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First, you need to decide what aspect of dog shows you are interested in. There are many different types of competition involving dogs. You needn't limit yourself to just one. Many dogs compete successfully in two or more fields of endeavor. Types of competition sanctioned by the AKC include:
If you are not sure if your dog is show quality, the best way to find out is to ask a knowledgeable breeder who shows his dogs. If possible, find a breeder of your breed. If this is not possible, a breeder of a similar breed or someone familiar with many breeds may be able to help you. Go to several dog shows. Mentally compare your dog to the dogs being exhibited. Be objective. Try not to let emotional attachment to your dog get in the way! Once you have determined your dog is show quality, you will need to begin training. A competitive show dog must be able to gait at a smooth trot under complete control, and stand still in a show pose while being examined. You can learn and practice these skills by enrolling in a conformation training class. You will also need to learn to groom your dog for the show ring. If your dog is a coated breed, the National Breed Club may offer grooming charts and instructions. You can also contact breeders or others who show your breed. Finally you will need to locate a dog show to attend, and enter your dog. It would be wise to begin with a "match show", which is a small practice show for inexperienced dogs and exhibitors. Ask at your training class where there will be upcoming matches. When it comes time to enter a REAL dog show, you will need a premium list. You can request premium lists by contacting Dog Show Superintendents. The Dog Show Superintendents or AKC can also let you know where there are upcoming shows. When you get a premium list for a show you are interested in attending, ask someone for help filling out the entry blank the first time - you don't want to make a mistake that will make your entry invalid! And mail your entry early. Entries must be received by the Superintendent at least 2-1/2 weeks before the show. By winning at conformation shows, your dog will earn points towards his championship. The best non-champion male and the best non-champion female of each breed win from 0 to 5 points, depending on the number of dogs defeated. Once a dog has earned 15 points, including at least two "major" wins of 3 or more points, he is awarded the title CHAMPION (CH.). Obedience: Dogs are judged on their willingness to perform certain things on command, such as heel, sit, stay, come, lie down, jump and retrieve. There are three levels of competition: Novice - in the Novice class, dogs must heel on and off lead, come when called (recall), stand and stay for examination, sit and stay, and lie down and stay. A dog which earns three qualifying scores of at least 170 out of 200 points is awarded the title COMPANION DOG (CD). Open - In the Open class, dogs must heel off lead, lie down on command during the recall, retrieve a dumbbell, retrieve a dumbbell over a high jump, jump over a broad jump, sit/stay with the handler out of sight, and lie down/stay with the handler out of sight. A dog which earns three qualifying scores of at least 170 out of 200 points is awarded the title COMPANION DOG EXCELLENT (CDX) Utility - In the Utility class, dogs must do a complex heeling pattern including lie down, sit, and recall all off lead and with only hand signals, stand for exam, directed jumping over both solid and bar jumps, directed retrieve of a glove, and scent discrimination with both leather and metal articles where he finds the single article with his handler's scent out of many identical objects. A dog which earns three qualifying scores of at least 170 out of 200 points is awarded the title UTILITY DOG (UD). By continuing on in competition after earning the UD title and dog can earn further titles such as OBEDIENCE TRIAL CHAMPION (OTCH) OR UTILITY DOG EXCELLENT (UDX). Dogs must be very well trained in specific skills before being enterred in an obedience competition. You should begin by enrolling in a good basic obedience class, then continuing on into advanced and competition readiness classes. Finally you will need to locate an obedience trial to attend, and enter your dog. It would be wise to begin with a "match show", which is a small practice show for inexperienced dogs and exhibitors. Ask at your training class where there will be upcoming matches. When it comes time to enter a REAL obedience trial, you will need a premium list. You can request premium lists by contacting Dog Show Superintendents. The Dog Show Superintendents or AKC can also let you know where there are upcoming trials. When you get a premium list for a trial you are interested in attending, ask someone for help filling out the entry blank the first time - you don't want to make a mistake that will make your entry invalid! And mail your entry early. Entries must be received by the Superintendent at least 2-1/2 weeks before the trial. Agility: Dogs are judged on their speed and accuracy in running an obstacle course. Field Trials: Dogs are judged on their ability to hunt in the manner in which each breed was intended. Hunting Tests: Dogs are judged on their willingness to hunt. Not as complex or exacting as field trials. Herding Trials: Dogs are judged on their ability to herd stock. Earthdog Trials: Terriers are judged on their willingness to hunt and go to ground after vermin. Tracking: Dogs are judged on their ability to follow the scent trail left by a stranger. At a tracking test, the tracklayer simply walks on a predetermined course (called the track) which is at least 440 yards in length and incorporates several turns. He drops an article such as a glove at the end of the track and leaves. At least 1/2 hour later, the dog to be judged is taken to the beginning of the track. He must then follow the track to the end, with no guidance whatsoever from his handler. Beyond the beginning of the track there are no visual cues to indicate where the track is. The dog must use his nose to find and follow the track, and ultimately indicate the presence of the dropped object. Judging is done on a pass/fail basis. There are several levels of tracking. The more advanced levels require longer and older tracks, with more turns, more variety of groundcover, addition of additional articles to find, even the addition of obstacles such as a fence, or ditch. Titles that can be earned start with the TD (Tracking Dog), and advance to the TDX (Tracking Dog Excellent), amd VST (Variable Surface Tracking). Tracking training can begin with puppies as young as two or three months and it is not unusual for a dog to earn his TD shortly after his six-month birthday. While tracking training can be successfully done by simply following the instructions in a good book, your best bet is to enroll in a tracking class. Lure Coursing: Dogs are judged on their willingness, ability and speed in chasing a rapidly moving object. For handler and hound alike, Lure Coursing is a fun and exciting test of your Sight hound's hunting skills. The "course" is a motorized, continuous loop and pulley system, designed to simulate prey in flight. the "Lure" is, in reality, plastic bags. But as they speed across the ground and race around corners and curves, the hounds chase them as if they were real prey. Junior Showmanship: Children aged 10 - 17 are judged on their ability to show a dog in conformation competition. Working Certificates: Dogs are judged on their ability to do the job they were bred to do. Canine Good Citizen: Dogs are judged on their ability to be a well-behaved companion. |
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