Dog shows...

[Superfly]

They've always struck me as kind of odd. The judges parade around dogs belonging to a group, grab their nuts, and look at their teeth, and then make a selection of the best of show from a bunch of different breeds.

It's always struck me as really pompous, elitist, and aristocratic the way a dog show is judged.

So, my question is, are the judging critereon and results fair?

[jean]

1. In all fairness, they're counting the nuts as well as grabbing them

but have you ever seen a cat show? The judge picks the cat up in a most undignified manner!

I like watching the dogs gait around the ring.

Don't like seeing the smaller breeds lifted up to the judging table by their throats and tails!

[pmbryant]

2. The whole inbreeding thing is a bit scary to me

So I try to avoid this kind of thing.

:scared:

--Peter

[MissMillie]

3. my understanding of the judging

is that each dog is judged against the standard for it's particular breed. If a poodle wins over a German Shepherd, it's because the poodle is a better example of the breed standard for poodle than the Shepherd is as an example of the breed standard for shepherd.

Beyond that, it's which one shows the best (some dogs really do put on a show.... the Sussex Spaniel was really on last night, but that Newfie.... what a magnificent dog.)

[mopinko]

4. you overlook their purpose

if you look back on the history of dog shows, they are not beauty contests. the purpose is to establish what is and is not a member of a certain breed. indeed, to establish what a breed is. the idea of a "breed" of dog is not that old. and the idea that because both parents of a dog, and grandparents, yada yada, are the same breed, that makes the pup that breed is not completely accepted as the only way to "make" a purebred dog.
the recent acceptance of parson russells terrier into the akc, and the serious fight that went on among russell breeders is a good example of the NOT aristocratic grass roots that are out there in the dog world.

[xchrom]

5. breeders, for the most part,

who participate in that level of competition at the westminster, etc. are very supportive of efforts to reduce animal over population. and their very careful about their own breeding efforts.
you personally may not like it -- but that's neither here nor there.
i love all the dogs but i'd rather watch agility competitions -- but their not going to stop showing dogs cause of me. nor should they.

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. Shelties should ALWAYS win.

:P

[tridim]

8. and "standard poodles" should never win

at least not with the haircuts their owners give them.



Yet they seem to always win anyway.

I honestly feel sorry for poodles with that goofy haircut. They're a good looking dog without it.

[camero]

9. That's a cute puppie

:)

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. Thank you.

:7

[radwriter0555]

7. Hmm, that's the criteria I use in judging potential boyfriends, so why not

in dogs?

Check their nuts, check their teeth, their grooming; quality of breeding and carriage... if the man stacks up and is best in show, then YEE HAW!

[Bunny]

13. Yeah, but what if they have a dorky haircut?

Like the Standard Poodle? Or are bald, like the Chinese Crested? Or have dreadlocks, like the Komondor?

You can feel their nuts all you like, but the way the carry their hair (if they have it) says it all!!!!

[geniph]

11. The working and herding dogs, and the terriers

should also have to qualify in field trials. That's one way to keep the functional breeds from being bred into some absurd form for sheer looks and losing its ability to do the job it was originally bred for.

I LOVE watching herding trials. There's nothing more beautiful than a Border Collie dealing with a flock of recalcitrant sheep, unless maybe it's a German Shepherd rescue dog finding an avalanche victim. Several of the breed organizations have either threatened to pull out of the AKC, or have actually done so, unless the AKC used both the dog's ability to do its intended job AND conformation. There's several border collie organizations that won't put their dogs in a conformation-only ring at all, because they consider the dog's appearance completely irrelevant to its ability to herd. Lab breeders had a rebellion several years ago against the AKC "fashionable" Lab, which was becoming a taller, thinner, and less hardy dog. They had to actually pull a lot of the Lab organizations out of the AKC to get the breed standard back to what it had been - a sturdy, stocky, happy working dog.

Cat shows are a bit different, because all you have to consider there is conformation and temperament. But dogs bred for a specific purpose should have to qualify as working dogs, too. I wouldn't mind seeing all the companion dogs have to qualify for their CD title, too (Companion Dog - basic obedience).

[Robb]

12. Working dogs are cool.

...so are working people, for that matter. :)

One of my dogs was a "ring dog" before she came to live with us. Brain a little too big for the ring, although got 13 points before she "retired" to sled dog life. Turns out she's an excellent lead dog! :thumbsup: