Why Show People End Up Broke
 

I just posted this in the breeders section but I thought the show people would really get a kick out of it!

Why Show People End up Broke

The Most Expensive Collar you ever bought?

Why of course ..that very first Show collar!

How it all began?

In the Beginning...
You got your dog, a real show dog, and quickly realized that you needed the
Correct collar to show him on. Which in turn led you to that wonderful
Buttery smooth three foot leather lead.

At your very first show, you noticed that you just HAD to have the proper
Grooming supplies also....
Slicker Brush $9.00
Comb $10.00
Spray Bottle $4.00
Good Conditioner $15.00
Water Bottle $4.00
Pin Brush $15.00
Bait $10.00
NEW Collar(your dog has now out grown that first one)$14.00 Chalk $9.00
Chalk Brush $15.00 Cholesterol $10.00

YOUR FIRST POINT.*****YOU'RE HOOKED****** ** Bait $10.00 Dog show calendar
$12.00-don't want to miss ANY s hows now.

By now you're beginning to realize the back seat isn't a proper way to
Transport your dog.
Dog Crate for the car $80.00

At your very next show you begin to feel a bit more confident and relaxed at
Dog shows.
Borrowing and waiting to use your friends grooming table is so
Inconvenient. ...
Grooming Table $95.00
Grooming Arm $50.00
Bait $10.00

You begin to start collecting dog show things, old towels, skirts with
Pockets, dresses with pockets, good comfortable shoes, rain gear, umbrellas,
Water jugs, etc $100.00

Now you have too many grooming supplies?...
Tack Box to store and hold the supplies $50.00

Good comfortable Camp Chairs $35.00-we seem to be spending much more time at
Shows lately.

Suddenly you realize all of these items AND your dog don't fit in the family
Car anymore....
Used Mini Van $15,000.

Somewhere around this point you get ! Tired of waiting to use your friends
Blow dryer....
New blow dryer $150.00
Extension Cord for Dryer $15.00
Five-way plug for sharing electricity with your new dog show friends $10.00
New and improved dog show collar and lead $40.00 New type of improved Coat
Conditioner $15.00 Bait $10.00 Your friends favorite Shampoo and Whitener
$35.00 New Comb and Slicker brush $25.00 (you lost the old ones at the last
Show) Scissors $30.00 (kitchen shears just don't trim those pads
Right)

Muddy Show grounds..Roll up mat for covering ground $45.00 YOUR DOG PICKED
UP HER NINTH SINGLE

The hunt for majors begins. After wasting much money on entries where majors
Didn't hold you begin to get frustrated and search out and find that new
Male show puppy and a perfect match for your female!....
Crate for new dog $80.00
Show collar and lead for new dog $50.00 (your tastes have been refined now)
Handling classes for new dog $40.00

The very if! First show teaches you, your Mini Van will not carry both crates
And all your equipment... .
Brand New Larger Mini Van $25,000.00

Now having two dogs to show and get ready quickly teaches you a generator is
Required!
Generator $325.00
Two Dog Kennels for outside $1,000.00

Just got to pick up one of those majors on your female so you hire a handler
For those major shows $200.00 (+/-) YOUR FEMALE FINISHES!

Your new male is too young to breed.....
Updating & Health Clearances on Female $200.00 Stud Fee $1,000.00
Progesterone Testing $200.00 Whelping box $250.00 Vet bills-x-rays,
Sonograms, well mother checks $400.00 Putting first aid whelping kit
Together $300.00 Vaccines for new litter $150.00 X-pen for puppies $80.00
Whelping pads, fleeces, toys for puppies, weaning supplies, etc $450.00 Baby
Scale $45.00 Well puppy and mother exams $150.00

Spectacular puppy in litter will be new show dog....
Immediately realize Mi! In Van will NOT hold three dogs and show equipment... .
Motor Home or Full size dog show van $30, 000 to $100,000.00! !!!!!!!!
You suddenly realize you are eating macaroni and cheese while your dogs are
Eating Human Grade Dog food at $55.00 a bag.

Congratulations!
You have now earned the title of "Dog Breeder!"
Aren't you glad you are finally making those big bucks breeding dogs? So far
you have invested $75,652.00 in showing your two dogs.

*This figure does NOT include dog food, the initial cost of your dogs, entry
fees, motel bills, general vet bills, toys and Many other ownership
incidentals.

Your litter of pups yielded six puppies, you kept one and sold the other
five for $500.00 each. Congratulations you just made $2,500.00 "Breeding
your dogs!"

Now if you can just breed 30 or more litters you MAY just break even with
your initial investment of over $75,000!

