Dog Shows - alsatians.com

A Guide to Dog Shows and Dog Showing

Many dog owners like to show their dogs - some do it for fun, some as a regular hobby and some do it seriously and compete. There are various kinds of dog shows that you could enter (bear in mind that real dog shows will usually want your dog to be at least six months old to qualify for entry). For example:

Local fetes, fairs or shows - many local fetes, fairs and shows will have a dog show for fun. Usually here you simply enter your dog into the show as a whole although bigger events may split them into breeds or different classifications.
Open shows - open shows are real dog shows but they are a little less formal than Championship shows. In most cases you cannot just turn up and enter your dog for these kinds of shows - you'll need to pre-register.
Championship shows - these shows are for serious dog showers and will again need to be pre-registered. Some shows here will award Challenge Certificates for winners - you'll need one of these to enter the really big shows such as Crufts.

Some dog owners will learn how to show their dog by taking them along to local shows and by learning as they go along. It's always useful to talk to judges and other dog showers to get some advice on how the process works. Others will take ring craft courses that teach them the skills that they (and their dog) need.

It is important for both you and your dog to be comfortable with the whole show process and your dog needs to be OK with being handled by judges so a bit of practice is worth it here before entering serious shows. It's always a good idea to take your dog through a standard obedience course before showing so that they can learn how to behave in certain situations.

Serious dog shows will work to specific schedules according to breed and sex (male dogs always go on first in a breed!) so you may have some waiting around. In some shows you will need to keep your dog tied up when it is not being showed (this is usually called benching).

You will usually have done most of the grooming work on your pet before you get to the show but there are always last minute grooming tasks to be done to make sure that they look their best. So, make sure to arrive with plenty of time to spare!