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When people think of "showing," they
are usually thinking of conformation showing. However, "showing"
actually comprises showing your dog under any of three categories:
conformation (meeting physical standards), field (meeting working
standards), or obedience (meeting obedience standards). All
AKC-recognized breeds are eligible to show under conformation and
obedience. Field trials are reserved for those breeds bred for such
work, except for the tracking trials which are open to all, and are
tailored to the type of work bred for: e.g., hunting, retrieving,
pointing, herding, and coursing.
Dogs can compete for
almost 40 titles, which are then officially recorded in the
dog's permanent AKC record (See Appendix II for list). There
are approximately 2,000,000 entries in the many title
competitive events held by AKC licensed, member and
sanctioned clubs across the United States.
To start showing requires an
investment of time, money, and contacts. But it is a richly rewarding
area, and there are hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world
who enjoy competing with their dogs under Kennel Club auspices.
For showing in the AKC, the only
pre-requirement is that the dog be registered with the AKC (either
litter registration, individual registration, or ILP), and be at least 6
months old the day of the trial. Shots should be current for your own
dog's health. If the showing is in conformation, the dog must also be
sexually intact.
Conformation
Most competitive events held under
AKC rules are confirmation dog shows, where the accent is on
conformation. After being examined by a judge, dogs are placed
according to how well (in the judge's opinion) they measure up to their
breed standard.
To be eligible to enter, an
AKC-registered dog must be at least six months old on the day of the
show and be of a breed for which classes are offered in the
premium list (the list of breeds being shown). Dogs that are spayed or
neutered are only eligible to be shown in stud dog and brood bitch
classes. Dogs with disqualifying faults as described in their breed
standard are ineligible.
Where to start?
http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/activities/conformation.html
Before you do anything else, you should head out to your library and
read up as much as you can on your breed and attend several shows as a
spectator before attempting to make contacts. You will present a much
more favorable impression if it is clear that you've done some reading
and are serious when you come up to ask questions. Be aware that if
you're serious about getting into show and possibly breeding, you will
be investing literally years of your time. People in the dog fancy
routinely see many who come up, are briefly interested, and then fade
away again. So the more prepared you are, the more likely they will feel
that you will possibly remain interested.
You will need to meet and get to
know other people in the show arena. This generally involves attending
dog shows and talking to the owners (at appropriate times, of course).
Joining up with your breed's club also gives you more contacts to learn
from. Expect an "apprentice" period as the experienced folks scope you
out and decide just how serious you are. This takes patience, but is
well rewarded later when you have resources for the questions that will
inevitably come up.
You might get the opportunity to
help out someone who is showing their dogs. This gives you a closeup
view of what is involved with your breed and showing.
Some good books about showing
include:
1.Alston and Vanacore. The Winning Edge. Howell Books.
2.Forsyth, Robert and Jane. Guide to Successful Dog Showing. Howell
Books.
3.Hall, Lynn. Dog Showing for Beginners. 1994, Howell Books.
4.Nicholas, Anna Katherine. The Nicholas Guide to Dog Judging. Howell
Books.
5.Seranne, Ann. The Joy of Breeding Your Own Show Dog. Howell Books
6.Tietjen, Sari B. The Dog Judge's Handbook. Howell Books.
7.Vanacore, Connie. Dog Showing: an owner's guide. Howell Books.
8.Coile, Caroline D. Show Me! Barron's Books.
These days there are
also many great online resources. For example,
Yahoo
Groups has many groups dedicated to showing your dog.
To find other great resources simply use any search engine
and you will be overwhelmed by the possibilities.
The Role of the Judge
Judges examine the dogs and place
them in accordance to how close each dog compares with the judge's
mental image of the "perfect" dog as described in the breed's official
standard. These standards include qualifications for structure,
temperament and movement. In short, they describe the characteristics
that allow the breed to perform the function for which it was bred.
These official written standards are
maintained by each breed's national club and published in AKC's The
Complete Dog Book. (See AKC Mastiff Breed Standard Section)
The judges are experts in the breeds
they are judging. They examine or "go over" each dog with their hands to
see if the teeth, muscles, bones and coat texture match the standard.
They examine each dog in profile for general balance, and watch each dog
gait, or move, to see how all of those features fit together in action.
