Dog Shows
For most people, simply owning and training a dog is enough. The thought of putting that training and breeding to test against other dogs does not cross their minds. For those who want to enter their dogs in dog shows, however, the rewards go far beyond ribbons or trophies. We know that it can be tough to get into the culture of dog shows, so here is some basic information followed by links to more detailed facts.
When people mention dog shows, they usually mean conformation shows, which are the types of shows people see on television. A conformation show features dogs of particular breeds and judges familiar with these breeds adjudicates how well these dogs fit (or conform) to the established breed standard.
The groups in which these breeds perform refer to some striking characteristic of the breed. In a conformation show like the Westminster Dog Show, the groups include sporting, working, hound, terrier, toy, non-sporting, and herding. Dogs compete at first to win their group and then go on to compete against dogs from other groups to determine a winner. This winner is referred to as Best in Show.
American Kennel Club National Championship
A Beginner's Guide to Dog Shows