National Doberman Pinscher convention is in Springfield all week and public is invited

Greta Cross, Springfield News-Leader
·3 min read

Despite hundreds of dogs filling the Springfield Expo Center this week, the venue is largely quiet. These canines, many decked out in rhinestone collars, require the utmost concentration.

More than 400 Dobermans and their respective handlers are in Springfield this week for the 96th annual Doberman Pinscher Club of America National Show and Convention. If you've driven near the Expo Center over the last few days, you may have seen some of this year's contestants prancing outside.

Free and open to the public, the national show and convention features trials, or competitions, in obedience, rally, agility, scent work and conformation (dogs are judged on their appearance). This is the first year the scent work trial has been a part of the decades-long national convention.

Mary Dellorto, from Chicago, competes with her dog Jovie, 6, during the 96th annual Doberman Pinscher Club of America National Show and Convention at the Expo Center on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023.
Mary Dellorto, from Chicago, competes with her dog Jovie, 6, during the 96th annual Doberman Pinscher Club of America National Show and Convention at the Expo Center on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023.

Convention chair Jen Stephenson said dogs and their handlers have traveled internationally for the convention, with contestants from countries like Australia, Argentina, Brazil, New Zealand and England.

All the way from Hershey, Pennsylvania, Deb Sorsoky and her 7-year old Doberman Dexter competed in the National Obedience and Rally Trial on Tuesday morning. Dexter was asked to complete tasks such as heeling and retrieving a wooden block with Sorsoky's scent from a collection of different blocks. Unfortunately, Dexter failed the competition, Sorsoky said.

Fourteen-week-old Doberman Pinscher Jadya sit on Marcy Nichols, from Kentucky, lap during the 96th annual Doberman Pinscher Club of America National Show and Convention at the Expo Center on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023.
Fourteen-week-old Doberman Pinscher Jadya sit on Marcy Nichols, from Kentucky, lap during the 96th annual Doberman Pinscher Club of America National Show and Convention at the Expo Center on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023.

Sorsoky has been training Dobermans and Rhodesian Ridgebacks for about 25 years. She began training Dexter at 8 weeks old and he began competing at about a year and a half. In addition to competing, Dexter is also a certified therapy dog.

A member of the convention's scent work committee, Sorsoky helped implement the scent work trial at this year's event. In scent work trials, dogs try to find a hidden essential oil, mimicking search and rescue. The scent work trial will start on Wednesday morning.

Breaking an age-old stigma

Sorsoky has owned Dobermans for longer than she's trained them — about 35 years. She said the dogs often get a bad rap because of how they've been represented in the media.

Peyton Paterson and her mom Susan Paterson from Chicago sit with their dogs Piper, 7, (left) and Reign, 3, in the lobby during the 96th annual Doberman Pinscher Club of America National Show and Convention at the Expo Center on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023.
Peyton Paterson and her mom Susan Paterson from Chicago sit with their dogs Piper, 7, (left) and Reign, 3, in the lobby during the 96th annual Doberman Pinscher Club of America National Show and Convention at the Expo Center on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023.

"They've been used in the media to portray attack dogs, and so a lot of people are fearful of them," Sorsoky said. "I do feel, since I've had them for over 35 years, that the breeders have been breeding for a better tempered dog, as opposed to a protection dog. I think they're actually breeding as family dogs. I had my dogs before I had my children, so I raised them with infants and they were wonderful. They're a little protective, but they are great family dogs."

Schedule of competitions for remainder of week

All events are free and open to the public.

Wednesday

  • National Futurity (showcase of young, up-and-coming dogs) at Springfield Expo Center, starting at 8 a.m.

  • National Maturity (showcase of dogs in last year's futurity show) at Springfield Expo Center, starting at 1:45 p.m.

  • Scent Work Trials at University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center, starting at 8 a.m.

  • Top 20 Obedience at Springfield Expo Center, starting at 7 p.m.

Six-year-old doberman pinscher Jovie competes in an obedience trial during the 96th annual Doberman Pinscher Club of America National Show and Convention at the Expo Center on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023.
Six-year-old doberman pinscher Jovie competes in an obedience trial during the 96th annual Doberman Pinscher Club of America National Show and Convention at the Expo Center on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023.

Thursday

  • National Conformation (all dogs) at Springfield Expo Center, starting at 8 a.m.

Friday

  • National Conformation (female dogs) at Springfield Expo Center, starting at 8 a.m.

Saturday

  • National Conformation (juniors) at Springfield Expo Center, starting at 8 a.m.

  • National Conformation (all dogs) at Springfield Expo Center, starting at 8:30 a.m.

  • Juniors Top 10 and Pee Wee Special Attraction at Springfield Expo Center, starting around noon.

A nonprofit, the Doberman Pinscher Club of America is a member of the American Kennel Club, a national registry established in 1884 for purebred dogs pedigrees. The Doberman Pinscher Club of America is comprised of about 1,500 members, according to the organization's website.

Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Good boy! National Doberman convention held in Springfield this week