Hunter's Heart Brittanys - Showing Your Dog

Showing your dog for conformation is the reason dog clubs were created. A dog show is a great place to learn about a dog breed that you might have your eye on. It brings together a large number of breeders and handlers to a single place. Often times you can see the dogs parents and sometimes their siblings.

Remember, a dog show is about a dog's physical attributes and a champion dog may not produce a quality litter of good hunters or easily trainable dogs. Field trials and obedience trials supplement the available information you can gain about your favourite as well as agility competition.

Purpose

The purpose of a conformation dog show is to choose the best dogs from the best examples of breed available. The judge is tasked with comparing the physical attributes of the dogs to the breed standard and to the other dogs. At the end of judging for each breed, a best of breed is chosen.

The Breed Standard

photo: Huntersheart Big Chief wins Best of Breed at the Alberta Kennel Club show, summer 2000.

The breed standard is a blueprint for the ideal appearance of a breed. It is intended to provide parameters for the appearance and structure of an ideal dog of the breed. Included in the CKC, AKC and international standards for Brittanys is temperament which should be "happy, alert dog, neither mean nor shy."

See the Brittany spaniel page for more details The Brittany Spaniel

The Rules

Dog shows are usually one day in length. So when you see a show advertised for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, they are three separate shows at the same event.

photo: Huntersheart Big Chief being examined by the judge

There are three parts of a conformation dog show, the breed competition, the group competition, and the best in show competition. The first part of the competition is breed. It starts with a competition among the dogs in each class within the breed. Examples of the class the dogs may be judged in are junior puppy (6-9 months), senior puppy (9-12 months) or open. Males and females are judged separately.

Dogs in each of the classes are judged with the best dog in each class moving forward in competition. After all of the classes have been judged, the best of male and best of female classes are judged. The winner of those classes then compete for the best of winners prize. These two dogs are awarded points by the end of the breed competition. The points are awarded by the number of dogs they have beaten within the breed. These points go towards their own championship title.

The final stage in the breed competition adds in a new class of dogs that were not judged yet during this show called specials. Specials are those dogs that have already acquired the title of champion. The best of males and best of females compete against those specials for the best of breed title and amongst the best of male and female for the best of winners title. Awarded at the end of the breed competition is best of breed, best of opposite (sex) and best of winners. The best of winners dog may win best of breed or best of opposite but the specials can not.

photo: Chief won Best of Breed & progresses to Sporting Group judging

This leaves two winners for the sporting group competition, best of winners and best puppy. Although it happens infrequently, it is possible for a puppy to win both titles.

Grooming

Show grooming is much different than the usual grooming dog to your dog. Grooming for the show involves accentuating the dogs appearance by improving the appearance of their coat. For Britt's, a little fur is trimmed from behind their ears, some off the neck and a little off the rear. Also, all dead hair is stripped from the dogs coat to provide a healthy appearance.

This job is best left to a professional for your first time in the ring but as you become experienced, the skill is an important one to have.

Training

Training for a dog show is a little different than obedience training. You want your dog to pay attention to you, stand when you stop, stack and trot. It is a good idea to take some show handling classes before you compete so you learn how to train your dog. As well, try your hand in a fun match. Fun matches are an excellent way to test your skill and ask the judge afterwards if you made any mistakes.

Handling

photo: Dave places Chief in a free stack in front of the judge

The basic skills are fundamental to handling your dog in the ring. But as a handler, you must also be able to adjust to the conditions of the show and your dog's mood that day. The main difference between an amateur handler with those skills and a professional is the pro knows how to get the dog back on track when they are not performing their best.

If you are looking for a pro, we recommend our friend David J. Scheiris. You can find out more about him at PresentingDogsofDistinction.com

Handling Classes

The following is a partial listing of show/conformation handling classes in Calgary, and a short "blurb" about what they offer. Space is limited, so call well in advance to check the accuracy of our information & to pre-register. (Unless otherwise stated, classes are group lessons.)

If you are attending or providing show handling classes or seminars, feel free to E-mail us at: webmaster@huntersheart.com with the details so we can post the information on our website. It's free. (Please include dates & times, exact location, and name, phone number, & e-mail/website of person who can be contacted for further information.)

Calgary Canine Centre (SW)

ph: (403) 571-DOGS(3647)
Drop-in show show handling lessons Wednesdays, 7-8pm small dogs, 8-9pm large dogs.
6304 - 6A St SE (1/2 block South of Blackfoot Inn on Blackfoot Tr.)
(Effective March 15, 2000)

The Educated Canine (SE Calgary)

Sandra Howarth, ph: 226-3301
edcanine@cadvision.com
Small group classes with relaxed & supportive environment.
Held at Willow Ridge Community Center, 680 Acadia Dr SE (turn South at Southland & Acadia Dr, community center is opposite a 7-eleven store).
Next classes expected to start in the summer of 2000.
(Feb. 22, 2000)

Shaunna Bernardin, CPHA (NW Calgary)

Contact Wags to Whiskers to pre-register, ph: 285-9663
Held at The Dog House, 702-16th Ave. NW, downstairs.
Beginners Class 6-7pm, 5 weeks, costs $75, more comprehensive than dropping in.
Drop In Class every Tuesday 7-8pm, costs $12.00/class.
(Feb. 22, 2000)

Judy (SW Calgary)

Judy, ph: 936-2028, mjwatson@telusplanet.net
Conformation Drop-ins Wednesdays at 8:30pm,
adults $8, under 18 years free
Novice classes teach handling basics. Advanced
classes polish handling for conformation shows. Each class limited to12 participants.
Instructor is breeder/owner/professional handler. 17 years
experience in conformation ring & 5 years experience teaching handling.
Held at Superdog Spectrum, Currie Barracks SW. (Flanders exit off Crowchild Tr., past guardhouse, turn right at first 4-way Stop, next stop turn right, building "E". (Feb. 2000)