Fort Myers dog show returns with more than 100 breeds at Lee Civic Center

Charles Runnells, Fort Myers News-Press
·3 min read

Basset hounds. Bull dogs. Italian greyhounds. Golden retrievers. Doberman Pinschers.

Those are just some of the many dog breeds you’ll find at this weekend’s AKC Dog Show Extravaganza in North Fort Myers.

This will be the dog show’s third year back at Lee Civic Center after a long absence, but organizers say they’re still trying to get out the word. The show hasn’t been advertised or promoted much since its return — it’s not even on the civic center’s website — so many dog lovers still don’t know it’s made a comeback.

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Pyrenean shepherd Bruce, also known as GCHS La Brise Man O' War, won best in show at the 2022 AKC Dog Show Extravaganza in North Fort Myers.
Pyrenean shepherd Bruce, also known as GCHS La Brise Man O' War, won best in show at the 2022 AKC Dog Show Extravaganza in North Fort Myers.

“We’d like to be able to get people in Fort Myers involved,” says Patti More, treasurer for the show’s organizers, the Greater Fort Myers Dog Club.

Dog shows are already popular on TV, More says. Now people can see many of those same dog breeds in person, and they can watch as those dogs compete for ribbons, trophies and bragging rights.

Many of the country’s top breeders will be there, More says. “There’s over 100 different breeds.”

What happened to the Fort Myers dog show?

Dan Giles of Lady Lake competes with Dalton, a miniature Poodle, during the 2013 Greater Fort Myers Dog Club dog show at the Lee Civic Center.
Dan Giles of Lady Lake competes with Dalton, a miniature Poodle, during the 2013 Greater Fort Myers Dog Club dog show at the Lee Civic Center.

The dog show was held for years at Lee Civic Center, but then organizers stopped doing it in about 2014. Current members say they don’t know why it stopped.

The Greater Fort Myers Dog Club has all new members now, says treasurer and dog-show assistant-chairwoman Christine Thomas-Lamont. “There’s nobody in the club now that was in the club then.”

Whatever the reason for the show ending, members of the dog-breeding club thought it was a good time to bring it back in 2021. They previously co-organized a joint show in Lakeland with the Lakeland Winter Haven Kennel Club — mostly to save money and share the work load — but they wanted to have something closer to home.

Arvind De Braganca of Gainesville competes with Nandi, a German short haired pointer, during the 2013 Greater Fort Myers Dog Club dog show Lee Civic Center.
Arvind De Braganca of Gainesville competes with Nandi, a German short haired pointer, during the 2013 Greater Fort Myers Dog Club dog show Lee Civic Center.

“We realized it wasn’t doing anything for our community,” Thomas-Lamont says about the Lakeland show. “It wasn’t helping anyone be aware of things they can do with their dogs, or rescues, or anything that was going on in our own community. Because our whole purpose is to help the community and give back to the community.”

In fact, 20 percent of proceeds from the Southwest Florida show go to Gulf Coast Humane Society, Cape Coral Animal Shelter and Lee County Domestic Animal Services, she says.

More about the Fort Myers dog show

At least 516 dogs will be competing this weekend, plus another 30 puppies in a puppy show, More says. Other activities include dock diving and Fast CAT (Coursing Ability Test) racing, a timed 100-yard dash where dogs run one at a time and chase a fluffy white lure.

A lot of people don’t know anything about dock diving or Fast CAT, Thomas-Lamont says. She hopes the dog show alerts people to the possibilities. “People can get out and do fun stuff with their dogs,” she says.

Flat-coated retriever Leonardo, also known as Argon’s The Adoration of The Magi, competed at the 2022 AKC Dog Show Extravaganza in North Fort Myers. He won the winner’s dog and best of opposite sex categories. He's owned by Patti More of North Fort Myers
Flat-coated retriever Leonardo, also known as Argon’s The Adoration of The Magi, competed at the 2022 AKC Dog Show Extravaganza in North Fort Myers. He won the winner’s dog and best of opposite sex categories. He's owned by Patti More of North Fort Myers

The AKC Dog Show Extravaganza takes place 9 a.m. to about 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, March 17-19, at Lee Civic Center, 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers.

Admission is $10 per vehicle or $20 for a three-day pass. Visitors can't bring their own dogs into the building unless the dogs are entered to compete in the show, but dogs are allowed outside and can compete in Fast CAT and dock diving.

For more information, visit greaterfortmyersdogclub.org/2023-dog-show.

Connect with this reporter: Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. Email him at crunnells@gannett.com or connect on Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), Twitter (@charlesrunnells) and Instagram (@crunnells1). You can also call at 239-335-0368.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers dog show returns to Lee Civic Center with 100-plus breeds