It’s almost here – The National Dog Show Presented by Purina.  I must say, it’s one of my favorite shows of the year because it is very “spectator friendly”!  The show will be held on Saturday, Nov. 17th at Oaks, Pa. and this is a benched show.  That means that all of the dogs must remain in their designated benching area for the duration of the show unless they are in the ring, being groomed, or doing their business.  There are only 6 benched shows in the United States and it’s a great opportunity for spectators to meet the dogs, talk to the owners/handlers, and learn about the breeds.  At unbenched shows the dogs are allowed to leave after judging.  For the next week I’ll post images that I took at last year’s National Dog Show.  From a photography standpoint, the benching area offers the poorest lighting conditions of just about any indoor show I’ve attended.  The Group/Best in Show judging in the arena makes up for it with bright lights and glitz for the TV cameras.  If you can’t attend this show in person, tune in on Thanksgiving Day immediately following the Macy’s Parade to see what you missed!