Remember this is a subjective analysis. What one judge thinks is
correct may not be what another judge prefers. This is not an
exact sport so don’t become disheartened.
There are three types of
conformation dog shows
Specialty shows are limited to dogs of a
specific breed or grouping of breeds; for example, the Mastiff Club of
America Specialty is for mastiffs only.
Group
shows are limited to dogs from one of the
seven groups; for example, The Garden State All Terrier Club.
All-breed shows, on the other hand, are open
to over 147 breeds recognized by the AKC.
Championship Points
Most show dogs are competing for
points toward their championship. To become an official AKC champion of
record, a dog must earn a total of 15 points, which would include 2
major wins under 2 different judges. This is indicated by "Ch." before
the dog's name These points are awarded based on the number of dogs in
actual competition--the more dogs, the more points. However, the number
of dogs required for points varies with the breed, sex and geographical
location of the show. The AKC makes up a schedule of points each year to
help equalize competition from breed to breed and area to area.
To find the latest schedule of points for any breed or region visit
http://www.akc.org/events/conformation/point_schedule.cfm
Dogs can earn from one to five
points at a show. A win of three, four or five points is called a major.
The 15 points required for a championship must be won under at least
three different judges, and must include two majors won under different
judges.
At one show, a dog can earn from one
to five points toward a championship title, depending on the number of
males or females actually in competition for the breed. (Male dogs are
often referred to as dogs, while female dogs are referred to as
bitches.)
Once the dog is a champion, it can
compete for Best of Breed without having to win in the other classes.
How Championship points are
calculated is discuss in more detail later in section.
The Road to Best in Show
Dog shows are basically a process of
elimination, with one dog ultimately being named Best In Show at the end
of the day. Along the way, some dogs accumulate points toward the title
"AKC Champion."
Types of Classes
There are six different regular
classes in which dogs may be entered. There is no intersex competition
in these classes; dogs compete against other dogs, and bitches against
other bitches. Only one male (dog) and one female (bitch) of each breed
can win points at a show. The regular classes typically are:
Puppy
- Six-to-nine or nine-to-twelve months, they are not yet champions.
Twelve-To-Eighteen Months - Twelve-to-eighteen
months, they are not yet champions.
Novice
- Never won a blue ribbon in any of the other classes, or has won less
than three ribbons in the novice class.
Bred By
Exhibitor - The dog must be owned or co-owned
by any one of the breeders of record or a spouse and must be shown by
one of the breeders of record or a member of their immediate families.
American-Bred - Dog's parents mated in America
and the dog was born in America.
Open
- Any dog of that breed. (Except those already earring their
championship.
Judging in every breed proceeds
along the same lines. The judge begins with the Puppy Dog class. After
the judge has completed that class he will proceed through the remaining
classes as follows: 12-to-18-Month Dogs, Novice Dogs, Bred-by-Exhibitor
Dogs, American-Bred Dogs and Open Dogs. Remember there may not be
a dog entered in each class in which case that class would be skipped.
In each class the dogs are evaluated and placements are made for
first, second, third and fourth. Only the first-place winner in each
class remains in competition; the others are eliminated.
After these classes are judged, all
the dogs that won first place in the classes compete again to see who is
the best of the winning dogs. The dog selected best is the Winners Dog.
He is the male who receives the points at the show.
Next, the dog that placed second to
the Winners Dog in his original class is brought into the ring to
compete with the other class winners for Reserve Winners Dog. The
Reserve Winners Dog will receive the points if for any reason the
Winners Dog is disallowed by the AKC. Afterwards, only the
Winners Dog remains in the competition. The other males are
eliminated.
The same process is repeated in
bitches, resulting in a Winners Bitch (the only bitch of the breed to
receive points at the show) and a Reserve Winners Bitch. As
with the dogs, all bitches other then the Winners Bitch are now
eliminated.
Next All dogs and bitches that are
already champions enter in the ring for this class, joined by the
Winners Dog and Winners Bitch, for the Best of Breed/Variety
Competition. At the end of the Best of Breed Competition,
three awards are usually given:
Best of
Breed - the dog judged as the best in its
breed category.
Best of
Winners - the dog judged as best between the
Winners Dog and Winners Bitch. If either the Winners Dog or the
Winners Bitch is selected Best of Breed, it automatically becomes Best
of Winners.
