For The Love of Dogs

Did you know dogs at dog shows are not judged against each other, but against the breed standard? The breed standard set by the American Kennel Club is an outline of the “perfect” dog of a particular breed. Therefore, the purpose of a dog show is to find the “perfect” example of the breed in order to produce more of the ideal breed. For this reason, only intact dogs can compete. The first step in showing a dog is to find a breed, that meets your personality.
      

After you have decided on the breed, the next thing to check for is the quality of the dog. The good quality breeders really care about there puppies. They will do the necessary medical tests on the parent dogs to make sure they are cleared of any hereditary defects, and keep the puppy with the mother for the best possible time to ensure a healthy and stable dog. In addition, quality breeders will survey the potential owners; some will even require that they be assigned as co-owner on the registration papers to make sure your puppy is healthy, and safe. If the breeder is not requiring a co-ownership, then they will always send you home with good instructions of how to take proper care of the breed. To find a quality breeder, contact your breed’s AKC breed parent club.

As in any profession, you will need some basic tools of the trade. This starts with a show lead, a grooming table, a crate, and a show dog trainer.  A show lead that fits your breed is selected by type and thickness. The several types include; slip leads, martingale leads, and your basic snap leads. You hold the lead usually in your left hand towards the judge so the judge always has view of the dog.  Next, select a grooming table large enough for your dog to stand on and at a height you can reach your dog in all directions, you do not want to have to bend over or reach up all the time. Also, choose a crate that the dog will be able to stand and sit in comfortably as this will be his new den. The crate is used to transport from show to show, in addition to, help you housebreak your new puppy, sleeping, and feeding. Attending a show training class will help you develop your skills, as well as, your dog’s knowledge and expectations. It will also help socialize the puppy properly.

For information about how dog shows work, check back later.

Here are some links for more information about the information discussed.

www.akc.org –American Kennel Club

www.offa.org –Orthopedic Foundation for Animals

www.vmdb.org/cerf.html -Canine Eye Registration Foundation