A dog show is a significant event in the life of a thoroughbred pet, it is after receiving a positive assessment from an expert that your pet will be able to fully participate in procreation. If you do not have contact with the breeder in order to properly prepare for the show, you will have to learn a lot about it.
Registration for a dog show
A dog show is necessary to select the best representatives of the breed. If a positive mark is awarded, not less than "very good", the dog is allowed for use in breeding. To participate in the show, your pet must have documents of origin issued within the framework of any cynological community (RKF, SCOR, etc.). You should visit exhibitions under the auspices of this particular organization.
You can sign up for the exhibition in advance from its organizers, or in extreme cases, you can arrive directly at the event by paying a fee on the spot. But in the latter case, you must be sure that you have all the required documents in your hands, as a rule, it is a pedigree or a puppy of a dog, a certificate from a veterinarian, in some cases previously received diplomas from exhibitions. The full list should be found out in a specific club, because Requirements may vary depending on breed and canine community.
If there is such an opportunity, it is advisable to ask all your questions to the breeder of your dog, it is he who will be able to explain all the nuances to you in the best way, help with the preparation and display of the dog at the exhibition.
Handling a dog, learning to show it yourself
If you have lost contact with the breeder, you will have to independently comprehend the science of the exhibition event, which is in no small measure a show. This often manifests itself in the assessment, alas, rather of the grooming of the dog and its professional display in the ring than of the exterior qualities as a pedigree animal. But even with a competent breed expertise, these components of the exhibition should not be discounted.
It is best to entrust the show of the pet to a professional handler, or you will have to first attend the appropriate courses and learn all the show wisdom together with the dog: when to enter the ring, where, how to place the dog, how to run with it and when to leave the ring.
It is important to be able to demonstrate interest, composure, activity of the pet, an appropriate exhibition stance, breed movements when jogging. The dog should show a calm reaction to the examination of the teeth, ears, palpation of the body, testing of the testicles (in males) under the expert. Handler courses are organized today at many kennel clubs.
Dog grooming: preparation for the show
If your dog belongs to a breed with difficult grooming (poodles, scotch terriers, schnauzers, etc.), you cannot avoid visiting a groomer. It is better to sign up for a haircut and styling in the salon in advance. If you require a simple hairstyle for your breed, you can prepare the dog for the show yourself by bathing it the day before and combing it just before the ring.
It is not recommended to use styling products for show grooming: for a number of experts, the presence of chemicals on a dog is a serious disadvantage, because there is no way to assess the quality and structure of wool. It is allowed to help yourself during installation only with a spray bottle with clean water. You can find out what kind of haircut and styling your pet needs for the ring, again in the dog club or in the detailed description of the breed, but in this case you will need a publication with pictures.
Arrival at the exhibition
Directly to the dog show, in addition to the documents, you must take with you a comb for the pet, replacement shoes, if you are the handler. You will also need a ring (a special leash for the ring), it can be purchased at the exhibition itself, sales of the necessary equipment are always organized there.
