On Friday, January 17th, members of the Camden High School agriculture department’s canine class stepped out of the hallway - and into the show ring. Room 250 was transformed from an everyday classroom into a scene similar to the National Dog Show.
That came with some key differences: The TV cameras were absent, John O’Hurley and Vito the Pug were nowhere to be found, and there was no Thanksgiving television audience on tape delay. Most notably, there were no live dogs to be found anywhere.
This was the Dog-Less Dog Show.
The Dog-less Dog Show was the culmination of a detailed research project for each student. Each student researched a breed of their choice, then gave an oral presentation in front of their peers, teacher Erin Curtis, and three guest judges. Accompanying each student was a homemade cardboard model of their breed as a stand-in for the real thing.
The goal? Build knowledge of dog anatomy and behavior while developing valuable presentation skills.
A variety of breeds and groups were represented, from the massive Great Dane to the diminutive but confident Pekingese. Many students chose the same breed they have at home.
Judges Bob Wilson, Kaylyn Rose, and Tracy Hooker evaluated each student’s presentation on a variety of criteria including the content of the presentation, quality of research, ability to answer questions, and the quality of their model. Based on those evaluations, winners were chosen including best in show.
Each judge also had the opportunity to select a “Judge’s Choice” recipient. Mr. Wilson selected student Ford Church and his Shih Tzu for his selection. Mrs. Rose and Mrs. Hooker chose Richard Angell and his Rat Terrier. Public Relations Assistant Ray Biggs also had a Judge’s Choice ribbon to award, and selected the Australian Terrier presented by Reese Bates.
When the votes were tallied, the Rat Terrier was the recipient of Best in Show! Congratulations to Richard, and to all of the participants on a job well-done. 