Author Unknown

OMG thats hilarious! How many Mini-vans did you go thru?

I'm still waiting for my minivan so I ride with my mentor sometimes. You should see my Intrepid loaded down when I do go on my own though!! How many yorkies can you get in a sedan?

Oh my! I'm glad you posted this list...I've been going at it backwards. No show dog yet and I'm already looking at motorhomes with showing in mind! My criteria in a coach is more for supply/x-pen storage, grooming convenience and where can I keep their crates...anything else we can work around!

I've been going about this all wrong, too!!!! Never thought of showing, but the grooming supplies, constant changing of clothing, human grade food, doggie beds, car seats and meeting up with friends is costing just as much!!!!

Oh I bet that would make a great picture! I bet you hardly have any room left to drive.

showing
 

Most Yorkie exhibitors think an RV is a necessity, not a luxury. I remember when a well known became one of the first to buy a $250,000 RV...it was gorgeous..entirely outfitted for the Yorkies...!

This is cracking me up!

Try showing on one desperate weekend in a pontiac fiero 2 seater! The blazer was out of commission. Determination.
Btw, I did it!
LOL LOL

"Still waiting for my minivan" hoo hum.:D :D

Try lugging 2 dogs two people and all our dog stuff and equipment in a convertible mustang LOL...good thing I sold it and got the SUV LOL But this is all true! I'm no where near to breaking even and I've only had four litters in four years and I campaigned a special and starting to campaign another one....LOL! And I'm BROKE!!!! LOL LOL LOL

Donna

That is so true!! I am finishing my first year of showing and WOW if people only knew the up front cost that goes into showing...the actual show dog is not even the most expensive part by the time you buy shampoo/conditioner, brush(s), grooming supplies, grooming table, ringside table, travel equipment...that that is just the start of it.

But it is all worth every penny when you finish your first dog or that first time you go Best of Breed over some really nice dogs!!!

cost
 

Showing costs remind of the "I Love Lucy" episode in which she buys a vaccuum cleaner...it was something like $8.99 for "the works"...then he added the hose, case, handle, attachments, cord, on/off switch etc....cost her a fortune.

One huge expense is the cost of traveling..gas, hotel/motel/eating out...! Rarely, are there enough shows locally to finish a dog...!

How on Earth anyone could ever dream that there is "profit" in breeding is beyond me!:eek:

I can't help but laugh when I think of me, Susy and Noel packed into your Intrepid along with 6 or 7 dog crates, grooming tables and equipment in Winchester. Susy was giddy because Harley finished and she was boucing off the ceiling. What a ride!

Yea and you fell asleep! I still can't believe we got it all in!!:D :D

We don't show......but we take Shelby & Seymour with us when we travel.... that is why we got the RV!!!......... x-pens, doggie clothes, carriers, carseat, grooming bag, toys, towels, blankets.............. I know how much stuff they have and can't imagine adding the "show" stuff to it..... it would require a RV and a Pull-behind trailer!!!!!
Thanks for sharing...... that was really cute!

:) This is hilarious! And so darn true. I remember when I first started showing I had a Camaro!!! That was a treat. Next an SUV. It never ends, all the stuff you think your precious little angels need. My husband just recently discovered he used the cheap shampoo and the dogs use the expensive kind. :D

We are looking at used motorhomes this weekend!!! Yeah! He's tired of paying motel bills and paying extra for the dogs to stay in the room with us.

Oh this is so true! I kept giggling at everything and dh had to come look too. He also commented about the gas, food, lodging, etc. Even though we have an SUV, we have quickly learned how fast it fills up!

Everything here is so true, and it doesn't stop. It just keeps escalating. Once your hooked on showing, you have to get more dogs because you have to make sure you have great pedigrees to breed to get your own bred by show dog, and then you need a girl/boy to breed your bred by to, and then you will need some more pens to put the added dogs in when you are at the shows, oh and an area in the RV has to be redone so that the crates can be put in safely and you need the storage compartments for the show leads, shampoos, conditioners, bows, rubberbands, shavers, hair dryers, combs, brushes, nail clippers, scissors, wraps, belly bands, etc, etc, etc. There is always something you see at the vendors that you just have to have for Max, or Sweetie, or Sam, or Queenie.

This has been a fun thread and I have enjoyed it.
Tami (Ladyhawk) is a wonderful gal and she goes above and beyond for her gang. I have had the pleasure of meeting her...and it was a very HECTIC weekend to say the least. My first meeting with her consisted of me searching for an hour to find a spot to groom. Tami helped me and even took my dog in the ring on the second day when I was not feeling well.

