Showing your breed?

Question

Why do you think it is ok to breed dogs just to show them. My opinion is that it is cruel and belittling. How do you justify breeding to get a better breed with good training any dog can be a great part of your family. Get them from the shelters. Same as baby shows they suck. I think this is the most selfish cruel and unjustifible reason to breed your dogs. You are playing with lives here people just to show them off. How do you sleep at night.

And before answering try to stick to the question.

Answer 1

Why do you think showing your dog is cruel? Exhibitors still feed their dogs with premium food (probably with supplements), exercise their dogs like everybody does, groom their dogs and show practice with their dogs. Show dogs don't make that much of a difference than pets. People who committed to show are serious about their breeds. They compete against other exhibitors because they think the dogs they have are a piece of specimen which is closed to the breed standard. Exhibitors are not showing off. Showing your dog is not an easy task. You have to know how to show and handle your dog so you can present your dog to the judge. It's hard work, but rewarding.
Honestly, I sleep pretty well every night, so do my dogs. Breeders select the best of their breeding stocks to breed. Why? It's to improve the breed.

Answer 2

This question is hilarious.
People show their dogs to compete with others of the same breed to measure how close their dog comes to the breed standard. Some people breed their dogs for good temperment, drive or other wonderful aspects of a particular dog. And yes these dogs are part of the family and are loved just like any one else's Cruel??? I think you need to educate yourself.
Ignorance and miseducation is cruel too!

Answer 3

Who breeds just to show??? Personally, I hate showing, which is why I have a handler do it. We show because it HELPS indentify dogs that are the best specimines of the breed. Form follows function. Meaning, if the dod doesn't have the proper FORUM, it cannot function doing what it was bred to do.
Showing is a TOOL to find those within the breed that should be bred from. As does working titles, and health clearances. All those things together help decide who should be bred.
I doubt there are all that many people that breed just so they can show. You do know that showing is VERY expensive and time consuming, right??

And if you think showing is cruel...you clearly have not been to a dog show. There are not a bunch of dog being dragged around!! The dog love it. They just trot around and get treats. What is not to like about that for a dog???

Answer 4

WOW not the first time I've heard this but still makes me laugh each time.

What about the people who breed their dogs because they're 'beautiful' and then abandon the pups?

What about the people who just breed because they can and then beg for help when their dog is dying or ate a pup?

What about those people who breed or buy designer dogs while others die so much in the shelter?

There's nothing wrong with purebred dogs from a good breeder. If they were bred to get the best out of the dog and to eliminate genetic diseases, that's great! But if they're just breeding to make money, it's wrong.

Answer 5

Ok.. I'll stick to the question.

I don't breed dogs solely to show them. I breed working dogs who actually work. I DO, however, show my dogs BECAUSE besides their working capability and genetic heritage (pedigree, health tests etc..), it is the best way to evaluate their structure and adherence to the breed standard in comparison with other dogs of their breed.

I sleep very well in the knowledge that I produce very high quality dogs that are not only beautiful but are also functional working dogs. Its wonderful knowing that even the worst pet quality puppy I've produced is a superior working animal (and prettier) than the best backyard bred dog of the same breed (and I've seen a LOT of those working purebred rescue).

Edit: I have dogs who SULK when they are not the dog going to the show... I wonder if I need to have the question writer visit and tell them that "they suck". Although, I'm certain the dogs wouldn't agree... heck, its the easiest "work" they'll ever do and it earns them lots of cookies just for standing sitll, moving nicely and looking cute... plus they get HOURS of one on one time with me... which they're all angling for.

Answer 6

showing turns into unfavorable to a purebred while breeders artwork to a clean acceptable type it relatively is a perversion of the breed customary, it relatively is the blueprint of the breed that describes the temperament, features & visual charm that have been initially selectively bred into the breed, so it ought to get notwithstanding sort of artwork it became into created to do, executed. Implicit interior the breed customary is that the canines shouldn't in common terms have the visual charm & circulate like the breed it became into created to be, yet below it could have the middle temperament & solid information that define the breed. showing a canines proves that superficially it has the visual charm of working example a Dobermann, while gaited has no glaring skeletal illness & strikes with self assurance, & would not fold like a concertina or snap while the judges is going over the canines. although showing a canines to its call is basically a nominal try of temperament & would not instruct that it has the solid information of a working canines & ought to function below the process handler while its temperament became into examined. there is not any good clarification why a canines can't be bred to artwork & instruct, aside from the actuality that *thinking canines* with a minds of their very own & intense drives are no longer what the puppy industry needs & some breeders are all too prepared to offer *straightforward to deal with* variations that are undesirable representatives of the breed.

