do you think showing dogs is cruel?

Question

some people just have this fever to put dogs in shows.i think dogs are mans best friend.you wouldnt parade your best friend around and make them do sill tricks so why do it to a dog?

i have been to shows and yes some are ok but there are times when they seem overworked.my parents did this for awhile and some dogs do enjoy it but as stated i think the owners motive should be pure.if the dogs likes it then it would seem ok.thanks for the help.
also,to the one who asked about beauty pagents,i dont agree with that period!and i do worry about humans,and if you are so worried about people why are you waisting your time even responding to my question.get up and do something about it because you cant solve humanities problems on yahoo answers.maybe you could try another web site for that.i also totaly disagree with dog fighting and think anyone who does this should be punished somehow.

Answer 1

You should have done some more research before posting something so stupid. It makes no sense!!! What "tricks" do show dogs do???????

Answer 2

The tradition of showing dogs comes from the sales point of view. Owners with pure breds wanted to show that their dog was the best and therefor increase sales of their sog's lineage.

It has become a tradition now as much as a sales technique. But don't for a minute think that this is cruel, or that the dogs are beaten or starved. That's just ignorant. In fact, the people who show dogs tend to know more about dogs and proper handling than most.

Teaching dogs 'silly' tricks is not as silly as you might think. why it might mean nothing to you if a dog learns to sit or lay, the teaching aspects provides bonding between the pet and master.

Dogs are pack animals. If they recognize their human as the Alpha dog, then nothing makes them happier than to serve and be a great companion. They learn how to serve and be a great companion through training. You know - silly things.

Sadly, those dogs are treated better than many people are. They are well fed, excersized, cared for, loved, etc. Away from the shows, they are kept as normal pets. And the vast majority love competing. Watch a dog show and you'll see what I mean.

Answer 3

My dogs show. They are in the ring for about 5 min total most shows. They do NOT do tricks. They move around the ring, are gone over by a judge, and they are done. My dogs LIKE it. It is a social gathering for them. If they did not like it, it would be a waste of money to show them, because a dog that looks like they hate it will not get put up by most judges.
You really should have a clue what you are talking about. Clearly, if you think they do "tricks" you have never even BEEN to one.
My dogs do shows on some weekends. The rest of their lives are spent digging, rolling in mud, walking in the woods,hauling wood, swimming, doing obedience, and just being DOGS. A show dogs IS a dog and they do not spend all theri waking hours at shows. This is the idea that uneducated people have.

Please tell me in what way that is cruel.

How are they "overworked" by going around a ring two or three times a day for two, or maybe three days in a row?????????

My dogs haul wood and walk 6 miles each day at home. Wouldn't a show be like a vacation for them???????

Sorry, but it really does not sound like you have much knowledge about showing at all. Where are the "tricks" you talk about????
Obedience??? Is that the "tricks"??? Teaching the dog to behave and listen to the owne is "tricks"?????????

What do YOUR dogs do???? Sit around the house all day like most dogs?? that is why there are so many behavior problems. Dogs aren't doing ANYTHING. Dogs were meant to have a job. Even little dogs would be better behaved if they were treated like DOGS and given something to do!!!

Answer 4

Of course it's not cruel. If a dog doesn't like the show ring, it won't show. Owners aren't going to waste their time & money showing dogs who don't give their best in the show ring because they have no chance of winning. Dogs in the show ring don't do any tricks, even if they did it wouldn't be cruel because dogs love to learn & to be praised.
Short coated breeds don't go through rigorous grooming either.
The top winning dogs are those which have the correct amount of exercise and are fed on a healthy diet, so that they are in top condition - far healthier than many "pet" dogs.

Answer 5

Try going to a dog show. After you've been to one, you try telling me that the dogs there are unhappy or miserable. Quite the contrary actually! Dogs LOVE being shown, because they get attention, and 99% of dogs LOVE attention.
Whoever said dogs at shows are STARVED or ABUSED needs to go to a dog show and/or get their head examined! An abused dog would NEVER make it to the show ring! If a judge saw fear in a dog, it would be disqualified. Also, a dog has to be in the STANDARD weight and height for the breed, so a starved dog would not qualify for show.
ANyway, before you ask a question like this, you should try going to a dog show first, and really see what goes on. I'm sure your opinion will be changed.

Answer 6

There are different types of "shows" or shoudl I say events you can enter a dog into. I think it's fine. Dogs like to be the center of attention, they like to show what they have, and they love to be pampered (as the above post says).

I am on the track to training both my dog and I to do Agility. I find the reason is that has a lot of energy, she loves jumping around on things, and she likes to run around. I find that it's benefits both of us, she gets her energy fix and meets other dogs and I have something to do that gets me involved with something we both enjoy.

Doing this does not make her less of my best friend or baby, in fact I still love her like crazy and she is loved; however, she just needs an outsource for her energy which I don't seem I can't provide by throwing toys around and running/jumping around my apartment (that can be dangerous).

There are many events at dog shows that a dog can get into. If the dog likes it and the owner likes it then great, if not then perhaps you should not get into it.

http://www.akc.org/events/index.cfm?nav_area=events

Answer 7

You can not have been to many shows, because your ignorance is showing.
Go to some and see how bad it is for the dogs. 15 minutes of work and the rest of the day to hang out, walk around and see things, smell other dogs, and visit the vendors for toys and treats.

What a life!!!! And all that is after a LONG grooming session which MOST ALL dogs enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe worry more about REAL issues and not something that is so very far from cruel!!!!

Hey, I think taking your dog to a dog park is cruel!!!!

Answer 8

Generally, no, I don't feel it is cruel. They do have to go through some rigorous grooming and scheduling, but the idea of showing is to ideally, better the breed. They don't have to do tricks. They are trained to stack, walk, and deal with showing situations.

The dogs you see in the show rings are usually well pampered. When they are not showing they pretty much are treated like any other mutt.

Some dogs, and cats, LOVE to show. They love the attention!

Answer 9

Showing dogs is not cruel. Most show dogs love their job. They enjoy all the attention and the pampering. They love strutting their stuff.
Also show dogs don't do "tricks" I don't think you know a lot about shows & showing..maybe you should attend a few and see what they are really about and like before you say they are cruel.

Check out some conformation shows, obedience & rally trials, hunt/field trials..you may just be surprised at waht you learn.

Show dogs have NOT been beaten or abused..Most show dogs are very loved family pets. They receive wonderful care and careful training and lots of attention & love.

Answer 10

It certainly isn't my cup of tea, but I wouldn't condem it without knowing what the owners motivation is.

Some show owners seem a little too fervent for my taste. For those who are, I don't appreciate anybody who treats canines like a commodity.

However, those who use positive methods to train their dogs I'm fairly neutral towards. At least they are giving their dogs attention and a job to carry forward. It prevents boredom and gives them mental and physical exercise.

Answer 11

people put their children in beauty pagents do you think that's cruel? i dont think it's remotely "cruel" to walk your dog around in a circle. when you show a dog they do not do tricks. they are examined by a judge to see how close they fit the breed standard. it has nothing to do with tricks. my grandmother bred dogs and showed them. she loved it and the dogs seemed to enjoy it. maybe you should worry more about people abusing dogs than showing them. they are treated very well and sometimes even better than dogs that aren't show dogs.