food available on site? The show features multiple concession stands with food and drinks for purchase.
Can I follow a Facebook page for the event? Yes, be sure to LIKE the Oklahoma Summer Classic Facebook page.
Will there be vendors selling merchandise? Absolutely, so far, there are over 40 vendors.
Can I bring my dog? Dogs entered in the competitions and service dogs are allowed at the event.
Are parking and admission free all five days? Yes.
Where can I learn more? To learn more about entering or attending the Oklahoma Summer Classic, visit OklahomaSummerClassic.com.
About the Author
Gayle King introduced Carol Bryant as a “dog lover of the highest order” when she and her Cocker Spaniel, Dexter, appeared on Oprah Radio. Carol is well-known in the pet industry, having appeared on television, radio shows, and podcasts, as well as in articles from CNN and Yahoo to Dogster and Today.com. She is the founder of the award-winning blog FidoseofReality.com and is the Immediate Past President of the Dog Writers Association of America.
