Dog Shows
So, you're a consummate stage mother? Maybe you bought your pup because he came from championship lines and you wanted to try your hand at showing. Maybe you've been to a dog show and it looks like fun. Or maybe it's just something you want to try once. Believe me, you're not alone. Dog shows are held all across the country on just about every weekend of the year, and hundreds of thousands of people and their dogs compete in them — at all levels, from beginners to lifers.
A word of caution: Dog showing is very competitive. You are not the first who went out and bought a puppy and thought, “Gee, wouldn't it be fun to show Rover?” Dog show people can seem haughty; many are very dedicated to their “sport,” and don't take dabblers very seriously. Some will ask you if you bred the dog yourself, or from whom you bought it. Many people who “compete” are breeders whose livelihood — or at least some part of it — comes from dogs. You're just one more obstacle for them to overcome.
There are many different people involved with showing: The Breeder — The person or people who bred the dog (which involves selecting just the right parents). The Owner — Not necessarily the breeder, this is the person to whom the dog belongs at the time of the show. The Handler — Person in the ring with the dog. Many handlers are professional handlers whose job it is to show a dog, though many owner-handlers compete, too.
That said, there are also many lovely people in the sport, and the camaraderie and competition are lots of fun. It's also fun because you'll be meeting people who have dogs just like yours, and you'll trade all kinds of information. Let's take a look at how shows work, and how the show world works.
Dog shows are not run by the AKC; rather, they are sponsored by a specific organization (usually a breed club) that runs the show based on the AKC's rules and regulations. At a dog show, there are different kinds of classes: Puppy; Novice; Bred by Exhibitor; American Bred; and Open. Puppies and dogs entered in those classes are judged on how they conform to the written standard for their breed. Standards are “blueprints” for their breeds, detailing physical makeup and temperament.
A dog's appearance includes all parts of its body — head, neck, forequarters, hindquarters, coat, color, and gait. Dogs are also judged on their temperament according to the standard. For example, a Golden Retriever is supposed to be “eager to please” according to its standard. A beautiful Golden Retriever who moped around and slinked away from the judge could not be considered a true representative of the breed because that behavior doesn't match the standard — any more than prick ears would on a Golden.
You may think your dog matches up beautifully against the standard for the breed, and you may even get a few others to agree with you. But when you step into a ring with a dog, you have to be ready to really show off the dog to the judge so that he or she really pays attention. This means your dog needs to be in the best physical shape possible for his breed, that he must be groomed to perfection, and that he moves masterfully in the ring so that he is in the best position for the judge's examination both standing and in motion. To accomplish this takes training and dedication.
The dogs are not judged one against another to determine which is the prettiest or soundest or the nicest. The dogs are judged individually by a person well-versed in the breed, who decides if the dog is the best possible representation of what the ideal dog of the breed should look like.
Dogs that compete at the highest level — at the annual Westminster Kennel Club show, for example — are seasoned professionals that have often crossed the country to be at the show. They are all champion-titled dogs who have sometimes competed at hundreds of shows. It can be a fun, companionable world, but it can also be tough. If it sounds challenging to you, take a closer look. Visit a nearby dog show and start talking to people to learn more. If your pup has potential, you will want to start working with him right away.
You can start competing in Match Shows with your puppy to see if showing your dog is something you might be interested in.
