Join us September 29 - October 1 for the 2023 UKC Eastern Classic
September 30, 2023
Department: All-Breed Sports
Email: allbreedsports@ukcdogs.com
United Kennel Club (UKC) once again welcomes exhibitors to celebrate their Dogs That Do More at the Virgina Beach Convention Center, in Virginia Beach, Virginia September 29 - October 1, 2023, as they host the 2023 UKC Eastern Classic.
The first UKC Eastern Classic was known as the Virginia Classic prior to its rebrand in 2021, and
Over the years, UKC has added a number of licensed peformance sports to the docket, as now 20 years later, the event also features five more sports: Agility, Precision Coursing, Rally Obedience, Nosework, and Weight Pull. Additionally, the Western Classic is now held over three days instead of two. Some of those sports were not licensed by UKC when this event was first held. Weight Pull was brand new at the time of the first event, Rally Obedience would not be added until 2008, Nosework would not be added until 2015, and Precision Coursing would not be officially licensed until 2020.
In addition to performance sports, UKC will host its conformation shows over the course of the weekend, as highly qualified judges from across the country will judge each dogs conformation and adherence to its written breed standard. The Breed Standard outlines the ideal example of each breed, and judges strive to identify the dogs which conform most closely to those examples. We encourage spectators to be on-hand to cheer on their favorite breeds--or favorite handlers!
Those who attend this event, either as a spectator or as an exhibitor, will see countless fantastic examples of the UKC Total Dog concept. The philosophy of the Total Dog, embraced by UKC since its founding in 1898, celebrates dogs who are not only sterling examples of their breed standard, but also capable of doing the jobs for which they were bred and exceling in performance sports which utilize those skills and characteristics. UKC Total Dogs display equal parts Function, Temperament, and Structure.
UKC celebrates these dogs by awarding the Total Dog award at licensed events around the country, during which dogs are able to both earn a qualifying score in a performance event and win an award in Conformation. More details are available in the Premium List for the specific event. By winning a Total Dog award at a UKC classic event--like the Western Classic--a dog also becomes eligible for participation in the UKC Total Dog Invitational, held annually, where dogs and handlers compete for a $10,000 first prize.
So come join us in Longview, Washington as the UKC All-Breed Sports team heads to the west coast to celebrate Dogs That Do More!
Guided by the belief that dogs make a difference by being the best partner a human can have in the field, on the job, or in a competition event, UKC is a community for people and dogs to pursue excellence together. Founded in 1898, UKC has been dedicated to enhancing the lives of Dogs That Do More, and their owners, by providing essential resources to help owners and breeders make informed decisions. The dog-human bond is celebrated through family-friendly programs highlighting the instincts and heritage of purebred and mixed-breed dogs alike at over 18,000 licensed events annually.