Help. Completely lost in shows!!!

Hello,
I am wanting to get into showing dogs @ ADBA sanctioned show events. I really don't know much about it, but I get compliments all of the time on my bulldogs. I think a pup must be atleast 16 weeks old to start getting points right?

 

Also, do markings play a big role in receiving points? How the dog is bred? How many dogs can you enter in asingle show? Is it divided into sexes and ages of the animal? I think I know conformation when I see it, and I'm sure being chubby will have you docked in points?!? Right? 100 Pts. will grant you a championship right? Does it matter how long it takes to aquire these point totals? If you only recieve say 2 pts per show period because of flaws....does this mean you can attend 50 shows and Champion out? I've heard of a dog recieving a Champion Title in one weekend....how rare is this? Someone please help me out.

 

Your dog must be at least 4 months old to show. the show is broke down into age groups and based on sex of the dog, so all 4 to 6 month old females compete aginst each other, the show is also broke down into puppy and adult classes. So there is a Best of Show, Best Opposite and a Best Puppy.

For puppies you get 5pts for first, 3 for second, and 2 for third, in adults you get 10pts for first, 5 for second,and 3 for third. Best in Show gets 15pts, and best Puppy, and best Opposite get 10 pts
To become a champion you must gain 100 points and win your age group at least one time. So you can gain 300 points and you are not a champion untill you win your group. I have heard of one dog becoming a champion in one weekend, (Knowle's Buckhide I think) there were 4 shows and he took best in show in all 4

Color of your dog is not suppose to matter, but it does, blue dogs dont do well at all, I have had the most success with fawn dogs. It is fun to show a dog, it lets you get out there and see other people's dogs. hope this helped

 

Thanks bunches!!! You really put that in a nutshell and kept it user friendly. I appreciate all of your help. Thanks Again!!!

 

http://www.adbadog.com/p_pdetails.asp?fpid=15&pg=15

 

Thanks for all of your help.

 

"Ain't nothing to it but to do it". & "Fake it till you make it" are two phrases that come to mind.

 

Thanks b.g. I think. I should have taken Mr. Wildsides offer up years ago to attend these events w/him. I had no interest then however.

 

And youmay show as many as you choose to or is there a limit?

 

I think the only limit is how many dogs you can handle in the show ring, some kennels show a lot of dogs in one show.

 

Folks that are bringing a lot of dogs usually meet up with friends at the show, and between them, they make sure everyone gets shown.

 

Another tip is to talk to the judge that you show your dog under. This is a great tool in helping you understand better what each judge is looking for. Unfortunately not every judge is the same and although preferences are not suppose to come into play they do, you will just realize after a bit which judge likes what and show accordingly...lol

Its also a good idea to talk to others at the show and find out tips on what they might do to present their dogs.


Personally I don't like to get a puppy in shape for the shows. I will take a plump pup to the show any day although sometimes it takes me out of the running for a ribbon but I always put the dog's well being first...lol An adult 12-18 month class on should be in shape, although there is nothing wrong with a 12 month old that isn't in 100% shape in my book but they should be without puppy fat.

The shows tend to be competitive but are great fun. The best advice is to jump in and start learning. It is a great way to show off your dog, and plus have your dog at an event that is trying to help us keep our dogs.

 

I personally disagree with the 12-18 class being judged on conditioning. Simply because if you're there showing a dog that's just a week into that age group, you'd have to have started working them at, what, 10 months? That would make that particular class pretty skewed in favor of the 18-monthers, because they've had more "adult" time to be worked out.

Just my opinion. When I was at that last Kellyville show and saw that the first judge was picking heavily on conditioning, I knew we were going to get dumped. I've been forbidden to try and slim Terra down while she's still working on her UKC title.

 

You may disagree but its the truth most of the time, all depends on who is judging. In fact in Norman this year a friend showed a beautiful male in the 9-12 month class in condition and took 1st in the class as well Best Puppy. I thought he would be close to the top of the class but he was only 10 months. Awesome looking dog and won BECAUSE he was in such good shape.

In the 12-18 month class if you dog is confirmationally sound (no matter the age) but one in the same group is just as sound but better condition guess who will get the ribbon. It might seem unfair for a 12 month old to go up against a 18 month old but thats exactly what happens. The adult classes are much more intent on having the dogs in shape.

Now I didn't say I agreed, because personally I don't work out a pup, and I only start working slowly when they start in the adult classes but it DOES make a difference to most of the ADBA judges.

When you watch the Best Puppy class usually the one of the older dogs in the group gets it simply because they are more mature. Not always of course but alot of the time.