Tampa Bay is going to the dogs this spring when the American Kennel Club brings hundreds of dogs to the Tampa Convention Center for its Meet The Breeds tour. The two-day event on April 23rd and 24th is an opportunity for people of all ages to play with dogs and learn more about caring for different breeds.

Presented by the American Kennel Club, AKC Meet The Breeds is a national tour offering cities a unique and interactive canine extravaganza. Aimed at helping individuals and families understand which breeds of dog are right for them, the event allows people to play with hundreds of dogs while learning proper care and interesting histories of each breed in the event.

However, Meet The Breeds is far more than just a furry meet-and-greet. In addition to playtime, the event will feature various demonstrations that highlight the different athletic abilities of each breed. Plus, they will have performances from AKC Trick Dog, the Central Florida Disc Dogs, and a special demo by the Florida Urban Search & Rescue Teams.

Humans can even take a run on the doggy obstacle courses themselves, complete with photo ops.

Highlights of the demonstrations include entertaining shows

Featured events include the following:

• Agility – See some of the country’s fastest dogs navigate an obstacle course of jumps, weaves & tunnels courtesy of the Dog Training Club of Tampa.
• Obedience – Watch the precision work of competition obedience dogs as they heel, retrieve and show how dogs can advance from the basics to upper-level skills brought to you by the Dog Training Club of Tampa.
• Trick Dog – Move over sit and stay! The routines these dogs do are sure to impress the whole family, courtesy of the Dog Training Club of Tampa
• Disc Dog – Enjoy this fast-paced fun sport that takes the game of fetch to a whole new level, brought to you by the Central Florida Disc Dogs.
• K9 Search & Rescue – Don’t miss this demo of search & rescue dogs doing what they do best, courtesy of the Sarasota K9 Search & Rescue team.

Tickets for the event are on sale now, with children’s tickets starting under $20, and VIP and early-access options available.

“We are really excited to bring AKC Meet The Breeds to sunny Tampa Bay,” said Gina DiNardo, Executive Secretary of the American Kennel Club. “It’s definitely a unique event. Everywhere you look, you’ll see dogs, whether it’s your favorite breed or one you’ve never heard of before. I hope we can introduce the city to their new favorite dog breeds and educate them about responsible dog ownership. It’s the perfect weekend family activity.

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