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About The Hosts
Oakland County
Kennel Club
Since its inception in 1931, Oakland County Kennel Club has been a leader in the purebred dog community. As a nonprofit organization, we work to advance the sport of purebred dogs through annual dog shows, which feature top show dogs from across North America. Our members—AKC judges, breeders, and exhibitors—share a commitment to responsible breeding, education, and public engagement.
In partnership with the American Kennel Club, we introduce educational programs aimed at increasing public awareness and understanding of all aspects of the sport. Our club also proudly contributes to the community by providing service dogs to children in need and offering college scholarships to students involved in the sport. Through these initiatives, we strive to make a lasting impact, upholding the rich traditions of the AKC while embracing future opportunities for growth and outreach.
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Oakland County Kennel Club
Membership 2024
Fred Dieball
Alan Dorfman
Johann Emedi
David Gibbons
Guy Fisher
Gary Hester
Barry Wyerman
Peter Nguyen
Detroit Kennel Club
The first Detroit Kennel Club benched dog show was held in April 1916, at the Detroit Armory. There were four judges, and catalogs cost twenty-five cents.
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The 1917 catalog lists over 250 Detroit Kennel Club members, many from the moneyed families of Detroit. In its first few years of existence, the location of the show alternated between the Armory and the Michigan State Fairgrounds, and the time of year of the event varied as well.
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By the 1920s, the show had moved to the Detroit Convention Hall located at Cass, Woodward, and Canfield Avenues.
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The annual benched show soon afterward became a March tradition, and the catalog price rose to fifty cents. There was an abundance of trophies offered for nearly every class and placement, and famous names appear in many of the old catalogs. The 1931 catalog lists Geraldine Dodge of Madison, New Jersey, as the Shepherd Dog judge. Exhibitors at that show included Erik Bergishagen, father of current DKC President Erik Bergishagen, showing two of the early Jagersbo Pointers and English Setters.
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In 1949, the show moved back to the Fairgrounds, where it remained until its relocation to Cobo Hall in 1964.
At present, we have relocated our show to Novi, MI at the Suburban Collection Showplace with the newly formed Motor City Winter Dog Classic.
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DETROIT KENNEL CLUB
MEMBERS 2024
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President
Kellie FitzGerald
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1st Vice President
Chris Berg
2nd Vice President
Phil Booth
Secretary/Treasurer
Rita Van Brandeghen
Directors
Jane Bergishagen
Rick Orlowski
Karen Bolt
Mary Grill
Erika Bergishagen
Keith Olsen
Erin Olsen
Bobbie Green
Heidi Hartmann-Booth
Lorrie Carlton
Larry Letsche DVM
Nancy Brown
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Gary Brown