Dog shows, how does it look so easy?
Here is something to read about dog shows. Story is written to Finnish Alaskan Malamute magazine (2010), but the same things
concern American Akitas too. Story is written by my dear friend Susanna Virtanen /kennel Garcon and Reetta Orava /kennel Kerten.
Original purpose of dog shows was to serve breeding by judging dog’s construction and appearance. In dog shows you can see several representatives of the same breed at the same time and then everyone can compare them and for example make breeding plans. Largely dog shows are nowadays hobby of dogs and their owners and even a form of competition. Many dog owners have the conception that in shows the dogs are just running around the ring and the judge is selecting the best one. All this is happening without any training and preparing. As if the dogs naturally know what to do in the ring and that succeeding doesn’t take that much effort. Or how is it?
Going to dog shows as a hobby is not very cheap. Just the entry fees costs about 30-40 euros and you have to be prepared for example travelling expenses and other expenditures. The more successful dog, the more expensive hobby. Amount of accessories is building and you go more often to shows. Also the drive to go abroad grows with success and in homeland you go to greater distances. So why spend tens of euros money just to go and try, if today is our day? Should we wonder why some dogs are more successful than others? Does the other dog have better construction or could the reason be how the dog is prepared for the show?
The Alaskan Malamute is basically an easy breed to show. Coat doesn’t have to be trimmed, coat is in show shape most of the year and the dog is usually showed freely standing without any special patterns. But that still doesn’t mean that you can go to shows with a malamute any given day. Everyone who lives with malamute knows when the coat is shedding, nothing is left to do. After the dog has dropped the coat you should seriously consider a break from shows, because a bald dog is really not in its best and probably judge will give lower placement and even grade.
Before the dog is even entered to show, you must take care that the dog is in good muscular condition. No matter what’s the breed, dogs must have good muscles in order to succeed in shows. How does it look, if a boxer doesn’t have any muscles? Looks like nothing. Fact that coat is covering the body does not justify bad muscle condition on any dog. The judge has to recognize musculature of the dog just by feeling and the dog must exude good general condition.
Malamute, like no other breed should never be too thin, or too fat. Dry presence of greyhounds shall be left to them, but in other breeds you must have just the right amount of fat under skin. If a dog is too thin, it gives lighter impression on itself, which is in no means hoped on a breed that’s made to pull heavy burdens. On the other hand, fat dog looks like a hippo is tumbling around the ring. Dog loses all posture and stomach line is hanging. If a dog has a bit too short body, then in fatter shape it makes the body seem even shorter. In movement the dog looks like it can barely carry its own weight and certainly the moves are not eye-catching.
Many active dog show people still believe that only while judging companion dogs is the coat also judged. Above-mentioned belief is totally false. Coat is part of a dog whole, just like teeth. Clean, tangle free, and shining coat gives the last touch to a beautiful dog. Judge might review over 150 dogs on one show weekend, and judge will also touch each one of those dogs. How would you like it, if all those dogs that you’re touching were dirty? How would the judges hands be at the end of the day? It’s polite and respectful towards the judge, that the dogs are at least washed and not just moved from the kennel to the car and from that on to the ring.
Prior to the show, preferably on the day before, dog is washed. When washing you should use shampoo that is made for dogs, white coat shampoo is usually a safe choice. Dog should be wet all trough and after that you add the shampoo. Shampoo must be rubbed properly to the coat, not just daubed on the coat, but massaged all the way to the skin. After this the shampoo is rinsed off. It’s very important that you get all the shampoo off the dog. Getting all the shampoo off is the most time consuming and important part of washing the dog. Rinsing might take just as much time than wetting the dog and applying shampoo. You might have to go back and rinse again and again, if you notice traces of shampoo while blow-drying. If you don’t get all the shampoo properly away, shampoo traces might cause itching for your dog and as a reward for your laziness dog gets a rash.
After the dog is washed, begins the actual grooming for the show. First you get all the excess water squeezed off the coat with a towel. Then you blow-dry the dog. Definitely the best dryer for this purpose is a blow-dryer especially made for dog’s coat. Blow-dryer might seem like a big investment, but once you have dried your dog with a tool that’s effective and made for this job, you’ll never want to give it back. Dog is lifted to a grooming table or some other stand, which is sparing your back. You begin with drying overall most of the water. After this you take small area at a time and blow it dry. Coat should not remain wet; it has to be dry all through to the skin. With a good blow-dryer you might be ready in just a half an hour.
