Showing

This page is a very basic overview of showing, not a guide for dog showing, rather, a hopeful attempt to give new fanciers a little information and maybe spark an interest.

DOG SHOWING

Dog Shows are the only way we have - as breeders and fanciers to determine how close to the breed standard each individual dog is. This is a means for the discerning breeder/fancier to help promote a better bred and better conformed dog. Ideally, it is hoped that dogs disqualifying of their conformation standard - whether attributed to physical or emotional (bad temperament) reasons, would be spayed/neutered and retained as a loving housepet.

WHAT ABOUT THE SHOWS?

Ok, we have made it past the initial definition process - so now lets get down to understanding this "a little bit" confusing world of Dog Showing.

A dog show is basically a process of elimination where you start out with a number of dogs and work your way down to one winner. The goal of the game is to receive POINTS towards a Championship.

How many dogs (males/females) of a specific breed are in the show, is the determining factor behind how many points are awarded for wins. For example, the American Kennel Club awards points depending on the total numbers in a section. The more popular a breed the more dogs it is presumably expected to compete against.

Dogs will compete in BREED competition against others of the same breed and the first place winner will go on to show in GROUP competition and subsequently the winner of each group will go on to the Best In Show competition.

Breed competition is defined as the show at which the dog is competing against others of the same breed.

Group Competition is where the dog will go on to compete with dogs of the same group (for example the WORKING Group, or the NON-Sporting Group) but of a different breed.

There are several Groups to compete with and there will be an example of each breed in the Group competition.

Following the group competition one dog is selected from each group and these final few go on to the Best In Show competition - where the dog that best fits its breed standard will win the BIS (Best in Show).

If you are interested in getting into this type of competition - some things you should do are:

- Have a show prospect puppy - if you are serious about competition in the breed ring, do a lot of research - talk to a lot of different people - and definitely don't pick the first breeder you talk with. There is a good reference to FAQ's for breeders on Brenda Jones Rottweiler Pages - our reccomendation is that you print this list of questions to ask breeders in your selection of a puppy and a breeder.

- Get involved. Go to several Dog Shows, watch and offer to help if you can.

- Join a breed club. Again, ask a lot of questions, and don't settle on the first one you come across or even if its the only one available in your vicinity.

- Ask people, who have shown in conformation, questions. Most people are happy to share information with you especially about Dog Showing.

- Several Dog Training facilities offer "handling" classes and they will teach how to handle your dog in the show ring and answer questions about ring etiquette.

- For those who plan on not showing their own dogs and perhaps hiring a handler - do the same thing as with the breed clubs and breeders, ask a lot of questions, and don't be satisfied until YOU are satisfied.

- Realize Dog Showing is a very competitive sport and as such many take it personally. Learn to be objective and to accept criticism and learn from it when its founded. Remember that even though there are certain rules a judge must follow - show judging has a very human element in it. Knowing this - one must understand a judge may perceive one dog very differently from another judges point of view.

- Finally, get out there and do it! Don't worry about looking silly - we all did when we started (heck, I still do!). There are many people very supportive about beginners and will often offer to help you out.

Breed Standard

The Standard is a breed club definition or guideline of the ideal specimen of the breed. For a dog to fit the Standard for its breed it must have physical and temperamental qualifications within its definitions. That is to say, each breed has certain attributes that fall within the following categories:

Faults: these are faults that should be penalized by a judge within a dog show. A judge should look at a dog and see its faults versus the faults of others competing on that particular day and select his pick accordingly.

Disqualifications: these are faults that are defined in the Breed Standard as faults that omit this particular dog from showing in breed competition and/or hopefully from being bred and producing more disqualifying puppies.

NOTE: There are no perfect dogs, nor do breed clubs expect this, however the idea is to continuously try to achieve the best example of the breed. This is done by selectively picking the best specimens for breeding and competition available.

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Conformation

Conformation is defined as how well a dog fits the description of the breed standard - hence Conformation Showing.

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Temperament

Temperament is defined as the general attitude of a dog as described in the breed standard. For example a Rottweiler is described in the breed standard as an aloof and discerning dog, who does not lend himself to easy friendships, HOWEVER an aggressive or vicious Rottweiler or a Rottweiler that attacks without provocation should be excused. Therefore the breed standard delineates what is considered unacceptable in issues of temperament. Each breed has a delineation of what its temperament should be.

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POINTS AND CHAMPIONSHIP

In order to become a Champion, a dog must win a total of 15 points, under a MINIMUM of three different judges, and of these "POINTS" two should include "MAJORS". MAJORS is when the total number of points won total 3, 4 and 5 points. I will explain this in a moment.

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CONFUSED YET?

Feel free to send e-mail to DOGGlink for any further questions you may have!