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Originally Posted by Higgin's Mom Pat is right: go to every dog show you can in person. You'll learn a lot.
First and foremost: Is your dog "show quality?" Start by reading the Breed Standard. After attending some shows, ask a handler to look at your dog and give you an estimate of his/her chances of "finishing" the dog to a champion degree.
Is it expensive? You bet it is. But so are most hobbies, when you think about it. I showed my English Setters back in the early 80s and hired a handler to show them. It ran about $1,000 month back then. It would have been even more expensive to do it ourselves because we would have had to pay for hotels (or have had a motorhome), meals, gas, entry fees, grooming equipments, etc., etc. The general cost to "finish" a dog back in the 80s was about $6,000 to $7,000.
Last point, which show people don't always like to hear: POLITICS is the name of the game. Handlers are favored over owner/handlers as a rule and WHICH handler you have (can afford) makes a difference. Then there are judges who don't like big bitches, or ones who favor coat over conformity, or who like one breed/breeder over another.
On the whole, however, shows, showing, and show people are the BEST people in the world and I love it! Don't have the competitive desire to do it any more, but love watching it on TV because I HAVE been there and worn the tee shirt. |
Very good information. Showing is time consuming, expensive, political and very addictive. Not every one is willing to make the sacrifices involved to show thier dog. Go to as many shows as you can. Observe/ talk to the breeders/handlers at the shows. You are going to need to know how to groom your dog/train your dog/how to show/keep the dog in show condition/
purchase equipment/know the breed standards/find a show puppy.
This is just starters.
wnalegria