2 Dog Breeds To Be Introduced At National Dog Show In Montco

OAKS, PA — An upcoming event in Montgomery County will introduce two dog breeds newly eligible to compete in sanctioned competitions.

The National Dog Show, hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, will take place on Nov. 17-18 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks.

The breeds are Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen (pictured top above) and Nederlandse Kooikerhondje (pictured below). The breeds have been around for centuries for but have not competed in American Kennel Club events until now.

>>2018 National Dog Show Coming To Montgomery County

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen is a pack hound, bred as a hunting dog for small mammals, that originated in France. Fewer than 400 exist in the United States, organizers said. They will compete in the Hound Group this year.

The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje, from the Netherlands, dates to the 17th century and nearly went extinct during World War II. They're a sporting dog bred to hunt ducks and is competing in the Best in Show class in 2018's event.

" Yes, some of these 'new' breeds have been around for many years," David Frei, canine expert and co-host of the Show, told Patch. "(But) they have now gotten to the point in the United States where there are enough of them, spread out geographically, and they have a parent club (e.g., The National Beagle Club) that oversees their presence in this country and advocates for them."

The historic event, which can be traced back to 1876, will feature more than 190 American Kennel Club sanctioned dog breeds. In 2017, a total of 2,135 extremely well-groomed pups attended the event.

Image via Philadelphia Kennel Club