Hi there,

Can anyone give me a basic rundown about how to get involved in dog shows and/or showing a dog? The best I can find on the internet is the 10 step Ehow guide (kind of a joke). I've tried contacting many kennel clubs in my area and no one ever gets back to me. It makes me wonder why do they have phone numbers and emails if they never return inquiries. I don't just want to up at a dog show looking confused about what's going on! Even as a spectator.

Things I am wondering about:

-can you bring a pet dog to a dog show as a spectator?
-can you just register to a competition?
-what basic things should you know before trying to get involved?

Thanks a lot!

Hi Jan! It's frowned upon to bring a pet when you're spectating. If it's a show that's held outdoors rather than a conference center, you will see a few pets, but they normally stay around the grooming areas rather than the show rings.

Go to shows without your pup so you can really take it in. Even little shows are big, crowded, and can be confusing. It will be easier to watch and learn when you're not trying to keep your dog out of the way. Watch the huskies but also watch other working dogs--it will help you see what they look for.

Registering is pretty simple; shows are listed months in advance and have deadlines to enter. Look for local shows in your area to get an idea of what shows are nearby (the bigger ones you'll likely have to travel for). This is the site for my area when I was showing to give you an idea of what they look like: https://www.raudogshows.com/

Before you enter, I highly recommend getting a mentor who is successful. If your breeder shows, they may be willing to help you or may be able to connect you with someone who will. If not, check out your local breed clubs and associations; they often have classes, mentoring programs, and practice matches to try out your skills. Check Facebook-a lot of the club websites are outdated but have very active breed groups in the area on Facebook. I know there's lots of Husky Huddles in different regions with active showers.

If you are just starting out, I also recommend you either handle a professional handler or take extensive handling classes. For newbies, handlers don't look like they do much, but a good handler can make an okay dog look spectacular, and a poor handler can make the best of champions look like a slug. Being a strong handler is a real skill and takes a lot of practice, which is why professional handlers can be pricey.

Finally, when you're a spectator...do not pet the dogs. Or if you must, wait until the dog is completely done showing and ask first. I can't tell you how many people would bonk my Samoyed on the head because she "was so cute!" after I spent hours getting her coat just right...in seconds they would flatter her coat or get crumbs/sticky syrup in her coat right before we were set to go in the ring.  

In addition to everything Anyaluv posted, you probably should have an idea of how the dog you are thinking about showing/wanting to show, measures up conformation-wise.

Thanks so much for the info! I was mostly just curious about dog shows because there really isn't a lot out there about it. It kind of gave me a elite secret society vibe.

Places to look at, because it isn't all that secret, but there are rules for AKC events, and even if you have an AKC registered dog does not mean you can enter on a whim, you have to do a bunch of research and talk to those that do it. So places to look AKC has their website, SHCA has their website, both will show dates and places of shows, another thing you can look for is a local H2M2, they tend to be on Face Book. Also somethings are dependent on the contract you signed with your breeder, most breeders will have a co-owned agreement if you want to do shows, some have spay/neuter clause in their contracts, and I am not 100% positive, but pretty sure, that most AKC sponsored shows require unaltered dogs to compete. Lastly, breeders normally do things to show the "worth" of their dogs, as in working their dogs or showing, probably the best place to get help and info is to go to your breeder and ask him/her how to go about showing. that way they can help mentor you, or suggest someone who can.

There is also a lot of valuable information in here as there are a few people that show their Huskies. So never hesitate to ask questions. if you havnt seen it already, there is a sub category here dealing specifically with dog showing and can be very helpful to you. It's an interesting read to say the least.

Jimmy just reminded me on another thread that is very helpful, "Conformation, a realistic look" about 30 pages long, but also a good read and a lot of info crammed in there.

Well, I think the problem was I was kind of stuck in a catch-22. I read the entire AKC site, which basically says here is the link to enter your dog into a show, here is the breed standard, and contact your local club. So I contacted my local club, and other regional clubs, and no one responded to me. I have full rights to my pup, but my breeder does not show her dogs. Kind of a dead end that way.  

Ultimately I think my pup is probably not a show quality dog anyway because he didn't come from a "show line" or etc, I was mostly just curious about the process -like how do you get into showing your dog if you don't already know someone who shows dogs? Apparently it's highly improbable that you will! lol

I did read the confirmation thread and the dog showing thread, and was already confused about words like "stacking." haha~ I should probably just find a irl person I can talk to about dog shows, but I just don't know where they are hiding. I guess looking through FB just totally went over my head.

Anyone can enter without knowing someone, it just certainly helps because they are confusing. Check if there's a dog training club or facility nearby that offers handling classes or agility classes-they can help teach you and learn the ins and outs too.

I will say if your breeder didn't show, it's highly unlikely that your dog won't do well in conformation. Not a slight against your pup at all, it's just the dogs that compete successfully fit the standard incredibly well.

Oh yea, I totally understand! I'm pretty sure she was a "pet" breeder. I think my pup is pretty, and lots of randoms will compliment him on the street, but I'm sure 100% of huskies gets compliments by randoms about how pretty they are. It's more my curiosity about how my pup measures up to perfection. Oh the vanity!

I hear you. Just know that handling classes and show entry fees can get really pricey really fast. It's certainly an expensive hobby.

Post pictures of your pup in the conformation thread; we have a number of experts who can give a good analysis of your dog.

Conformation showing is less about the pretty or the cute, which we all know our beloved pets are, than it is about the correct structure for the breed's function. Having your pup evaluated for show potential, either through this forum, a reputable breed fancier, or even through handling class can be a great advantage before sending off that first entry. But take your pup to a handling class, it's training, it's time with your pup, and it can help you decide if showing even interests you to perhaps consider pursuing in the future.

A good run down of the breed standard:
http://www.mikulov.org/links/analysis.htm

A good start on training:
http://www.sue-eh.ca/page24/page40/

Breed Club page, (has a list of local clubs!)
www.shca.org

HuskyMom09 has some fantastic suggestions!