Yes, showing is expensive but not impossilbe if you budget.

Thank you Robbie, it was really nice meeting you as well. Levi was a breeze to show, he is one easy going fella (unlike Connor who usually will give Laurie a fit!). Are you going to be going to Raleigh next month?

Don't forget the cost of the perfect red outfit to compliment your dogs color and all types of Yorkie jewerly.

I thought Connor did really good. But I do remember him being a little stinker once with Laurie. He's so gorgeous.
Yes, Levi was a breeze wasn't he? I was especially happy at how good he was on the table. He had alot of training. We worked with him consistently every day until his debut. Too bad he didn't work out as our show dog.
Now Mav has been a challenge and a fresh start for me! He's great on a lead but a stinker on the table at times. We've been working alot. I'm really in love with him.
Yes, we are going to Raleigh.

Looks like we'll probably be heading down to Raleigh as well. Preston is a sight to behold going around the ring he's such a prancey little guy. But as soon as the judge goes to touch him on the table he pulls the old excuse me but I don't know you. He's already a bit of a mommy's boy but I'm so proud that I bred him that I could fairly burst so I don't mind. He's only 4 months old so we'll keep practising, he'll get used to strangers touching him. I'm anxious to see Maverick, I've heard from Laurie that he's beautiful.

hahaha thanks for the laugh! :) I agree though, I dont see how anyone can think there is money in breeding!

Conner can be a little stinker but he can also show his heart out and win when he wants to. Little monster!

Mom bred Maverick. We are really proud of this boy. I am looking forward to him starting his career.

if you are doing a two day show and wear RED the first day, what is a good color for the second day? Surely not Red again?

Ha ha!
I have worn red all weekend before. I wear alot of black too, which is my favorite most the time. The best thing to do which is what I have done is buy versatile suits in your basic colors of red, black and or gray. You can mix and match all the pieces with a different blouse or cami. I'm the worst though, I'll lay something out and have it pressed the night before then wake up and say "uggg" don't wanna where that and go with something totally different.
Some yorkie people that I know always wear red no matter what. It's a personal pref I guess. Blues, navy, greens, tans..whatever it's just what you want to wear. You don't have to match your dog as I have learned.;) But it does look nice when you can.
I have a book with an interesting chapter about the color of the exhibitor's clothing vs. the dog. Very interesting stuff.

Dee - this is the story of the lucky pants. I bought a new Ralph Lauren suit this past spring. The pants were a golden color. The first time I wore the pants is when Robbie, Tami and I were at a 4 day show. The first day, I won a major. The next 2 days, I wore something else and placed but did not win. The 4th day, I wore the pants and won another major. A couple of weeks later I wore the pants and won on Sat, wore something else on Sun and lost. This went on for a month or so before it hit me that I only won when I was wearing the pants. It went on and on all last summer. I would lose one day of a show and take BOB the next day when I was wearing those pants. I was getting so sick of those pants but I still wore them. Wouldn't you? I even bought another pair because those were getting stained (from liver in the pockets). I started wishing that I would lose so I could throw them away. Robbie and I were in NY and I had on the pants and Deuce lost. I came out of the ring and told Robbie how glad I was that I could stop wearing those pants. I thought it was over but then Guy won Best of Breed. Geez. I haven't worn those pants since that weekend but I always take them with me to shows. I think I wil wear them one last time at the specialty in Louisville. You and Rose better not make fun of my ratty old pants!

I probably won't see you because puppies are due the 12th but I will make sure ROSE doesn't laugh too hard.:p What an amzing story!!!!!!!

That is too funny about the pants bringing Good Luck, but I think we will try and believe in anything that might work. I pop a mint in so my nerves won't travel down the lead to my dog. I always go clothes shopping before to get a really good color of jacket and pants. By the way I think red is a great color to show off a great topline. I have worn beige pants before, but mostly wear red or black. This last show I even had my nails done and a pedicure - total cost was 85.00 just for that! I was shocked when she told me how much. I didn't even get a design or stone on my big toe polish! Ugh!
And talk about cost - how about the cost of my RV my hubby and I bought last year only for it to blow a rod on the way to SC show and had to stay in a hotel and buy a car top to haul all the stuff from the RV into and onto the car. The RV was dead and gave it to someone in SC. Luckily we had brought an extra car since our older daughter and husband were going. But that was were Gi won her first point and got BOS!! Yepee!
Money - ???? There is no way I will ever make out. Any money I get I put back in and add to it with my own money. And I am usually really good and strict with my money. But I believe that if you want to do it right - it cost. I would rather have a good reputation and great dogs and especially have my dogs healthy and happy!
T.