Answer 7

If good breeders with champion dogs did not breed at all, the breeds would all die out - then what?

That doesn't mean that mixed breed dogs don't make wonderful pets, just means that there are so many of them, and homeless pedigree dogs who were carelessly bred just for money, that no one UNLESS they have a proven champion with great bloodlines, free from genetic defects, should be breeding.

Answer 8

The responsible breeders spend their time and money to show their dogs to prove they are of a quality to be bred. Only those dogs that conform closely to the written standard will earn their championships and, subsequently MAY be bred.
It's not at all comparable to a child's beauty pageant.
A dog show is NOT a beauty contest.
A dog that is shown in conformation is judged by it's written standard. There is a standard for every breed. The standard is written as "form following FUNCTION", meaning that it describes the ideal build of a dog for performing the function for which the breed was developed. For example a hunting dog (such as a beagle) would have to have a certain angulation front and rear to allow it's running gear to be capable of carrying it all day in the field. The description of it's ribs being "well sprung" is for the purpose of giving it the lung power to hunt. There is a correct coat described as well to keep the dog bramble proof...and so on and so forth for each physical characteristic of the dog that is necessary to it' s function. Most breed standards contain a description of correct temperament as well, meaning that a dog bred to CONFORM (conformation showing) to it's standard also has correct temperament. Whether or not a dog is beautiful is subjective. Whether or not a dog conforms closely enough to it's standard to obtain it's championship is objective. A responsible breeder is breeding to preserve and improve the breed to which he/she is dedicated. The standard is the description of the ideal of that breed so he/she breeds to conform to that. The objective judging by an expert (the dog show judge), proves the breeders success in doing so, and so the dog may be bred and the breed preserved, according to it's standard.
You will find if you'd like to obtain first hand information by becoming involved in dog shows, that many, many show breeders are involved in all aspects of their chosen breed, including field work, and rescue. Being dedicated to a chosen breed entails much more than producing puppies. It is these same responsible breeders who found, fund & man the Breed Rescue Groups, who fund and participate in studies of canine health issues, who educate the public, mentor aspiring breeders, and in general dedicate their lives to the welfare of their breed.

Answer 9

Showing dogs is about breeding dogs -- you don't so much breed dogs to show as much as use shows to evaluate your breeding program.

That said, I do enjoy showing, and I do get excited about getting a new puppy into the ring.

You don't breed "to get a better breed" -- that statement doesn't even make sense. You breed to improve upon what you have. How do you know what you need to improve upon? By using the dogs for their intended purpose (i.e. herding, sledding, hunting) and evaluating them there. By understanding your breed's Standard and showing them at shows to evaluate them against that. These are the arenas in which you learn about your breed, and how to improve the lines that you are working with.

I agree that any dog makes a great family member, but remember that dogs had functions beyond "pet" loooong before you ever got one. Why is it so wrong to use them for their original function, and to breed dogs who excel in their function and conformation?

I'm sorry, but dogs are more than just pets. They love to work for their people, and -- yes -- that includes going into the ring and working for treats. If my dog gets to spend the weekend at a show with me -- getting 24 hours of 1-on-1 time, getting groomed and fussed over, and playing in the ring with me for treats -- he'd much rather be doing that than sitting at home while I was at work.

How is that wrong?

Answer 10

now, i dont agree with breeding in certain aspects, or with showing for certain reasons...

but, most show dogs are kept as pets, and lead very happy, healthy lives outside of the show ring. and the point of showing them gives them an idea of which ones to breed and whichs to not (to then better the breed). the show dogs arent like, kept in a dungeon in between shows. and many of the dogs have fun with it.