Dog titles

Dog shows are a tough world where competitors have no mercy for each other even though they keep friendly faces throughout. But who or what are these dog show fanciers competing against? Do dog show participants compete against other dogs, other handlers or against their breed standard?

This is just my opinion and why I don’t show my dogs anymore 

and if you don’t have the same opinion as me that is your choice 

Does a title make the dog any better  ?

I believe that the simple  answer is No.

‘dogs shows is a great way to have others judge your dog but they are not for everyone 

for personal and financial reasons. this doesn’t take a way from the dog , but all 

breeding dogs should be as close to the breed standard as possible

But let me explain WHY!
Dog shows are set up so that an individual brings a dog to the show and parades it around the ring so that an individual or a group of individuals,  who SUPPOSEDLY have an expert knowledge of the breed, determines it's quality based on the placement or points they give the dog either from comparing it to the other dogs in the ring or from comparing it to the breed standard as set forth in that registries breed standard for the given breed.Now here is the first problem based on the above criteria.

What happens if a dog with outstanding confirmation and breed standard correctness doesn't enter the show?

#1 - they place a less than spectacular dog in 1st place and it gets it's points and the ribbon. 

#2 - Points given will advance into the books for future title recognition and

#3 - a ribbon that will more than likely be displayed PROUDLY leading their puppy buyers to believe they have top quality breeding stock. But not all puppies if any of tilted dogs are born to be a show dog

#4 - dog showing is not for everyone for many reasons.

A ) Can not travel to show because of work and family reasons 

B) Dogs show can be very expensive and not everyone has the extra money 

C )  Some people don’t have the  time it takes to train a dog for the show rings.

D) some great dogs just don’t like the show ring

E) Show dogs have to remain intact and some people don’t want to deal with a intact dog.

F) It takes a lot of time and money to keep a dog in show condition 

G) some People just don’t like the competitive world of dogs shows

There are many great dogs that never step in to a show ring

• Do Show Dogs automatically change their conformation or ability to meet breed standard simply because the owner choose to enter it into a show?
  
• NO it did not!   Truth being that the animal is either a well bred one or it's not.

• Does a beloved pet who lounges around on a coach all day not meet breed standard or be a very appealing animal to the eye simply because the owner chooses NOT to show it?
• NO it does not!  Again Truth being that it is either a well bred animal or it isn't.

• Does every animal that has achieved a Title deserve that title?
  NO it does not!  Truth being that MANY animals who have titles are inferior specimens of their breed but were either shown extensively to get enough points or attended enough low attendance shows to be able to manipulate the point system.
  

Here are some star examples of what I'm talking about and 99.9% of all Show Breeders know how to work the system.
The #1 thing that All breeders look for when wanting to show their dog is finding the registry that has the easiest and quickest formula for getting a title. I.E.  APRI is set up so that a title can be achieved in 3 shows and they have the majority of their shows based on 2 days back to back with 3 shows during that time span.  Wa-La - One weekend and you've got a CHAMPION
I.E.  AKC is based on a formula of how many entries and several other policies on how their points are given.  Attending a low breed count show or showing under a PARTICULAR judge that PREFERS the type dog you have can get you a Championship Title in very short time.
I.E.  There is one registry now that lets you send in a PHOTO of your dog and their panel will examine it and give the dog a title if they feel it meets breed standard - FROM A PHOTO NOW I SAY!!!!!
I.E.  ACR is based on a point system.  Depending on the judges and your dogs QUALITY and ability to out-place and out-perform the other dogs you could get a Champion Title in 7 to 11 shows.  Not as quick as the other registries but at least your dogs are being JUDGED according to their OWN MERITS and in comparison to other dogs at the same show.


The #2 thing that breeders look for is how forgiving the registries JUDGES are on your dog meeting the breed standard.- QUALITY is in the eye of the Beholder!
The #3 thing that draws dog show folks is location and time to get there. I.E.  There are many little clubs forming now and hosting their own shows for their club members.  These shows are set up for their own personnel gain and to title out their own dogs in short order and without much effort or expense.  Is it WRONG - NO - but it COULD BE if the judges attending these shows are not QUALIFIED JUDGES and are just handing out titles to the locals.
The #4 thing that Show Breeders look for is CERTAIN JUDGES.I.E.  Judge #1 isn't fond of the shorter more stocky Rat Terrier so if that is what the breeder has he will bypass shows where that Judge is judging in favor of a show with Judge #2 who is more favorable to his TYPE dog.

YES - Judges do show FAVORITISM to the TYPE dog they PREFER whether it meets BREED STANDARD or not - It's called HUMAN BIAS and it's there and ALWAYS will be.


The #5 thing Breeders look for is for Shows from certain Registries that allow their Specific dog in it's breed standards.I.E.  To my knowledge only APRI and ACR recognize and allow the MERLE Rat Terrier.  Anybody with a Merle Rat Terrier would need to attend one of those 2 shows if they wanted to show their Merle dog.  These shows may give the breeder an added EDGE as the Uniqueness of their dog sometimes draws enough attention that it can sway the judges vote.