After writing my post, "Sad to See," I decided to look closer into how many AKC conformation all-breed events are held annually. If you read my earlier article you would be familiar with the argument by many, many fanciers that there are too many dog shows today, and as a result, the number of entries are spread very thin but also membership and volunteerism as well.
First, do you believe that there are fewer entries at conformation dog shows? Take a look at the data concerning AKC conformation events and for those who disbelieve, this will change your mind. The AKC Annual Reports state the following:
2015, there were 1,599 all-breed shows with 1,326,737 entries
2014, there were 1,610 all-breed dog shows with 1,356,066 entries.
2013, there were 1,614 all-breed shows with 1,386,727 entries.
2012, there were 1,604 all-breed shows dog shows 1,435,266 entries.
2011, there were 1,589 all-breed dog shows with 1,455,971 entries.
2010, there were 1,586 all-breed dog shows with 1,473,751 entries.
2009, there were 1,548 all-breed dog shows with 1,516,098 entries.
2008, there were 1,534 all-breed dog shows with 1,641,004 entries.
2007, there were 1,548 all-breed dog shows with 1,698,840 entries.
2006, there were 1,519 all-breed dog shows with 1,710,265 entries.
Get the picture? This reveals a significant decrease of nearly 384,000 entries between 2006 through 2015. However, more spectacularly, it has been accompanied by an increase in the number of all-breed dog shows. What do you think happens when there is a loss of 384,000 entries but an increase of 80 plus conformation all-breed dog shows? Here is what happens: 2015's 1,326,737 entries are spread very thin. Ahh, some might feel that AKC should have been more responsive to the situation. Let us take a look at that as well for every dog show entry is accompanied by the following verbiage: "Including $3.00 AKC event service fee per entry & $.50 AKC recording fee first entry only."
Translation: revenue. Here are the AKC Recording and Event Fee Revenue breakdowns:
2015 — $11,313,000
2014 — $11,366,000
2013 — $11,317,000
2012 — $11,249,000
2011 — $10,912,000
2010 — $9,955,000
This is certainly not chump change but a healthy profit, and as you can see, the revenue has grown meanwhile there has been a marked decrease in conformation dog show entries. I suppose someone will logically ask the following question: "If there are fewer entries, AKC revenue should also be down." Perhaps, and this is speculation, that the two do not necessarily go hand in hand.
First, recording and entry fees most likely have risen over these many years. Moreover, the increase in the number of shows affords easier access to closer or even doorstep all-breed shows. The decreased entries are spread throughout the plethora of all-breed shows, and now, it is not uncommon to see shows with a number of breeds having only one or two breed entries. Few to no points are offered, but your entry money is nonrefundable after the Closing Date. AKC receives their cut, no matter. Fanciers do get discouraged and feel that it is not worth it any longer. They usually do not attend a show when there are either one of two entries or the only entry! Instead, years past, many of us old timers would have to wait with great anticipation to exhibit at a singleton show or a well-known circuit. We would have large entries, sometimes enough for 5-point Majors or when I could exhibit a wolfhound to their championship winning four Majors. Those were the days my friends.....
I speculate that AKC's answer to this dilemma is to lower the number of dogs required in their Points Schedule for two points to 5-point Majors. Just don't touch their revenue stream.
By the way, I did look to see the comparison for the circuit I spoke of in the "Sad to See" blog post. According to the earliest data on infodog.com, the Southern Adirondack Kennel Club dog show has been in the same location throughout these many years. On Saturday, August 1999 there were 1025 Total Dogs Present and Competing out of 1374 entries. On Saturday, August 2016 there were 664 Total Dogs Present and Competing out of 859 entries. That is a difference of 515 entries and tells us something right there.