show dogs..confirmation?

Question

im going to be 18 in a few days.. I have a golden retriever and i would like to know how to show her. like what do judges look for in confirmation i guess that is what it's called? My dog knows all the basic training and so fourth..but i dont know what to practice with her to make her be a " show dog " in the ring..

she cant be fixed? why not?

yes she is from a show bred family.. i paid $850 for her and waited a year for her.. her parents are show quality dogs and have won many events.

Answer 1

I would visit "backstage" of shows a few times so you will know what to expect. Contact your breeder and see if they can't hook you up for a visit to a show. AKC lists what the particular breed should display. Go to the website below and you can get the comprehensive printout for your retriever.

Answer 2

Go to the website of the association your dog is registered with (AKC, UKC, CKC, etc, depending on where you are), and look up the breed standard. That will give you an idea. In the show ring, there is a separate category for altered dogs who will not be used for breeding.

If you got the dog from a breeder and not a pet store, you should contact them to discuss this with them. Normally, these issues are discussed when you purchase the puppy. If you are serious about showing, they should be supportive and help you out, (some may even want to show the dog for you, at least at the beginning) because if your dog does well it reflects well on their kennel and their breeding animals. If your puppy was sold to you as a "pet quality" animal, then your breeder might not be so supportive, because again, if your dog doesn't do well in the show ring it reflects badly on them. If you paid for a "pet" animal, it is not fair to the breeder to then expect the dog to be competitive in the show ring.

As far as what you can do on your own, if you haven't attended dog shows, start with that. Take a good look at the Goldens, to see how your own dog compares. Watch carefully and see what is expected from the dogs. One important thing you need to train her for, if you haven't already, is to "stand for examination," which means to stay still & not make a fuss as the judge feels her body and looks into her mouth.

Next, call up the obedience/training schools in your area. Many of them have show handling classes as well.

If you can't take a class, you should probably consider hiring a professional handler to show your dog, at least the first time. You may get a few pointers from them, and, once you know how your dog places when handled by a professional, you will be better able to decide whether or not this is something you want to pursue.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Where did you get her from?

Really, unless you got her from a show kennel as a show prospect, it will be highly unlikely that she will be show quality. Occasionally show quality puppies are sold to pet homes but that doesn't happen often. This doesn't mean she is any less of a dog -- of course not -- but it does mean she won't excel in the ring. Dog showing is very competitive.

I would try getting in contact with a breed expert to give her an evaluation. Even if it doesn't work out for you there are plenty of other avenues you could try. Competitive obedience and agility and great fun.

Answer 4

I would reccommend calling some obedience/kennel clubs in your area and see if any of them offer confirmation classes. You can search for clubs at www.akc.org. You can also check out your dog's standard at AKC to see if she has potential. If there are no training clubs in your area, search for a show breeder or handler. Many of them are willing to help a newbie in the show ring. It does not have to be a golden breeder, just someone who has some experience in the ring. Someone who is familiar with goldens would be a little more helpful, as they can guide you better as to whether or not your golden is ring material. If you cant find a golden breeder, look for someone who breeds a similar breed next. Many of them have shown and handled similar breeds before they got the breed they are currently showing.

Answer 5

For starters, visit the AKC website and use the store option to access the video tapes. You'll find one for sale on showing the Golden Retriever. It's a good primer.

Next, visit a dog show and go to the show chairman's table. Ask him/her if there is a club member that can give you a 'tour' of the show, to explain what you are seeing.

That should get the ball rolling.

Answer 6

I want to second the person who said that you should contact the breeder. Showing dogs in conformation--especially in a breed like goldens--is very, very competitive. "Points" toward a championship are determined by how many dogs of that breed are shown--since goldens are common show dogs, you have to defeat a ton of them to get points. Also, the grooming of any "coated" breed is hard to learn to do on your own. And handling is a lot trickier than it looks . . .

Your dog can't be spayed, since the purpose of conformation shows is to judge breeding stock.

If your dog is show quality, the breeder will probably be happy to help you, since any wins reflect well on the kennel.

Answer 7

The reason for a dog show is to prove a dogs value as breeding stock, being fixed would make that rather redundant.

To find out about showing, I would suggest that you join an "All Breed Club" (they will be the club that hosts a dog show in your community) That club will give you access to handling classes where both you and your dog can learn about showing.

The pic below is "Buzz" (Lab) and "ken" (Golden) they are both the winningest show dogs in history for their respective breeds. That will give you a good idea of what a show Golden is suppose to look like.
http://www.hunt101.com/img/354675.jpg

Answer 8

Your dog cannot be fixed because if she wins enough it is required that she be bred. You must be registered as a handler of the AKC. You need a slip-lead (the best one is a British Show-slip) that matches her coatcolor (tan or gold is best for a golden). She needs to know how to stand, and you need to know how to position her to show her off. She must be old enough to show. I recommend asking the breeder where you got her to give you a lesson in dog showing. Also go to a dog show and pay attention to the handlers and dogs in the ring.

Answer 9

Well she will have to learn to have people look at her teeth, touch her in various places, and even look at her eyes. The judge is going to be a stranger to her, and she will have to have the temperament not to balk when someone checks her. She will need to hold still and keep her tail up and basically be very relaxed. I just watch a lot of dog shows, but the judge can tell if a dog is enjoying itself or not. Most of the ones who do well are comfortable, curious, and work the crowd. They just have a presence that shows they are very happy doing what they are doing and they expect to win.

Answer 10

Minor thing. It's conformation, not confirmation.

Go to a conformation show and talk around to the folks.

Most of the folks are extremely helpful.

You'll find people who are professional handlers and people who are handling their own dog. All of them should be able to give you and idea of clubs, or private individuals where you can get lessons.

Keep in mind, that even if your dog isn't a great conformation dog, there are still a HUGE number of things that you can do with her. Obedience, rally, agility, tracking, hunt tests, are some of the things.