Best of
Opposite Sex - the best dog that is the
opposite sex of the Best of Breed winner.
Only the Best of Breed winners
advance to compete in the group competition and all others are
eliminated
At all-breed shows, this process of
elimination takes place in every breed. Each Best of Breed/Variety
winner then competes against other Best of Breed/Variety winners within
its Group.
The Seven Groups in All-Breed
Shows
Each AKC-recognized breed falls into
one of seven group classifications. Four placements are awarded in
each group, but only the first-place winner advances to the Best In Show
competition. The seven groups are as follows:
Sporting - These dogs were bred to hunt game
birds both on land and in the water. The breeds in this group include
Pointers, Retrievers, Setters and Spaniels.
Hounds
- These breeds were used for hunting other game by sight or scent. These
breeds include such dogs as Beagles, Bassets, Dachshunds and Greyhounds.
Working
- These dogs were used to pull carts, guard property and for search and
rescue. Among the breeds in this group are the Akita, Boxer, Doberman,
Mastiffs, Pinscher and St. Bernard.
Terrier
- This is the largest group, with breeds including the Airedale, Bull
Terrier and Scottish Terrier. Terriers were bred to rid property of
vermin such as rats.
Toy
- These dogs were bred to be the prized companions of royalty. This
group includes little dogs such as the Chihuahua, Maltese, Pomeranian
and Pug.
Non-Sporting - This diverse group includes the
Chow Chow, Bulldog, Dalmatian and Poodle. These dogs share attributes
but don't fit into the mold of other dog groups.
Herding
- These dogs were bred to help shepherds and ranchers herd their
livestock. Among this group are the Briard, Collie, German Shepherd Dog
, Old English Sheepdog and Pembroke Welsh Corgis.
In the Group judging, the judge's
job is to pick the dog that most embodies the standard for its breed.
Four placements are awarded in each Group, but only the first-place
winner remains in competition.
Finally, the seven group winners are
brought into the ring where they compete for Best In Show, the highest
award at a dog show.
Ribbons
Each dog that receives an award is
given a ribbon by the judge. The color of the ribbon denotes the type of
award the dog has won.
Blue
- awarded for first place in any regular class. Also awarded for the
winner of each group competition, usually in "rosette" form.
Red
- awarded for second place in each class. Also awarded for second place
in each group competition, usually in "rosette" form.
Yellow
- awarded for third place in each class. Also awarded for third place of
each group competition, usually in "rosette" form.
White
- awarded for fourth place in each class. Also awarded for fourth place
of each group competition, usually in "rosette" form.
Purple
- awarded to the winners of the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch classes.
Since these are the classes in which championship points are earned,
they are highly coveted.
Purple
and White - awarded to the Reserve Winner,
that is, the runner-up winner of the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch
classes.
Blue
and White - awarded to the dog that wins Best
of Winners, that is the best of Winners Dog and Winners Bitch winners.
Purple
and Gold - awarded to the dog judged "Best of
Breed" in each breed competition. This is highly coveted as it is the
ticket to advance into the group competition.
Red and
White - awarded to the Best of Opposite Sex.
This award is given to the best dog in the breed that is the opposite
sex of the Best of Breed winner.
Red,
White and Blue - only one of these is awarded
at the end of each show. It goes to the ultimate award winner, the Best
In Show.
Calculating Points
By: Jack Onofrio Dog Shows
http://www.onofrio.com/jodstwo/fyi/fgrpts.html
You have just won your first Winners
Class at a dog show. All your hard work has finally paid off, you’re
ecstatic...your dog is excited...but now comes the hard part. How many
points did Blaze actually earn??
Here is a quick and easy guide to
calculating points that doesn’t require an advanced degree in
mathematics.
The American Kennel Club requires a
dog to obtain a total of 15 points with two major wins (a major win is
worth three points or higher) to become a champion. The majors must be
won under different judges and at least one other judge must award some
of the remaining points - so you need to win under at least three
different judges.
Class, Winners, and Breed Competition
Class dogs are judged in classes
against other dogs of the same sex - open, puppy, bred-by-exhibitor,
American-bred, novice - are just a few. Classes can also be divided by
age (as in puppy) or color. When the judge awards first place in a class
that dog advances to the Winners competition of its sex.
