After all the talk lately in the Pets Blog about dog shows, you may be interested in getting your dog involved! Here are some things you might want to know:
- To compete in an American Kennel Club (AKC) dog show, your dog has to be a registered purebred. Other shows may not require a pedigree and papers. Know the rules before you apply!
- There are different types of dog show: all breed shows (where more than 150 different breeds compete; this is the kind of dog show you see on TV), specialty shows restricted to certain breeds, and group shows restricted to dogs in the different groups.
- Dog conformation shows are intended to evaluate breeding stock for each particular breed of dog. Each breed has different standards for appearance and structure — these are used for judging. Spayed or neutered dogs are not eligible to compete in conformation class because they can’t breed!
- Each judge is an expert in the particular breed he or she is judging. The examination includes a physical inspection and a demonstration of gait to see a dog in action.
- Most dogs in competition are looking to gain points towards their AKC Championship. A dog must have a total of fifteen points (including two “major” wins) awarded by at least three different judges in order to win the title of Champion of Record. (This is the “Ch.” that you may see with some dogs’ names.)
The American Kennel Club has a ton of resources to help you learn more about dog shows. Visit www.akc.org or call (919) 233-9767 to learn more about getting started. You can also get lots of valuable information and experience by joining your local breed club or AKC affiliate. Local clubs will be able to help you train your dog for the show ring and may also hold “fun matches” where you can practice your dog show moves.
If dog conformation shows aren’t your cup of tea, there are plenty of other competitions you can enter. Take a look at obedience trials, agility trials, lure coursing, herding trials, and more.