Pet Forums 2000

At the moment, I am quite happy with the dogs I have and have no intentions to show them, one is a mutt the other is working lines.
However in the future I would like to give showing a go, except I do not know what dog to get.

I would like to show a dog that has not been change dramatically by the breed standards.
I would prefer to show a medium-large dog.
Not fussed on coat care, but not too long like a Bearded Collie.
I'd also like a breed which isn't too common in show rings like Labs and Goldens.
Aside from showing it would be nice for the dog to still carry out what it is bred for, or agility.
Exercise is not a problem, though I'm better matched with high energy dogs.
What breeds are good for first time showers?

"I would like to show a dog that has not been change dramatically by the breed standards."

If you live in the States, with the AKC as the primary registering body, then most of the breeds have been altered quite a bit for the show ring. The dogs that are the least altered are also the least popular. Look up "rare dog breeds" in google, and you will get a whole list of dogs that are more or less bred as originally intended.

But you can look into australian shepherd. Sure, I am a bit biased, but the grooming is very simple, just some stripping of the undercoat, brightening shampoo, trimming of the feet and hocks, some chalk and some thick and thicker and you are good to go. At the last AKC show, there were only about 10 aussies showing, vs the 50 retrievers.

High energy, and if you buy from a reputable breeder they should be showing and working their dogs. I think they are good for first time showers, because you don't have to really worry about ears, and there is no tail to worry about either. And they are so intense, and easy to train. Lots of the AKC dogs have much more coat and bone, but the ***** that took breed both days this weekend was VERY moderate, as stated in the breed standard. So some judges will put up correct dogs.

Good luck with your breed search!

Before you even begin to think about showing a dog, you've got to have a passion for a particular breed. Without that, you won't get a decent dog from any reputable breeder because they all ask what made you choose the breed, what activities your dog's going to take part in, your training methods, etc. You've also got to do a lot of learning about the breed before you jump in and choose a breeder.

What would be in your best interests is to start going to dog shows, find a few breeds that seem to appeal to you, then research them in depth to find out if they fit your life style and energy level.

German Shepherds, With good, knowledgeable owners this breed will never let you down. They may be common, but not as common as they once were.

Labs produce huge entries at Championship Shows. Both dog and bitches have over 200 entries each.

Telephone the Kennel Club and get the location of your nearest Ringcraft Class and go along and watch, listen and learn and ask questions.
No breeder will release a show quality dog to you without you knowing what you are doing and neither should you purchase a puppy without knowing exactly what you are looking for.
If you go ahead consider one that has an easy coat to work with as preparation to show standard is expensive and time consuming and you need to know lots of tricks to get it looking right.

You need to start buying Dog World and Our Dogs Newspapers which come out on a Thursday. You will learn loads. Visit a local show and a Championship (Crufts qualifier) and watch and absorb the atmosphere.

Then in November go to Discover Dogs at Earls Court where every breed in the country will be in a pen with a breed expert in attendance and talk and ask questions and then in March go to Crufts at Birmingham and Discover Dogs will also be there but go on a day that the breed that is interesting you is showing.

We have recently made a dog up to Show Champion (Subject to Confirmation from the Kennel Club...I am not yet allowed to use the title).It has taken three years, endless miles and cost a small fortune. Well if I am honest thousands and all I have is a piece of card to say we got there. No means of winning the money back. Maybe the vague possibility of a stud fee but maybe not.

I show within a friendly breed but some breeds are nasty and bitchy is you are successful. You need to be thick skinned as well but you will still meet people and have fun.

First of all can I please correct a false statement here - "I would like to show a dog that has not been changed dramatically by the Breed Standards". In most breeds, the Standard has not been changed, often for many years. What has changed is popular interpretation of the original Standards. In the UK, most judges are breeders first. And as such, they judge according to what they breed and their reading of what's in their Standard. The two are not necessarily the same! And there is no doubt that exaggerations are rife - often to make a dog stand out from the crowd. A classic example would be in my second breed, the Whippet. I was told that 'if I had a small one, I'd be okay at the lesser levels (Open shows etc.) but I'd not do well at Ch.show level because the judge looked at the big ones, and ignored the small ones'. Hence the breed has increased in size in recent years. Likewise with my first breed, which is supposed to be a substantial, heavy boned breed with wrinkle. Hum. So what we get in the ring in recent years here is huge, heavy animals, who can hardly make it round the ring, never mind run a plough. And puppies who have to have their eyelids tacked while they grow into their skin. I am talking about the worst-possible scenario, but it happens. So it's not the Standards!!

As for what breed - nobody on here can possibly tell you what to go for. If you want less competition in the ring, go for a rarer breed with smaller entries. The rest of it depends on your life style, your home-space, the time you have for grooming (long or short coated breed?), and so on. Go to some shows, and get a feel for the breeds being shown. You have identified breeds from two Groups, Gundogs and Terriers. Each is high-energy, but vastly different.

ps In the UK, steps are being taken by the KC, by amendments to the original Standard, which has been mis-interpreted, to bring my main breed back to where it should be - without exaggeration!!