HIGHLAND COUNTY FAIR DOG SHOW

Notes

• This is a “pet-friendly” dog show.
• The Dog Show will be held at the Grandstands unless inclement weather forces it to be held at the Livestock Show Barn. Dog owners/exhibitors must enter from the Grandstand ticket booth entry gate (Rt. 220 entrance) and purchase or produce their daily or season ticket for entry.
• Dog Show exhibitors are not allowed to park on the fairgrounds. Designated parking areas must be utilized.
• Residency shall be considered the residence where the dog resides, not the exhibitor.
• It is encouraged to ask the owner of the dog permission before approaching or petting their dog(s).
• Dogs are entered at the sole risk of the exhibitor or owner of the animal.

Rules

• Registration on the day of the show begins at 8:00 AM.
• Entries will be accepted up until each class starts.
• Entry fee for Classes 1–10 shall be $1.00 each. There are no entry fees for Classes 11–16, but the owner/exhibitor must register for these classes.
• Entries eligible for Toy and Miniature Breeds (Class 3) should weigh approximately 15 pounds or less.
• Entries eligible for Large Breeds (Class 4) should weigh approximately 70 pounds or more.
• Entries eligible for Puppy Class (Class 6) are dogs 9 weeks to 6 months old.
• Entries eligible for Costume – Fair Theme (Class 8) should be costumes that best match the current year’s fair theme. Check a fair guide or visit highlandcountyfairva.com to find out this year’s current theme.
• Entries eligible for Best “Old” Dog (Class 11) are dogs 8 years old and older.
• “Best Adopted Dog” will be “Hometown Hound” (Class 12) and must be an adopted dog that found its FURever home in Highland. This is for Highland resident dogs only, but the dog did not have to be adopted from the Highland County Humane Society — as long as the dog resides in Highland now.
• Entries eligible for Best Child’s Pet (Class 13) are first place ribbon winners from Child’s Pet Classes 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d.
• The committee reserves the right to combine two or more classes under a miscellaneous class when there is only one entry in a class.
• The committee reserves the right to divide large classes as necessary.
• All dogs must be current on their distemper, parvo, and rabies vaccinations. The committee reserves the right to request proof of vaccinations.
• For the dog’s safety, no puppies under 8 weeks old shall be allowed in the show.
• All dogs must be on a leash at all times or risk disqualification.
• No dogs are allowed on the fairgrounds except during the Dog Show. Dogs are not allowed in any building or on the midway (any area other than the Grandstands).
• The owner/exhibitor is responsible for feces clean-up. They are encouraged to bring their own dog waste bags.
• Ribbons will be awarded for the first four places: Blue – 1st; Red – 2nd; White – 3rd; Yellow – 4th. Prize money will be awarded for all places.

Prizes

1st – $5; 2nd – $4; 3rd – $3; 4th – $2

Classes

1. Working Breeds
   1. Collies & Australian Shepherds
   2. Heelers
   3. Miscellaneous (Bernese Mountain Dog, Boxer, Pinschers, Great Dane, Pyrenees, Mastiffs, Rottweiler, Saint Bernard, Husky, Corgis, etc.)
2. Sporting Breeds & Hounds
   1. Beagles
   2. Cocker Spaniels
   3. Coon Hounds
   4. Pointers & Setters
   5. Bear Hounds
   6. Retrievers
   7. Terriers
   8. Miscellaneous (Weimaraner, Basset Hound, Dachshund, etc.)
3. Toy and Miniature Breeds
   1. Non-resident Dog
   2. Highland Resident Dog
4. Large Breeds
   1. Non-resident Dog
   2. Highland Resident Dog
5. Pet Breeds
   1. Child’s Pet Exhibitor, 10 years old and under — Non-resident exhibitor & dog
   2. Child’s Pet Exhibitor, 10 years old and under — Highland resident exhibitor & dog
   3. Child’s Pet Exhibitor, 11 to 17 years old — Non-resident exhibitor & dog
   4. Child’s Pet Exhibitor, 11 to 17 years old — Highland resident exhibitor & dog
   5. Adult’s Pet, 18 years old and older — Non-resident exhibitor & dog
   6. Adult’s Pet, 18 years old and older — Highland resident exhibitor & dog
6. Puppies
   1. Puppies — Non-resident Dog
   2. Puppies — Highland Resident Dog
7. Best Matched
   1. Best Matched Dog Pair (2 dogs that look alike) — both dogs will receive ribbons
   2. Best Matched Dog and Owner/Exhibitor (dog & owner/exhibitor that look alike, not in costume) — both will receive ribbons
8. Costume — theme of your choice
   1. Child — up to 17 years old
   2. Adult — 18 years old and older
9. NEW — Agility Course (each dog and owner may only run the course once)
10. As part of the celebration of “75 Years of the Highland County Fair” — Past Champion of Show Winners (only 1st place ribbon winner selected)
11. Best “Old” Dog (Trophy)
12. Hometown Hound — An adopted dog that found its FURever home in Highland; Highland Resident Dogs Only (Trophy)
13. Best Child’s Pet (1st place / blue ribbon winners from Classes 5a, 5b, 5c, & 5d) (Trophy)
14. Chairman’s Choice (2nd place / red ribbon winners from Classes 1–6) (Trophy)
15. Non-resident Dog Champion of Show and Reserve Champion (Trophies)
    (1st place / blue ribbon winners from Classes 1, 2, 3a, 4a, 5e, 6a, & winner of Class 11 if non-resident dog)
16. Highland Resident Champion of Show and Reserve Champion (Trophies)
    (1st place / blue ribbon winners from Classes 1, 2, 3b, 4b, 5f, 6b, & winner of Class 11 if Highland resident dog)

Updated: 4/1/26