When the dog is entirely dry, you’re on the winning side. Now it’s time to take a metal comb and comb the coat, so it has no tangles. Make sure that also the ear behinds, pants and tail are tangle free. Lastly trim the paws by cutting excess hair from the side of the tight catpaws. Remember to cut your dog’s nails and check there’s no tartar in teeth. Because you have now done a big job by fixing your dog’s coat, of course you won’t let the dog get dirty by putting him on the kennel. Otherwise you can start the whole thing from the beginning on the day of the show.
In the show place you need at least a leash, ring number holder, comb and a brush. It’s also sensible to train your dog to rest in a showcage, cage is your dog’s own place where dog can rest peacefully. There are many different show leashes for many different likes, but with malamutes is usually used a thin metal chain as a collar and nylon or leather leash. Others like a longer chain and other shorter. Some dogs can’t stand the chain and perform the best with a textile collar. You should also take some treats with you. For treats you should choose your dog’s greatest delicacy, something that the dog will really crave for. With malamutes this shouldn’t be so difficult, to malamutes everything is delicacy.
So what should one do when in the ring? What is the dog asked for in order to become successful show dog? Why do others charm with their presence and others not? Why do some dogs just have “that something”? Everyone does not enjoy the shows just as much as the others, but dogs that succeed constantly in group competitions have that something in them. Have you ever seriously observed stars of the dog show world? If yes, you must have noticed the good behavior on the dogs in the ring. And also how is the connection between the dog and handler/owner.
Basic ring behavior things are that the dog is allowing judge to examine it self, dog can stand, shouldn’t rant with other dogs and should move with a nice pace. In a way show is a similar performance than any other obedience test. Dog that’s taught knows how to be in the ring, how to move and knows that in the end treat will come as an award. Preferably dog is trained to perform from the puppy age.
Malamute puppy gets a treat when standing in front of somebody and taking eye contact. Little by little the time is elongated and the training is being repeated in different situations. Puppy learns that although cars are driving by or other dogs are near, treat comes when standing in front of the handler and looking in to the eyes. In the same way you teach the dog to let check its teeth. Quickly, but with confident moves you look under the lips and in the end you give a treat. Easy, or what? Teaching the right moves to puppy might seem almost like an impossible project. But with this, applies also the same basic principles than in the standing. You start moving when you feel like there’s at least some kind of contact to the puppy. Move the dog for as long it takes him to pace. An in the end dog gets reward. Sometimes you run longer, sometimes just a few steps. The most enthusiastic puppy will change to pace in some point, believe it.
When entering the ring you should be calm, so you won’t infect your nervousness to the dog. And why should you be nervous, your dog can do it! The most important thing is to stay calm, follow what the judge is asking you to do and take care of your dog. The way you look, means nothing. If your dog won’t stand anymore and is getting nervous, it’s allowed and even agreeable that you take a few steps, so the dog will set to stand again. When moving, your dog can pace beautifully and doesn’t mind any other dogs. Now you are coming across as a collaborate team to the judge, where the dog is well behaved and in good show condition with a beautiful coat. Success is most certainly better!
It’s important to keep in mind, that in shows every dog is being judged in that days condition. Even though dog was selected in previous show as a World Winner, it will be judged in the next show on that show day condition. Old merits don’t have any meaning. Of course the judge can recognize a dog, but the dog still has to be in prime show shape, winnings don’t come for free. Judge compares the dog to the breed standard and decides every dogs grade based on that. It’s more pleasant for the judge also to critic dog in good shape, clean and well behaved, than dirty and wrangling creatures brought straight from the kennel. You should also remember, that the ring could be watched by someone who’s interested in the breed and a potential malamute enthusiast. Question is, what kind of image do we want to give out on our breed?
Remember to congratulate the winner fairly! You yourself wanted this judge’s opinion about your dog and by entering dog to this show and to this judge you are committed to take the judges critic. Even if you are disagreeing with the judge, in any circumstances you cannot let it show in the ring. There can only be one winner at a time, but don’t worry! Shows are organized in all around the Finland in all seasons and the judges are also changing, maybe next time it’s your turn!
