Why have dog shows at all. - Page 1

Hi Before being accused of dragging down some other thread I thought it best to start a separate one. Who can explain to me the benefit of "showing" dogs. By benefit I mean to the benefit of the breed. I'll give an example of the kind of thing that winds me up. If you attend a show of working breeds with a dog that has injured itself (in the course of it's duties) such as a greyhound with a toe missing after chasing a hare on a rough bit of ground or a terrier with a scar on it's nose from being bitten by a fox.. you will be kicked out of the ring. How many sheepdogs can herd sheep? Why are they then called a working breed? Anyway here goes, tin hat on and I'm ready Best Chris

"How many sheepdogs can herd sheep? Why are they then called a working breed?" Because some can! And ever has it been in the history of the world that the few with capacity have carried the mediocre and incapable masses. You know them well. They were called "Atlas" by the ancient Greeks 'cos they carried the world. But what will happen when one day "Atlas Shrugged"?

Actually Chris, a dog will not get kicked out of the show ring for an amputated toe, or for scars. Something that is aquired and not inherited a dog will not be disqualified for at a show. Lets take a GSD for example that shows with a broken or missing tooth, something clearly mentioned in the standard. If you can prove the tooth was once there the dog will not be disadvantaged because of it. Scars have never sent a dog out of the ring unless they were fresh and the judge deemed the dog not healthy enough to show. A GSD with part of an ear missing for example can still get a V, if it is obviously from a (healed) injury and confirmed by a vet. Dogs are shown because this is where people get a chance to see many at once and talk to the owners, rather than drive from kennel to kennel, and also have a chance to compare several dogs in the flesh. People did not have the means of travel way back when as they have now, so a show was a welcome opportunity to see what is out there, and how some of the prominent dogs have been producing since the last show. Shows are also there to make sure that a dog will at least represent the minimum breed standards. That is why working line GSD have to have at least one show rating in order to be eligible for breeding. For example a GSD can be missing 3 minor teeth genetically which is still within the standard, but then of course be not at the top end of the ring, but at the bottom ranks. There are more show ratings than V. Dogs with flaws or that are not quite finished yet are rated accordingly. But sent out of the ring for reasons you describe, absolutely not. Especially not a greyhound with an amputated toe. For starters greys usually have dewclaws 'amputated' as newborns, and popped joints in the feet (common injury) cannot be fixed and sometimes amputation is the better option. Since I started with sighthounds I have spend my fair share around them, on the track and the show ring. Its not that unusual a sight. A dog will only be kicked out of the ring if it cannot be controlled and/or interferes with other dogs in the ring, is a danger to the judge when he is trying to touch it, or if it does not prepresent the standard, has disqualifying faults.

DH Thanks for your reply. I have to disagree with you on the being kicked out of a show ring because it has happend to me twice. Once with a terrier at a Fell and Moorland Working terrier show and one with a Deerhound-Greyhound cross at a country fair show ring. I admit that this was 20 odd years ago but I didn't think anything had changed on that front. I do agree with you that they are good social events that bring breeders and owners together. The working dog shows I have attended the first question on everyones lips was will he/she work and how well. The rest was a bit of fun. Best Chris

showing with a mix.... (?), might that have been the reason for dismissal? The reasons you are giving would not be reasons at pure bred shows. No idea what kind of a show you went to :o).

DH It was a working dog show, in this country (UK) a lot of people use cross bred sighthounds. They are called lurchers, various crosses are used for different purposes. Nobody cares about pedigree at these shows obviously. The injuries were fairly sustained during working, I was disgusted to be kicked out and had to run to the beer tent to calm down!! I was told this was normal at these shows.

Well, I know of Lurchers (first one I saw I thought was a baby Wolfhound but was quickly told otherwise, neat dog), but I have never been to a show where any could actually be shown. Rest assured, every show circiut has their own quirks. And usually a beer stand handy somewhere, at some events you may have to settle for wine or champagne though ;o).

Question and comment: D.H. - I din't think a dog could get a VA if it had missing teeth, even with proof/x-rays that they were there before but broken off during training..? Also, in the AKC, they do allow dogs with scars, I finished an AM Staff that had been used for fighting and had small scars all ove his front legs and head- Theresa

Years back one of the top winning Siberians was missing a good 4th of one ear; lost it in a dog fight. I showed and pointed a Malamute thst lost the tip of her ear in a fence fight. If we didn't show dogs, what would we do with all the extra money?

Sheesh, there is a difference between VA and showing. And between VA and a show rating, which BTW includes V, SG and G. And between VA and getting sent our of the ring. Check the GSD standard, a dog can be missing up to three minor teeth, but it does not say in there that such a dog will get a VA. Blitz, spend it on some other dog trinkets...