The event runs Wednesday through Sunday at the Agri-Plex on N. 17th St. in Allentown, bringing multiple days of competition and public exhibitions to the downtown event space.

Organizers said the weeklong slate includes the Allentown Dog Show as part of the multi-day event running December 10-14, 2025. On opening day, exhibitors and handlers were already preparing animals for the ring and for public viewing, setting up grooming tables, arranging crates and moving dogs between warm‑up areas and the show rings.

Among those working on presentation was handler Gina Ryan of Allenhurst, N.J., who spent part of Wednesday grooming Krewe, a red standard poodle who is 2 years old. Scenes inside the Agri‑Plex ranged from handlers brushing coats to dogs being walked on short leads between grooming stations and rings, underscoring the level of preparation participants perform before entering the judging areas.

Dog shows sanctioned by the American Kennel Club (AKC) are organized into seven primary groups—Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non‑Sporting and Herding—and include classes such as Novice, Amateur‑Owner‑Handler, Bred‑by‑Exhibitor, American‑Bred, Open, Veterans and Puppy. Winners in those classes can advance through the afternoon and evening programs toward group and ultimately best‑in‑show honors. Background guides used by officials outline the standards judges apply across those divisions. Criteria Used for Judging Show Dogs answers the question: What are the different categories and judging criteria used in dog shows?

Judging emphasizes several technical elements: coat condition and correct trimming or grooming for the breed, gait and movement around the ring, and stance and overall conformation relative to breed standards. Handlers and breeders at the Agri‑Plex mirrored the routines promoted by the AKC and other organizations, spending hours on conditioning and ring practice so dogs present correctly to the judge’s eye. Can Handlers Impact the Success of Therapy Dog Sessions? answers the question: What are the typical benefits of participating in dog shows for both handlers and dogs?

Beyond the competitive aspects, the show serves as a social and educational hub. For handlers, participation offers opportunities for close bonding through training and socialization efforts with their dogs, along with rewards from community engagement and observing a dog’s positive interactions. For the dogs themselves, regular exposure to the noises, people and other animals at events like this typically enhances socialization and training, helping them perform reliably in the ring and act calmly around spectators.

The popularity of events such as the Star of Bethlehem is reflected in broader pet ownership trends. That high ownership rate supports steady public interest and can translate into larger spectator numbers, more local entries and a vibrant cross‑state turnout of handlers and breeders.

Volunteers and officials at the Agri‑Plex managed schedules and class flows throughout opening day while exhibitors continued readying dogs for the classes ahead. Handlers from neighboring states used the event as a place to compare breeding lines and training techniques, trade information and evaluate competition—activities that often extend beyond the timed minutes in the ring.

The show will continue through the weekend with a schedule of classes and presentations each day and will close after the final classes on Sunday.

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