Tag Archives: dog show

Show Dogs and Their Crazy Names

Last year’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show winner was a beagle called Uno — his official name is Ch. (Champion) K-Run’s Park Me in First. What a mouthful! Purebred dogs tend to have long, crazy names like that. My mom’s purebred German shepherd Shashi was officially named Wildwoods Scheherazade. Shashi is a much easier name! So what’s with all the crazy names? Champion is actually a title — not part of the dog’s given name. A dog has to win a certain number of “points” in competition before officially earning that title at the front of his or her name. … Continue reading →

Dog Show Lingo

Have you been watching the dog shows lately? Maybe you saw the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship during Super Bowl weekend. Maybe you watched the famous Westminster Kennel Club Show this week. Dog shows — like any kind of competition — come with their own special lingo. Talking about the dogs: Angulation: the angles created at the joints. Gait: the way a dog moves. This is a good indicator of structure and body condition. Pedigree: a written record of a dog’s family tree. Traces the line back three generations or more. Soundness: mental and physical well-being. Handlers and handling: Baiting: using a … Continue reading →

Dog Shows for Junior Handlers

Showing your dog is a great way to bond! You and your dog will spend lots of time together — grooming, practicing, and finally competing. Dog shows aren’t restricted to adults, either. The American Kennel Club offers lots of opportunities for kids to get involved! Children between the ages of ten and eighteen are allowed to compete with their peers at certain AKC events as “junior handlers”. Junior handlers are not only judged on their dogs’ conformation to breed standards — they are also judged on how they present their dogs. To get started as a junior handler, your best … Continue reading →

Dog Shows For Beginners

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 … Continue reading →

My Mom Went to Westminster!

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show — one of the biggest dog shows out there — is going on right now at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Last year, I was very tempted to hop on a train and catch some of the action, but didn’t. But I just got the inside scoop from my mom, who went to day one of the Westminster action yesterday! Here are some of the things she noticed: It’s much easier to follow the action on TV — because there are commentators. At the show itself, it can be hard to tell … Continue reading →

Going to the Dog Show: Etiquette

Have you ever been to a dog show? Would you like to? Here are some tips for how you should behave in order to be asked to sit and stay. Don’t just pet the dogs — ask first! This is a good idea anywhere, really. But remember that the owners and handlers have spent a lot of time getting their dogs ready for performance. Don’t just walk up and mess up their hair. Ask first. Don’t let your children run up to strange dogs, either — again, this is good advice outside the dog show, too. Always ask before your … Continue reading →

About the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship

If you had your eye on Animal Planet over the weekend, you probably saw the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship broadcast. I only managed to catch the “tail” end of the show, but I did get to see the lovely German shepherd win the working dog group and the Best in Show awarded to a Sealyham terrier with lots of personality. Here are some things you might not know about the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship: The AKC (American Kennel Club) is the oldest and only not-for-profit purebred dog registry in the United States. The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship is by invitation only. The top … Continue reading →