INTERVIEW: Wisconsin Dog Fair 2010

The Wisconsin Dog Fair is an amazing event held every year right here in Madison. The event features activities, demonstrations, and examples of almost every breed of dog imaginable. Mad About Pets was lucky to score an interview with Pat Discher, a representative of Badger Kennel Club, to get the inside scoop on this very popular event to be held November 7, 2010.

Please tell us a little about Badger Kennel Club, the organization behind the Wisconsin Dog Fair.

The Badger Kennel Club consists of about 100 individuals that love dogs! We have come together over the years to share this canine affection with other people of like minds. As you can imagine with a membership this vast, the interests vary greatly from those that have one pet and wish to do meaningful activities with it to members who actively compete in the many areas of the "sport of dogs". Breeders make up a good part of our membership as well. What is so great about the BKC is that there is something for everyone that meets their needs and wishes. We offer classes in obedience, rally, agility, conformation, puppy socialization and kindergarten, therapy and Canine Good Citizen and often other specialized classes such as attention, tricks, and freestyle. The neatest part about our classes is that they are all taught by volunteers. These volunteers account for hundreds of years of training experience and can't be topped.

How did the Wisconsin Dog Fair get started?

The Dog Fair started 22 years ago as a means to educate the general dog-loving public to the many aspects of living with and training their family pet. It started in the center of a Mall and has outgrown several places, each time, increasing in physical size to  handle the increase in offerings added. For the past 4 years we use half of the Alliant Center and that's full!!

What kinds of demonstrations, events, etc. can attendees of the Wisconsin Dog Fair expect?

Photo Credit: Podengo Pequeno

One of the big draws is the approximately 160 different breed representatives. These people are owners/breeders that love to talk about their breed, telling people about all aspects of their dogs. Then you there will be about 90 vendors that will be either selling dog products, promoting various dog related organizations or representing rescue groups. In the demonstration line of activities you find obedience, frisbee, tricks, carting, Sheriff's Department K9, rally, earth dog, lure coursing, agility, Junior showmanship and mushing. These will all be in ring 1. In ring 2 you find breed parades for each AKC group of dogs, including one for the Miscellaneous group and rare breeds as well as a parade of rescued dogs. And to top off all of this there will be 1/2 hour seminars in Eastern Medicine, Vaccines, Puppy socialization, grooming, and adding a dog to your family. Every year a Dog Hero is acknowledged and award a special plaque.


How much is admission, where is the Dog Fair located, and when will it be held?

The Dog Fair is held on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010 at the Alliant Convention Center (1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI) in Halls C and D. The hours are from 10am - 4pm. The admission fee is $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for seniors, $1.00 for children and under 5 are free. The Dane County Fairgrounds does charge for parking but attendees can download a Free Parking Pass from our website: http://www.badgerkennelclub.com/ or pick one up at one of the area Mounds Pet Food stores.

Make sure to mark your calendars for the Wisconsin Dog Fair: it's sure to be a blast!