What Exactly is a Dog Show? AKC Museum and Harper’s Magazine Hosts a Conversation About Show Dogs

By Amy Fernandez

Since moving to 101 Park, the Museum of the Dog has presented a much more public facing image. It first opened in 1982 when AKC was still headquartered at Madison Square. The depth of their growing collection demanded exhibition space. Paintings, drawings, photography, sculpture, and centuries of breathtaking art landed at 51 Madison.   So, there’s that.

The Museum’s first incarnation was restricted by limited space. While the move to St. Louis solved that problem, it created an even bigger accessibility issue.  So, the latest move seems to resolve both problems, with two floors of space and an ideal midtown address. Now, the sky’s the limit. They regularly advertise upcoming events on local radio and host an ongoing rotation of workshops and lectures as well as a weekly dog-friendly events including “reactive dog” hours because, let’s face it, those complicated dogs are also part of our lives.

Let’s talk about the next event, What Exactly is a Dog Show? Aaron Rosenblum, the Museum’s marketing manager explained, “At the Museum, we are always looking to reach new audiences while providing exceptional programming for the Fancy. The idea for this event started during our Life of a Showdog Exhibition which was celebrating 150 Years of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show through the eyes of the dogs that have made history.” This panel discussion aims to take that exploration one step further according to Rosenblum, citing a Harper’s Magazine article as the inspiration. “It seemed like the perfect foundation for a conversation about dog shows that would be both informative and fun for everyone, regardless of their existing level of knowledge and connection to the dog show world.”

The Harper’s story, which ran in March, opens with three friends trapped in gridlock on their way to the Armory Show–that enormous art fair that has showcased modern and alternative art for over a century. The narrator grew up in the dog biz, on the road traveling with his pro handler mom. The storyline pivots on the coincidence of Westminster sharing the Javits with the Armory show on that day. Generally, the Yacht and Boat show is the headliner during Westminster week, but this is fiction.

Rosenblum continues, “The Harpers story offers a fictionalized glimpse into Westminster through the eyes of an artist and estranged insider. What exactly is a dog show, and who are the people that make it happen? Why do these events produce such unforgettable characters and such excellent comedy?”

The narrator, through sharing his childhood experiences, also highlights that critical process of intergenerational knowledge that is crucial to true expertise–and has unfortunately become way too scarce in today’s sport. He says, “Mom taught me animal behavior, obedience training, coat and skin conditioning, muscle-development regimens, show logistics, ring dynamics …I had it all down pat by the time I was eight years old, and won my first Juniors by age twelve, because I learned it all from one of the best.” The narrator’s combination of childhood reflections and his unexpected intrusion into this show captures another reality of this game. No matter how long a person has been separated from this world, it always remains familiar territory.

His friends, of course, aren’t there to see dogs and that exchange offers another startling juxtaposition of insider and outsider perceptions that are so familiar to us.  Baffled by the obvious expenditure of time, work, and money they are witnessing in real time, they demand an explanation.  He says, “There are no cash prizes at Westminster. No passionless operators treating the field as a speculative enterprise. It’s a labor of love.” Although the narrator’s memories are framed by overpowering childhood bitterness and resentment, this truth remains.

It’s guaranteed to be a lively evening.  The panel discussion will feature Dr. Don Sturz, our homegrown Sporting breed authority and now President of Westminster. After the author’s reading of the article, Dr. Sturz will share his experiences growing up in sport followed by a panel discussion of the parallels between the art world and the dog world, moderated by Harper’s senior editor, Jess Bergman.

Tickets for the May 6 event are available through the website at: https://akcmotd.ticketing.veevartapp.com/tickets/view/list/what-exactly-is-a-dog-show.

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Posted by Liz on Apr 26 2026. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.