Conformation (Dog Shows)
So, you're a consummate stage mother? Maybe you bought Fido because he came from champion bloodlines, and you wanted to try your hand at showing? Maybe you've been to a dog show and it looked like fun — or maybe it's just something you want to try once. You're not alone. The AKC alone sanctioned more than 600 all-breed dog shows in 2006, in which nearly 1.5 million people competed with their dogs. Be forewarned: Dog showing is very competitive. Dog-show people are very dedicated to their sport, and don't take dabblers very seriously; however, if you are eager to try and willing to listen and learn, you will be welcomed.
Breed clubs are authorized by the AKC to set and define a breed's standard of perfection, otherwise known as the “breed standard.” Clubs may choose to modify the standard to clarify ideals or to recognize new markings or colors. Sometimes they even change the name, such as when the Japanese Spaniel Club of America changed the breed's name to the Japanese Chin in 1977.
How a Dog Show Works
Dog shows are not run by the AKC; rather, they are sponsored by a licensed organization — typically a dog or breed club — that must conform to the AKC's rules and regulations regarding the conduct of dog shows, equivalent to “Robert's Rules of Order” for business meetings. There is a certain way that the dogs must be entered in the classes and presented to the judges, just as the judges are honor-bound to evaluate the dogs based on the breed's standard.
In this typical scene inside the ring at a dog show, a judge examines a Scottish Deerhound while the handler keeps the dog focused, awaiting the judge's next request.
It seems complicated, but in essence it's fairly simple. There are seven groups of breeds — Hound, Herding, Sporting, Working, Terrier, Toy, and Non-Sporting — each composed of a certain number of individual breeds. By the end of the dog show, there will be one dog representing each of the seven groups. These seven dogs compete for Best in Show.
To get to these coveted spots, the dogs go through classes within their own breed until one of them is awarded Best of Breed. Every Best of Breed (BOB) winner from a particular Group competes with the other BOB winners for the awards of Group I, II, III, and IV. Group I winners are those who go on to compete for Best in Show.
But wait — there's more! The classes that dogs in an individual breed compete in on their way to Best of Breed include:
Puppies (6 to 9 months and 9 to 12 months)
Novice
Bred by Exhibitor
American-Bred
Open (Champions only)
Each class is also broken down by sex, with the female dogs (bitches) competing against each other and the dogs doing the same. The first-place bitches in the regular classes compete for “Winners Bitch,” and the first-place dogs for “Winners Dog.” These two compete in the Open class against dogs and bitches who have already earned their championship for the possible Best of Breed honor. If BOB is a dog, a bitch is also chosen as Best of Opposite Sex (BOS). If BOB is a bitch, a dog is chosen as BOS.
The dogs are judged on general appearance according to their standard, which includes things such as head, neck, forequarters, hindquarters, coat, color, gait, and temperament.
Getting Started in Showing
If you want to enjoy and be successful at showing, you need to start from the very beginning. Go to a show as a spectator only. Choose a local show where the competition might not be as intense as, say, Westminster. Talk to people. Watch the handlers. Get a program and see what it says about the dogs and the event. See if anyone showing the dog(s) you're interested in lives near you. Perhaps that person could be your mentor. Also, see if conformation handling classes are offered by a local kennel club.
There's more to showing a dog than you think! The people you see in big shows like the Westminster Kennel Club have been showing for years, so they make it look easy. Having your dog do what the judge asks at just the right time, and turning him out so he looks his best, are essential parts of showing that take time and training to master.
Before you step into a ring with your dog, you will need to learn how to properly present her. This means learning to show off the defining features of the breed. Your dog will need to be groomed to perfection. Dogs who are spayed or neutered cannot be shown. You will need to know about gaiting patterns and what the judges of your breed expect. It's a lot, but it's part of becoming a professional in this sport. Preparation on the front end will prevent unnecessary heartbreak, disappointment, and wasted money on the back end.
Professional Handlers
There are people in the dog-show sport called handlers. They make a living showing other people's dogs in competitions. Many breeders use handlers because they cannot travel all around the country, showing their many dogs. Some breeders will have more than one dog on the road. In situations like these, some breeders don't see their dogs for months and months at a time. They will sometimes fly into a city just to visit their dog and handler and watch the show, and then leave the dog with the handler and fly back home. This is the life of a champion dog for people who are serious about dog shows.
In the end, people show dogs because they love them. Don't forget about your dog(s) in the often fast-paced and seemingly political arena of the dog show.
