A DAY AT THE DOG SHOW

A DAY AT THE DOG SHOW

SHOW HANDLING TIPS

EQUIPMENT:

For the Dog:

Food and water from home. Bait such as liver needs to be kept in a cooler.

Hot weather...water bottle to spray dog, wet towel, wet coat, canteen of water

Rainy weather...rain coat, boots, or waterless shampoo and chalk to clean up any muddy spots before ring time. Hair dryer for some breeds

Clean up...extra blanket, something for the dog to lie on, garbage bags

Minimal grooming supplies for last minute touch-ups, hairbrush pocket size. There are new gadgets that are a bowl with pockets for such items around the outside

Products to treat the runs, car sickness, suppository. Accidents in the ring are disgusting to the judge and other exhibitors

Crate and dolly, bungee cords. High maintenance dog might benefit from a dolly that folds down to a grooming table. Gear all to age and destructiveness of the dog. New mesh crates might be great for an adult special, easily destroyed by a puppy

X-Pen, vinyl matting, tie out cable, flexi-lead, brace clip if you have two dogs to lead

Shade blankets for vehicle, windscreen insulating cover, clips for shade items, window guard, possibly generator and fans in extreme conditions

FOR THE EXHIBITOR

First aid for stomach and digestive upsets, blisters, insect bites

Armband holder and extra elastics

Two outfits sufficiently dressy, comfortable, and appropriately conservative. Men wear jackets and ties and dress slacks. Women are better in longer skirts or dresses with pockets, loosely fitted enough to run in, and if pants or shorts, very dressy coordinated ones. Rain gear like plastic rain coat and plastic overshoes. In bad summer conditions you will need a change at a two or three day show. You must not show in items with kennel or club logos or names on them

Hair removing sheets, rollers, etc.

Shoes must be functional and non-slip. Lace-up, strapped type are best. Women are best to wear panty-hose or knee highs. Hats, if worn, need to be secured

Folding chair or stool. Kind with a pocket for grooming materials and paper supplies is very handy. Label with your name. Folding umbrella can be handy for you and the dog

Business cards and data on the dog. Show is a good place to meet useful contacts...have something to hand out, and writing materials

Nutritious and digestible snacks, as you may be short of time, and dog show food may not be the best. Bottled water is a good idea for small rural shows

ROUTINES:

Get a map and careful directions. Shows are not always in the town that is the name of the club. Plan to arrive early. Arrive early, and park in the shade if you can. It is not necessary to buy a catalogue for every show, but a good idea to buy them for specialties. Be sure your dog relieves itself, and clean up with a plastic bag. Report to the table of the show secretary and get your armband. Find out which ring you are in and check it out.

Watch the judge to see what instructions he is giving the classes before you.

Have your dog ready at ringside. Males go first, females next. Age order is followed, at catalogue order of armband number in the ring. The winners of each class compete for winners dog and winners bitch. Second placers must compete for Reserve. Do not go away until you are sure you are not due in the ring again. Puppies compete at the end of the Canadian class for the breed for Best Puppy. If your dog is WD or WB, you will be in Best of Breed competition. The finished champions go first, usually dogs first, bitches next rather than catalogue order. Then come the class winners. The judge will pick Best of Breed, Best of Opposite, and Best of Winners. If there are no champions entered, a class dog or bitch could be WD or WB, and have the two higher placements as well. The judge will choose which he prefers of WD or WB to be Best of Winners. Study your program to see how points are assigned. You only get points for a win in the classes. However, people campaign champions to get ranked for dogs defeated, even though they don't get points as such. It takes 10 points to finish a champion in Canada. Study the U.S. show catalogues, where majors are required, and each region has a number of dogs which varies by breed that must be defeated for a major or single points. Two majors and 15 points are required. The regional requirements are updated and need to be reviewed yearly.

If your dog is Best of Breed or Best Puppy, check to see when your Group is in the ring. First adults are shown, then the puppies. If you have an adult, there are four placements. If you have a puppy, only one is selected for the best. If you have a Group First or Best Puppy in Group, you must stay until the end of the show. One dog will win Best in Show of the seven dogs. One puppy will be best puppy. Nice prizes are often given. Failure to show up for these classes will result on loss of any points you achieved at the first level.

