Membership Meeting

Please Contact the Club Secretary for more information.

August 12 & 13, 2011

All Breed Dog Show, Rally & Obedience Trial

September 24, 2011

Canine Septemberfest

Jim Rau Dog Shows

For a premium list or to enter

Junior Clinic

Friday, August 12, 2011

HERSHEYPARK 2011

 

Since 1954

The Penn Ridge Kennel Club is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote purebred dog activities and to support dog related charities. Penn Ridge KC was formed in 1954 as a member club of the American Kennel Club (AKC).

AKC Competitive Events

Our main activities are our two All Breed AKC Conformation Shows, which are held the second weekend in August.

Our shows are held in the air-conditioned Expo Hall at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA., where together with the Harrisburg Kennel Club, the Keystone Cluster is fast becoming one of the most popular summer dog show weekends.

On Friday, we hold our Rally Competition in conjunction with our All Breed Show the same day.

Our Annual Obedience Trial is held in conjunction with our Saturday Show in Harrisburg, PA.

Our shows offer something for every dog enthusiast, whether it be the conformation juging, obedience or rally competition. Over 100 breeds are in attendance in addition to vendors from far and near whose booths feature many unusual items not found elsewhere for the canine and canine lover in your family (see Our Shows for more information, or go to Jim Rau Dog Shows for a premium list or to enter).

We will also have an AKC "B" Match again at this year's Septemberfest.

Charitable Contributions

Penn Ridge is proud to be able to give back to our local community and the dog community as a result of the success of our events throughout the year.

Each year a portion of our profits are donated to help several dog related charities. Recent donations have included Take the Lead (a non-profit organization which helps terminally/chronically ill people in the dog community), our local humane societies and the AKC/CAR Disaster and Katrina Relief Funds (see Community Involvment for more information).

Beginning in 2008, the Penn Ridge Kennel Club helped sponsor the PA Farm Show "Farm to Fun - Dogs Do It All" program at the Farm Show. This educational and fun filled event was a huge success and we look forward to our continued participation with the Farm Show.

The Penn Ridge Kennel Club is proud to include the AKC/CHF George Ward Scholarship Fund among the recipients of proceeds from our shows to help fund higher education for the youth who are involved in our sport.

In 2009 the Penn Ridge Kennel Club hosted a "Monte Carlo" night in conjuction with our August shows, which was a huge success with almost $40,000 raised for Take The Lead.

The success of the first Monte Carlo night has led to a casino night being part of the shows each year and the formation of the Penn Ridge Kennel Club Charitable Foundation, Inc., for the purpose of raising funds for the various charities dear to those in our sport, such as the AKC Scholarship Fund, the Canine Health Foundation and Take the Lead.

This year on Saturday, August 13, we hope you will join us as the Penn Ridge Kennel Club Charitable Foundation, Inc., presents "Viva Las Vegas" at the Farm Show and everyone is invited to join in the fun by dressing the part at the show on Saturday and joining us for an evening of fun! Tickets are available using this form or at the shows on Friday and Saturday, August 12 and 13).

Junior Showmanship and Youth Activities

Our shows include Junior Showmanship competitions.

In these classes, the children are judged on their ability to present their own dog, not on the quality of the dog.

A number of outstanding Juniors have gone on to careers as professional handlers, veterinarians and other professions associated with their love of dogs. A big part of the future of purebred dogs rests with developing children's interest in our sport to continue into the next generations.

The Penn Ridge Kennel Club supports the Juniors' activities with great prizes, including HERSHEYPARK tickets in each class and a savings bond for the Best Junior of each show. We also offer a free handling clinic to our Juniors.

Junior Clinic

In 2010 the AKC Registered Handlers, Purina, and Penn Ridge Kennel Clubs, together with our show sponsor Royal Canin are proud to again offer the Handler of Tomorrow Clinic. This year's clinic will be held on Friday, August 7, 2009 in conjunction with our show at the Pa Farm Show Expo Hall. There is no cost to attend the clinic; just come to the show and register in the officials' area to learn the time and rings for the clinic to begin. Luncheon provided by Royal Canin, goodie bag and raffle will again be part of the Junior Clinic in 2010, with a top prize of $500 for expenses in conjuction with exhibiting in Junior Showmanship at the Westminster Kennel Club in New York City.

In 2007 the Penn Ridge Kennel Club hosted our first AKC Registered Handlers' "Handlers of Tomorrow" clinic o help junior handlers. Close to 90 Juniors and prospective Junior Handlers took advantage of the opportunity to hone their handling skills with the assistance of top AKC Registered Handlers under the supervision of AKC Field Reps Patty Jenner, Sydney Good, Tommy Glassford and Jim Mitchell.

The attendance at these clinics proves what a great service the AKC Registered Handlers are providing the youth who will be tomorrow's professional and owner handlers. Lunch is provided for all courtesy of our sponsors, and "goodie bags" are provided for all by the AKC Reps; and there is a raffle for the attending juniors with great prizes, including a color TV, thanks for the Penn Ridge Kennel Club and our sponsors, Royal Canin.

In 2008 and 2009 the Penn Ridge Kennel Club made signifcant donations toward the education of students in the fancy through the AKC George Ward Scholarship Fund. This year, the scholarship fund will be our primary beneficiary and will receive the proceeds from our evening charity event, the Caribbean Cruise Casino Night and raffle on Saturday, August 14th.

The Penn Ridge Kennel Club is proud to be part of the Juniors Clinics and to be able to contribute to the education of those who will carry on our love of the sport.

Art Contest

In 2005 the Penn Ridge Kennel Club instituted a Student Art Contest to recognize the artistic talent of the area's youth and raise the students' awareness of the responsibilities associated with pet ownership (see Student Art Contest)

Canine Learning Experience

Each January the Penn Ridge Kennel Club participates in the Canine Learning Experience weekend in Allentown, PA with an educational informative exhibit.

In 2007, the Penn Ridge Kennel Club Positive Identification booth was awarded second prize.

2008's booth was entitled "It's A-maze-ing How Many AKC activities you can enjoy with your dog" and was a big hit with the attendees.

We hope to see you at the Penn Ridge Kennel Club's booth at the Canine Learning Experience on Saturday, January 28, 2012. The Canine Learning Experience is held in the Agricultural Hall at the Allentown Fairgrounds, 19th & Chew Streets, Allentown, PA.

PA Farm Show "Farm to Fun - Dogs Do It All"

Next year's Farm to Fun - Dogs Do It All event will be held at 6PM on Sunday, January 8, 2012 in the Large Arena at the Pa Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pa.

In 2008, the Penn Ridge Kennel Club was invited to co-sponsor the "Farm to Fun - Dog Do It All" event at the PA Farm Show.

This program was presented to a capacity audience on Sunday evening. The program focused on how different breeds were developed to be outstanding at certain tasks in everyday life, in this case herding, and how those same traits helped make these breeds superior performers in various competitions and fun activities today. There were search & rescue dogs, a fast paced agility competition, flyball demonstrations, firemen and their dogs, and a professional Frisbee dog act to entertain and education.

The PA Farm Show is the largest agricultural event in the country, and the Penn Ridge Kennel Club is proud to co-sponsor the Sunday afternoon/evening dog event to educate the public on how many activities are available for dog enthusiasts to enjoy.

Other Competitions

Additionally we have held Match shows for beginning dogs and beginning dog people.

The Penn Ridge Kennel Club has also sponsored Canine Good Citizen testing at our shows and the Septemberfest each year.