Best paw forward

Four-legged athletes far gear up for the annual Black Diamond Cluster Dog Show

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A judge helps Mary Fisher, 23, of Virginia, fasten her number before heading into the ring for a group contest at last year's Black Diamond Cluster Dog Show. “She won her class,” smiled Fisher, a dog trainer by trade who began showing dogs several months before Black Diamond, after she got Widow, center. Fisher and her border collie were among those who traveled nationally to attend the annual dog show in Morgantown. [Katherine Mansfield]

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Howard West sets the pace for his American Eskimo, Jake, inside the ring during last year's owner-handled non-sporting group contest. West, of Amity, began showing dogs more than 25 years ago, and delights in the thrill of competing against some of the world’s best near home and across the country throughout the season. [Katherine Mansfield]

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A Nederlandse Kooikerhondjes stands at attention before entering the ring at the very first national breed show in Morgantown in 2024. [Katherine Mansfield]

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A collie competes in the agility contests at the 2024 Black Diamond Cluster Dog Show in Morgantown. [Katherine Mansfield]

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A dog gets the final fluff before competing in a conformation contest at the 2024 Black Diamond Cluster Dog Show in Morgantown. [Katherine Mansfield]

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More than 4,000 dogs dressed to the canines will strut, pose, sit, stay, and amaze with feats of athleticism during the five-day Black Diamond Cluster Dog Show inside the Hazel & J.W. Ruby Community Center at Mylan Park in Morgantown, W.Va.

The show, hosted jointly by the South Hills, Mountaineer, and Clarksburg kennel clubs, kicks off today, April 22, and runs through Sunday, April 26.

Each day of the annual event begins at 8 a.m. and is jam-packed with competition. There are conformation shows (think pageants), obedience contests, and agility and rally competitions (think obstacle courses). And then there’s the prep, which can be, for spectators, just as fascinating as the actual showcases.

Just before showtime, the Hazel & J.W. Ruby center is a symphony of blow dryer roars and dog barks. Four-legged athletes warm up outside the center, or take a zen moment in their crates. Owners and handlers run through a list of commands or practice their conformation walk one last time before hurrying to the show ring to put their best paws forward. There’s no business like show dog business and, once inside the ring, anything can happen. The coveted ribbons are up for grabs, and winning dogs earn points that could send them to even larger shows, including Westminster – where Howard West, an amateur owner-handler from Amity, has been.

“You’ll see some of the best dogs in the country and some of the best dogs in the world at every dog show. I pay money to lose to some of the best people in the sport,” West joked with the Observer-Reporter at the 2024 event. “But occasionally I win, and that’s what’s fun about it.”

West’s American Eskimo Jake is one of the top conformation dogs and has won Best in Show at Black Diamond and other shows. Like most competitors, West and Jake travel regionally and, sometimes, nationally, to compete. The Black Diamond Cluster show attracts folks from across the world.

“As the years have gone by, there’s more competition (for entries),” said Ray Harrington, Cluster chairman and vice president of the SHKC, listing recently established regional dog shows. “We’ve held our own. The last few years, a lot of entries for shows have declined, especially after COVID. Ours has continued to grow.”

Part of the draw is the number of breeds represented at the Black Diamond Cluster show. The American Kennel Club recognizes 400 show breeds.

“We’ll probably have 325 of those at the shows,” Harrington said.

Two years ago, Black Diamond Cluster hosted the inaugural Nederlandse Kooikerhondjes breed national dog show (the breed is centuries old, but recognized as a show breed by the AKC in 2018). It’s moments like this that keep people – competitors and spectators alike – coming back to Morgantown every April.

The general public is invited to enjoy the contests and food (there are food booths at the show, and some restaurants nearby), and learn more about the dog show world this week. Admission to the Black Diamond Cluster Dog Show is free.

For more information, visit https://www.visitmountaineercountry.com/black-diamond-cluster-dog-show-2026/.