During the Winners competition, the
judge re-examines all the dogs that have received first place in the
classes and picks an overall winner - Winners Dog for males and Winners
Bitch for females. Although you may have beaten several dogs in the
classes, championship points are only awarded to Winners Dog and Winners
Bitch. No points are awarded for class wins or Reserve Winners.
Your Winners Dog or Winners Bitch
can also win points in the Best of Breed competition. Best of Breed
consists of dogs that have already received their championship. Winners
Dog and Winner Bitch also compete with the champions in Best of Breed.
There are three possible awards a dog can win at this level:
Best of
Breed - Awarded to the best dog in the Best of
Breed competition
Best of
Opposite Sex - Awarded to the best dog of the
opposite sex to the Best of Breed winner
Best of
Winners - Awarded to the best dog between
Winners Dog and Winners Bitch
Counting Points At Dog Shows
Step One: Take Attendance
Count the
number of dogs or bitches competing in the regular classes of your dog’s
sex - novice, puppy, bred-by-exhibitor, American Bred, and Open classes.
Remember to include your dog in the total! Don’t count any dogs that are
absent (no shows), disqualified, dismissed, excused, or have awards
withheld. These dogs do not count in computing the number of dogs
competing for that show. If you did not keep up with the total number of
dogs in the regular classes, ask the ring steward or check the posted
copies of the judge's book for a count of total dogs before you leave
the show.
Tip: Check
the posted copies of the judges’ book before you leave the show to make
certain your dog was marked as the winner. Mistakes do happen! Also,
verify that your dog’s AKC registration number is correct in the
catalog. If it is not correct, let the superintendent know before you
leave the show. In both cases, it’s easier to make the correction on the
day of the show rather than later.
Step Two: Check the Schedule of
Points
Compare
the number of dogs competing that day to the schedule of points for your
dog’s breed and sex located in the show catalog. The schedule is usually
listed with the entries for each breed or at the front of the catalog.
If the
number of dogs does not match exactly with those listed in the catalog,
choose the number of points assigned to the next lowest number.
An example
of a point schedule is listed below:
Schedule of Points
1 Point
2 Points
3 Points
4 Points
5 Points
Dog Bitches
Dog Bitches
Dog Bitches
Dog Bitches
Dog Bitches
2
2 4
5
7
8
10 12
15
19
Remember,
point schedules vary by show location. If you are not at the show, make
certain you get the points schedule for the event region where your dog
won. Refer to the Schedule of Points.
Step 3: Calculating Points for
Winners Dog or Winners Bitch
Your dog
receives the points according to the number of dogs of your dog’s sex
competing in the regular classes.
Let’s say
that Blaze is awarded Winners Dog. After accounting for absent,
disqualified, and excused dogs, you determine that a total of 6 dogs
competed in the regular classes. Assuming the point schedule listed
above, he receives 2 points.
Now it’s
your turn...
Blaze’s
sister, Bianca, wins Winners Bitch. Nine bitches competed in the regular
classes. How many points did she earn as Winners Bitch?
Answer: 3
points
Winning
More Points In the Breed Competition
Your dog
can add to the points won in the Winners Class during the Best of Breed
competition. If your dog wins:
Best
of Breed
Count the
total number of dogs in its sex plus the total number of Champions of
both sexes entered in the Best of Breed competition to figure the number
of points earned.
Best
of Opposite Sex
Count the
total number of dogs in its sex plus the total number of Champions of
its sex entered in the Best of Breed competition to figure the number of
points earned.
Best
of Winners
This one
is a bit different. If your dog is named Best of Winners, he is awarded
the highest point level awarded between Winners Dog and Winners Bitch.
Let’s say that Blaze beats out his sister, Bianca, for Best of Winners.
If you’ll remember Bianca received three points for Winners Bitch and
Blaze received only two points for Winners Dog. Since Blaze took Best of
Winners, he is awarded three points instead of two and receives one of
the majors he needs for his championship.
Now it’s
your turn...
Using the
point schedule and results listed below; compute the point totals for
the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch.
