Is there money to be made showing purebred dogs?

Question

Hi,

My partner and I just adopted a AKC registered purebred Finnish Spitz puppy. She is an amazing 5 month old pup named Aydan. I had never thought about showing dogs before she came into our lives, but I am curious. Aydan is really msart, sweet, and we're doing pretty well on obedience and good walking etiquette.

Can people earn money showing their dogs? Or do they spend more than they typically bring in?

What are typical best of breed prizes?

How does it work if you are showing a breed that is pretty rare (like the Finnish Spitz)?

Thanks!
Emily

Answer 1

After many years of hard work, and many years of financial and emotional investment in your dogs, and very likely many years of never placing in a single show or event, yes there may possibly be money to be made and prestige to be earned.
That's rarely a breeder's main motive for showing their dogs, however - my family have bred and shown Whippets and Smoothcoat Chihuahuas for years - my grandparents and parents could certainly tell you that it's love for their breeds which keep them going and got them started. I haven't carried on the family tradition - I don't have the money or time to invest personally - but I keep both breeds as pets and admire from afar.

To be showing at national and international levels, you'll need some seriously good bloodlines, and a dog which is an excellent example of its breed, rather than a good-natured and attractive animal - tiny conformation faults can disqualify a dog completely. As with horse-racing, there are plenty of excellent horses out there who never win the Derby, and plenty more horses who never even get a look in.

If your dog is smart, then obedience and agility at local or eventually state level might be fun for you both - neutered dogs are accetable, at least at non-professional and non-competitive levels.

Answer 2

No, you can't make money from showing your own dog.

You may be able to make money from showing other people's dogs, but you first have to prove that you know what you're doing. Which means you need to get some wins, or maybe be an apprentice to a professional handler.

There is one show (maybe two?) with big money prizes. But I can assure you your breeder would not sell you a puppy that has potential to win at one of these shows without telling you. The people who win at these shows have generally put so much money into their hobby that they barely break even.

Unless you're a top professional handler, it's a hobby that most people lose money on.

ADD: Last time I showed a dog, I got Best of Breed. I got a ribbon. Cost me something like $20 to enter the show. It wasn't my dog (I begged a friend to let me show him), so I didn't have to figure in the cost of grooming equipment (there were probably about 8 different things we used to groom him), grooming table, crates, etc. And it was a fairly close show, so I didn't have to pay hundreds in gas. Prizes really depend. If someone supports an entry you might get something small (I once got a silver dollar... worth $1) or maybe something large and useless (like a tea set). Sometimes you get nice things, like artwork with your breed on it. Rarely do you get much that actually has much monetary value.

It can be more difficult to get a championship on less common breeds. To get a championship, you need a total of 15 points. These points are awarded based on the dogs of your breed you defeated. So if you get Best of Breed but there's no competition, you get a ribbon but no points toward your championship. A lot of people with rarer breeds try to keep track of where and when their friends are showing so that they all go at once and one or more of the dogs get the points for that show.

Answer 3

No but there is a lot of money to be lost. Your typical Best of Breed prize is a flat purple and yellow ribbon or a rosette if you are lucky. The only time you will get more than that is if someone has donated the prize. Cash prizes are very uncommon at the breed level.

My girlfriend had the top female Puli in the US a few years back and figured it only cost her about 5K a year.

Answer 4

there is big money in being a professional handler... but just to show your own dog..no.. you will spend lots though...
Talk to your puppies breeder and see if they feel the pup has show potential.. it is not true that a breeder will not sell you a super nice dog..it is also not true that you cannot get a specials quality dog without someone telling you...
We place awesome pups in pet homes..just for the sake of having a loving home for our pups.and never tell the family they have a top show prospect...because they want a pet.. We will also place specials quality pups with people starting out..junior handlers and ever 4H... If you breed a litter and you only get one show pup in the bunch..you are doing something wrong..and since you cannot keep them all...super nice pups get placed all the time

just talk to your breeder..they are the only ones that can tell you for sure...not people on YA that have no clue

Answer 5

The ONLY way of making money in showing is by winning a lot of conformation shows and gaining a title. You can then breed your dog and sell the pups at a premium due to the fact that you have a dog (not using the word bit*h as I do not want to offend anyone) that has won in several shows.

However, breeding your dog is NOT recommended as only experienced breeders would be doing this and there are way to many unwanted dogs in shelters as it is.

If your dog has been desexed, then you cannot show her and the is no way of making money from showing.

Answer 6

Oh H--- no, you cant be serious, it takes money, and time and patience and you have to have a show quality dog to do it..

only after years and the dog points out, champions out all the way, you can breed and make money....

true breeders/show folks dont do it just for money, we do it for the prestige and love of the breed...

Answer 7

No. It is actually a financially loosing proposition once you add up transportation costs, hotel costs, grooming supplies, training, show gear, time off work (for the big shows that are a long distance away) and show fees.

Answer 8

if you did not purchase your dog as a "show potential " pup from a reputable breeder,, chances are you do not have a show quality pup.... prizes are ribbons...... people show their dogs in order to evaluate breeding stock.. dogs are NOT judged againse one another, but against the breed standard..

i highly highly suggest you go to some dog shows.....

you could do competive obedience,, again,, you get a ribbon.. and bragging rights and work towards earning a title.. dogs can be spayed/neutered in agililty and obedience

dogs must be intact in order to compete in conformation.


spay your pet..

Answer 9

There is no money to be made in showing no matter if it is conformation, obedience, rally or any other venue.Showing requires money to be spent...travel, entry fees,etc, etc.

Answer 10

As long as you first have a lot of money to invest.