A Beginner's Guide How To Start Showing Your Dog
If you're a complete novice to dog shows, you should do a little bit of homework before stepping into the ring. To an outsider, the competitions can be a jumble of jargon,
strict requirements and complicated commands. With a little perseverance, however, and some good connections, you can have your pooch prancing in around the ring in no time.
The first thing to do is find a local kennel club. It can be breed-specific, or for all breeds. Most dog shows - at least the big prestigious ones - require that your dog be purebred. If your pooch is a mutt, even a cute one, he'll have to settle for local neighborhood beauty pageants. A local kennel club can clue you in on all the specific, nit-picky requirements for training, temperament, and physical condition.
Kennel clubs also offer a range of classes that are geared toward getting people and their dogs ready to show. You'll need to learn how to be a show handler, including what's required of you and how to direct your pup. You'll also need to know the basics about dog shows, including breed classes, award hierarchy, and specialized vocabulary. Then you'll need to put your pooch through her paces and teach her to obey your show-specific commands, as well as prepare her for the excessive grooming and handling she'll undergo at any competition.
Another great benefit of joining a kennel club is that you'll have an instant association with people who are already farther along the dog show path than you are. Most people are happy to share their wisdom and advice, and you'll learn a lot in a short amount of time.
Read Up On the History
Before completing your training and preparation for your first dog show, you should also learn a little bit about the history of the sport. Familiarize yourself with the biggest show events and most prestigious competitions. Start by checking out the websites of the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Westminster Kennel Club (WKC), the U.S.'s premier
dog competition organizations. Both websites also offer a good amount of information geared toward beginners and even spectators of the sport.
Then, with a little bit of history and a whole lot of training under your belt, you'll be ready to participate in your first-ever dog show - a memorable event for both you and your dog!