Winners
Dog and Best of Winners: I’m A Perfect Hound
Number of
Dogs:
Open: 3
Bred-by-Exhibitor: 1
American
Bred: 1
Winners
Bitch and Best of Opposite Sex: Three Times A Lady
Number of
Bitches:
Open: 4
American
Bred: 2
Number of
Champions:
Dogs: 2
Bitches: 2
Schedule of Points
Schedule of Points
1 Point
2 Points
3 Points
4 Points
5 Points
Dog Bitches
Dog Bitches
Dog Bitches
Dog Bitches
Dog Bitches
2
2 4
5
7
8
10 12
15
19
Points
Awarded To:
I’m A
Perfect Hound (Answer: 3)
Three
Times A Lady (Answer: 3)
Here’s
What Happened...
Prior to
the Best of Breed competition, I’m A Perfect Hound and Three Times A
Lady had racked up 2 points each. In the Breed competition, Three Times
A Lady won Best of Opposite Sex beating two champion bitches
in
addition to the six bitches competing in the regular classes. This win
increased her points to three. Since I’m A Perfect Hound was awarded
Best of Winners, he received three points as well (the highest point
value awarded between Winners Dog and Winners Bitch).
Verifying Points
It is important to check on your
dog’s point totals from time to time. The AKC offers an online service
to verify the number of points you have accumulated.
So You Think You Want to Show
Your Dog?
http://mastiffonline.com:8888/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=20
Maybe you’ve just attended your
first dog show and it looks like great fun. Maybe you’ve read Albert
Payson Terhune and showing dogs sounds like a worthwhile endeavor. Maybe
everyone says how pretty your dog is and you’d like to show him off.
Maybe you thing your dog is good enough to stand at stud, and maybe make
some money, and someone has said you need to show him before anyone will
use him.
All of these are reasons someone is interested in showing dogs, plus
many others. How do you begin?
First you attend some dog shows and find out how they are run. There are
pamphlets at the superintendent’s table on the rules, regulations, and
explaining the competition. Spend some time and look around at the
different breeds, the grooming and handling techniques, etc. Talk to
some exhibitors, but only after judging. They are frequently nervous
and/or rushed before going in the ring and may appear rude. In fact,
they are usually preoccupied.
Be sure to watch the judging of your chosen breed, mentally compare your
dog with those being shown. Decide, with your family, the level of
competition you are interested in. To begin with decide on whether you
are interested in conformation or obedience. If conformation is your
field do you want to show a few times just for fun, complete a
Championship, or just try for Group and/or Best in Show wins. If
Obedience is your bag, do you want a dog that will earn a CD, complete a
CDX and/or UD, or go for an OTCH (Obedience Trial Championship.) The
levels of competition vary drastically in the time, money, and emotion
required to participate.
If your field is conformation, the initial step is having your dog
evaluated or finding a puppy if you don’t already have a dog. Either a
dog consultant or a professional handler is the one to appraise your
dog. If the breeder of your dog has finished a number of Champions they
are probably qualified to appraise the quality of your dog. If the
breeder has never shown a dog or finished a Champion they are probably
not qualified to pass on the worthiness of your exhibit. The breeder of
a dog is simply the owner of the dam of the puppies. Many are excellent
and very well qualified, many are simply producers of puppies who know
very little about the conformation of the puppies they produce.
If your interest is Obedience, your appraisal has to be two fold. Both
your energy, talent, and interest as well as the conformation, talent
and energy of your dog need to be taken into account. Most dogs can get
a CD, many can get a CDX and/or UD. Relatively few can qualify for the
highest honors in the field and earn an OTCH. The physical and mental
talents of both of you need to be considered. A consultant who has
experience in Obedience or a trainer who has competed at the highest
levels can give you needed insight.
It is much easier and immeasurably cheaper to have your assets appraised
than it is to spend time and money working with a non-competitive dog.
If your dog is deemed non-competitive, get a second opinion. If the
second opinion matches the first, just love and enjoy your dog, and if
you still wish to compete, get another dog. Take a counselor along if
you need help choosing a second dog. The money will be well spent. With
show expenses as high as they are today, the cost of a
counselor/consultant is well worth it. Make sure you are, indeed,
competitive.
Most important of all-love the dogs you have win or lose. That ribbon or
placement is important to you, your dog is working hard for only the
reward of your affection. The dog you take home is the same prospective
winner you brought to the show, he is as good as he was before the judge
placed him.