Winning does not mean you have a good dog. Losing does not mean you have a bad dog. Consider the number of dogs you defeated and whether it is a specialty before getting too stuck up. If you lose to a worse dog shown by a professional handler, don't take it to heart. Just soldier on. Read my article on being a congenial competitor. Congratulate the winner. Thank the judge for any ribbon. Don't say anything to the judge at the time. If you don't know whether to keep on showing your dog, discuss it with a number of breed experts, not just your dog's breeder, who may be biased. I don't believe asking the judge why your dog lost to is sensible. He is busy and may resent the question and remember you for another show. However, listen carefully to what he says about your dog or your handling and give it careful consideration. Remember, he is there to judge and not to give you lessons. He or she is not 'God' and if you show for three days, you may win some or lose some. That is the name of the game for dog shows.

It is not usually useful to hire a handler to take your dog in Group unless your dog is familiar with the handler, as it may act up and you might do better showing it yourself. However, if you use a handler, be sure he/she has enough time with the dog before shows. You may also need to pay for them to groom it. Plan to pay extra for Group or Best in Show wins if they have extra times in the ring. Be sure they will not have a conflict and your dog gets taken in by an inexperienced assistant. Get all the charges settled in writing BEFORE dealing with handlers.

Above all be realistic. A win over one other dog or a win where the handler is put up is nothing to get excited about. Keep your perspective...JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE.

Get excited, have photos taken and so forth when it is a win over a large entry, at a specialty, you finished a champion, defeated a major special. But never confuse a win with what you are showing. Know your dog's strengths and weaknesses and enjoy them for what they are...hopefully your companion, pride and joy, win or lose...a lifetime commitment, not just a ego-boosting project.

Home Page | Index of Articles

	Food and water from home. Bait such as liver needs to be kept in a cooler.
	Hot weather...water bottle to spray dog, wet towel, wet coat, canteen of water
	Rainy weather...rain coat, boots, or waterless shampoo and chalk to clean up any muddy spots before ring time. Hair dryer for some breeds
	Clean up...extra blanket, something for the dog to lie on, garbage bags
	Minimal grooming supplies for last minute touch-ups, hairbrush pocket size. There are new gadgets that are a bowl with pockets for such items around the outside
	Products to treat the runs, car sickness, suppository. Accidents in the ring are disgusting to the judge and other exhibitors
	Crate and dolly, bungee cords. High maintenance dog might benefit from a dolly that folds down to a grooming table. Gear all to age and destructiveness of the dog. New mesh crates might be great for an adult special, easily destroyed by a puppy
	X-Pen, vinyl matting, tie out cable, flexi-lead, brace clip if you have two dogs to lead
	Shade blankets for vehicle, windscreen insulating cover, clips for shade items, window guard, possibly generator and fans in extreme conditions

	First aid for stomach and digestive upsets, blisters, insect bites
	Armband holder and extra elastics
	Two outfits sufficiently dressy, comfortable, and appropriately conservative. Men wear jackets and ties and dress slacks. Women are better in longer skirts or dresses with pockets, loosely fitted enough to run in, and if pants or shorts, very dressy coordinated ones. Rain gear like plastic rain coat and plastic overshoes. In bad summer conditions you will need a change at a two or three day show. You must not show in items with kennel or club logos or names on them
	Hair removing sheets, rollers, etc.
	Shoes must be functional and non-slip. Lace-up, strapped type are best. Women are best to wear panty-hose or knee highs. Hats, if worn, need to be secured
	Folding chair or stool. Kind with a pocket for grooming materials and paper supplies is very handy. Label with your name. Folding umbrella can be handy for you and the dog
	Business cards and data on the dog. Show is a good place to meet useful contacts...have something to hand out, and writing materials
	Nutritious and digestible snacks, as you may be short of time, and dog show food may not be the best. Bottled water is a good idea for small rural shows