The annual event is an opportunity for new and experienced dog handlers from across the country to not only compete but connect and learn from each other.
Erie Times-News
When Stacy Smith and Joe Wernicki named their new retriever puppy “Reign,” it was meant to be a cute play on words, a subtle nod to the 1991 Guns n’ Roses hit “November Rain.”
But for the Edinboro couple, who only recently entered the world of dog shows, the name has become not just a charming moniker but an aspiration.
Reign will be one of more than 1,000 dogs competing in this weekend’s Erie Kennel Club All-Breed Dog Show, Obedience and Rally Trials at the Bayfront Convention Center.
The annual event, which draws new and experienced dog owners and handlers from across the country and Canada, will have more than 150 different breeds represented, all competing to “reign” supreme as Best in Show.
Reign, a black, flat-coated retriever, will make her second appearance at the Erie event. In 2023, she was about six months old and participated in the event’s beginner puppy competition. Now at 15 months old, she will get her first opportunity to compete for points.