HandlingYour Dog in the
Show Ring
by Jane M. Johnson
http://mastiffonline.com:8888/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=20
Let me start by saying that I'm aiming this page at
people who are completely new to showing dogs. You may never have been
to a dog show, or you may have checked things out a couple of times. So,
some of the things I may tell you on this page may appear to be very
basic, and perhaps even a little patronising. I definitely am not aiming
to be patronising, and apologise if parts come across like that. It is
easy to assume that handling a dog in the show ring looks easy. It
should look easy. But let me say, the easier it looks, the chances are
that the handler is working terribly hard to make it look easy and has
been practising for many a show, and done some work in their own back
yard.
Some people pay others to handle their dogs for them. However, I must
say that if you are capable of getting around a ring and giving your dog
the opportunity to move well, then there is really very little reason
why you can't show your dog. I know of a handler who is in a wheel chair
and she shows her own dogs. She has someone push her wheel chair, but
she does all the work with the dogs. And she does some very good
winning.
Indeed, even though I have some very good friends who are "professional
handlers" (ie: they make a living out of taking other people's dogs in
the ring), I would encourage you to show your own dog. It is a very
rewarding experience.
Who is the judge?
The judge has had years of experience in dogs. The vast majority of
judges have had to pass a difficult exam and passed other hurdles to
become a judge. They judge the breed by what is called a "standard"
which is a set of rules of how the breed should look. Strictly speaking,
the dogs aren't judged against each other. They are judged by how well
they meet the standard. This is why dogs of different breeds can be
judged alongside each other.
Is judging fair?
Now, this is a loaded question! There are some excellent judges around
the world. There are also some judges appear to judge in such a way that
you think they are reading a different standard to the one you're
working by. I would not be alone in saying that my favourite judge type
is one who has a professional manner in the ring, is respectful to both
dog and handler, and gives first place to the best dog on the day.
Actually, the vast majority of good show people will respect a decision
that gives the best dog the win, regardless of who owns it. Afterall,
there is nothing wrong with being beaten by a better dog. All show
people will have a problem when a lesser quality dog wins, however.
"Face judging" is the term given to practice of placing or not placing a
dog based on who is handling it, rather than the qualities of the dogs.
This does happen. However, there are moves underway to get this practice
eliminated.
You will learn who the "facey" judges are after a while.
So what is the judge looking for? The following table outlines what the
judge will be looking for and some ways to show your dog the best. A
judge will look for the following comparing it against the standard as
they go:
The overall appearance of the dog Your dog needs to be groomed within
the required standard. In some countries and for some breeds, the dogs
should look natural, and definitely not "glamorous". Generally you need
to follow the standards in your country. If you are having trouble with
grooming, get someone to help you. It is important that you learn the
"tricks", and there are plenty when it comes to grooming. When I say
"tricks", this is not the illegal things that some people do, these are
the things that are perfectly legal within the showring, and often
provide you with the desired result in a quicker way. Movement You must
understand the pace at which your dog needs to move to produce the
desired gait. For some breeds, the dog should be move slowly. For
others, you should move the dog at a quick speed. For example, the chow
chow is showed at a relatively slow pace, while the great dane, should
move very quickly, showing the judge that the dog can move at the pace
required for the dog to perform the job it was bred for. Often people
make the mistake of running their dog at an incorrect speed. Get other
people to help you sort this out. You will be required to run your dog
in a certain pattern. Most common is the triangle where the judge is
ascertaining the movement of the dog three different ways.
It is rare that a dog with poor movement (ie: crabbing) will be a major
winner in the ring. A dog with poor movement will more often than not
re-produce this poor movement in subsequent generations.
At a "stack" This refers to the dog standing square It does take
practice for both you and your dog to get him/her to stop and stand in
the required fashion. You will have to learn how to "free stack" your
dog, and also how to "hand stack". Both are required. Often it will take
a young pup some time to get used to this. I've found the best way to
train this is by using positive reinforcement methods only. You need to
able to stack your dog in less than 10 seconds, and free stack it at the
end of a triangle.
Temperament A dog that demonstrates a poor temperament in the ring
should not win. Often dogs as they are new to the ring will not be too
happy as they can be nervous, just like the handlers! However, a dog
should never be vicious. Unfortunately, there are some vicious dogs in
the ring, and many of these will reproduce this temperament in future
generations.
