THUNDERFIRE GREAT DANES

For the uninitiated, the idea of a dog show may seem like fun and something you decide to do on a day off if you feel like it, like going out for a picnic or to luna park. It could not be further from the truth.

You need to decide this is really what you want to do. It requires commitment, dedication, a competitive nature, free weekends, and lots of them, a disposable income , a good ‘dog toting vehicle’, ’show gear, like a gazebo, chairs, dog crate, grooming gear etc. a thick skin , a good suit, and sensible shoes.

Then you need a ‘show dog’. Well a dog on main register is eligible for showing, but that’s not the end of it. Acquiring an actual show potential puppy is thwart with difficulty and mine fields. A successful breeder is a bit loath to part with a top show potential puppy to a novice who may or may not stick at it.

What is a show puppy? That varies from breed to breed but for Danes we will cover that later.

If you buy a ‘show’ puppy off someone who doesn’t show, ie: a backyarder breeder, you are not likely to get something competitive. You are likely to pay a large price for said pup and end up with an expensive pet. However if you don’t like showing after all regardless of where you got the pup, you will have spent a lot of money for nothing.

we enter dog shows in advance so you cant roll up on the day and put your dog in. So this is where part of the commitment comes in, you have to spend money in advance on the event, apart from the gear you will need to be sheltered and comfortable at a show, along with grooming gear etc.

It is difficult to put the cart before the horse in this case, as how do you show if you don’t have a show dog? Well firstly you need to attend a few shows to get an idea of what it is really like then decide yes or no this is for/not for me. You can hook up with a breeder who shows , whom you think is the one you’d like to buy a show dog off them and let them show you the ropes . If you recon showing is for you then you work towards that .

You are far better making haste slowly and allowing yourself to be mentored by a long time experiences show breeder than acquiring a puppy any old where and going it alone.

Imagine that when you start it is an apprenticeship towards becoming a ‘professional’. It isnt going to be fun if you dont know what you are doing, and take a few losses ,if you think you are going to win from the get go and it’s a piece of cake.

If you do that is a bonus, but as a rank novice in a highly competitive sport, you have away to go learning how to handle a dog in the show ring for a start, let alone winning all the time. You will need to grow a thick skin and learn not to take anything personally in the judging ring. You will need to be able to take your wins & losses graciously. No one likes a bad sport. Keep it in perspective, and you will have fun . You will be out for the day with your mate, and new friends, and of course you will always take the best dog home no matter what the judge thinks.

These days showing is moving to be more user friendly to attract more people to the hobby.

People do have the option at some shows of showing a desexed purebred, and if you do have one, you may be able to get a feel for the real thing starting here. Not all shows however cater to the class. So it is limited. You could however find out about show training and still attend these to learn how it is done . A good breeder will mentor you and train you how to show a dog and all that goes with it. So that is why it is essential to acquire a potential show puppy from someone who actually does it!