Animation Ah.... this is a hard one. The judge is looking to see how
interested your dog looks in what is going on around him/her. Many a
ribbon has been lost because the dog has been too hot or too complacent
to show the "required" animation. It is perfectly "legal" for you to use
a small piece of dried liver in your hand, or a small toy to show the
judge that your dog can be animated.
Note: some judges hate you using food and/or toys in the ring.
What do I do with the leash? Ensure that you buy a leash that is
suitable for the dog. Generally speaking the leash you use should be one
that you have specially bought for the showring. It is not the leash you
would use to take the dog for a walk down the park. People will
generally use what is called a "choker" or slip chain around the neck of
the dog. The leash will usually be black and thin.
There's one web site that will supply you with the best show leads
possible. They strategically won't supply cheap quality gear. This is a
great bonus for new people to the show ring.
Please note: if you have a large and/or strong breed, make sure you have
a suitable leash strength for the ring. Seek guidance from the vendor if
you need to. Personally I prefer a leash that does not bring attention
to the fact the dog is on a lead. Therefore, flourescent pick is
definitely out.
You also need to be careful of the length of the lead. Generally you
want to be able to quickly roll the leash up into your hand - so you
don't want anything too long. On the other hand, you also need enough
length so that you can allow your dog freedom of movement as it moves
around the ring.
You need to practice collecting the leash up in your hand. You should
never have the end of the lead dangling out of your hand as it detracts
from the overall picture that you are trying to create. Whether you run
your dog on a loose leash or a firm leash is dependent on how your dog
works for you. Generally, I run my dogs on a loose leash. But this does
take practice - and it should be practiced at home. The show ring is no
time to practice a new skill.
What should I wear? Ok, you have your dog well groomed, you've been
practising at home. To finish off the picture, make sure you look the
part. As a general rule, I dress as if I'm going to a job interview, or
I'm speaking in front of a large group of people.
And often when you go into the ring, you are in front of a large
audience.
So make sure you look fabulous. Wear a colour that is different from
your dog. Try and wear a plain outfit - definitely nothing with florals,
dots, etc. Dress conservatively.
Make sure your hair is neatly brushed, and your makeup (if appropriate)
is nicely down.
Make the effort!
Please ensure that you take any loose coins and keys out of your pockets
before you enter the ring, and generally speaking, unless it's a very
hot day, it is not the norm to wear either a hat or sunglasses in the
ring.
How should I act in the ring? Whether you are being paid or not to go
into the show ring you should always act professionally. You need to act
in a courteous and sporting way. There are some people in the show ring
that will act in a way that they should be ashamed of. You will most
probably encounter some things in the ring that should never be seen
there. If this happens, take it in your stride. It is more than likely
the judge (and the crowd) has seen it too. I have heard of many
occasions when the judge has seen such errant behaviour from a handler,
and has deliberately not awarded the dog a ribbon. Personally, I believe
that if a handler exhibits such poor behaviour, they should be excused
from the ring for the rest of the day's activities.
When you handle the dog, treat it as if it is a precious being, which,
of course, it is. Show respect for your dog and yourself. If possible on
a hot day, you may be permitted to move your dog into the shade.
And smile! Too often you will see someone in the ring with a terrible
frown on their face. Often, they will not be aware they are doing it. I
had to train myself and ask for lots of feedback from friends to make
sure I corrected my frowning in the ring. It is definitely hard to smile
when you are working hard and if you are nervous. But with practice you
can do it.
After a while, you will probably learn to enjoy yourself in the ring. I
know at first, I was very nervous. It took me many shows to gain the
confidence I needed.
If you have a bad day, well that's part of the game. Some days will be
great days. Enjoy all the different sorts of days and look at mistakes
as learning opportunities.
What Next?
Ok, what I have put in the text above is only a small amount of what you
need to know. Talk to as many people as you can, and read lots of books.
You can join email groups dedicated to the dog handling scene. Take a
chair and a hat, and sit by the ring at a show for a couple of hours and
observe how people handle their dogs. You will see some good things and
some bad things. It's always good to take notes so you can remember
later. You can learn as much from a bad handler as you can from a good
handler. Don't forget that!
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