Showing dogs- How did you decide

[dogsarebetter]

How did you decide what breed you wanted to show/breed? I love collies, and have experience handling them, but I am wanting to branch out. I opened up a savings account and in the distant future (3 yrs) I plan on getting a dog to show and breed later on. I dont know if I want to start out with a male or a female. I am not even sure which breed. I am thinking

-Borzoi
- Afghan hound
or a Kerry Blue Terrier

How did you decide on the breed? Did you start with a male or female?

 

[adojrts]

I would start with a female, you will have to pay more for a show/breeding quality pup but reality is just starting out and not being known (unless you are a co-owner that is known and does well), your chances of people within your chosen breed sending bitches to you is limited.
Too start a line of your own, it is much easier to start with a female.

 

[Laurelin]

We started with a male, but we're not planning on getting big within the breed or anything like that. For breed, we just picked a breed we liked and began looking at local dog shows for a breeder. But like I said, we're not huge into showing at all...

 

[colliewog]

I was born into my breed and showing, so it was only natural that I continued it. I've tried other breeds (Am Staff, Whippet) and have shown many other breeds for other people, but nothing has really attracted me more than my Smoothies. (I'm not a fan of grooming,which is why I don't have roughs).

 

[mightymitedoggear]

If you just want to get your feet wet in showing - you'll have an easier time of it, and be able to get a better quality dog if you ask for a male. Breeders are more likely to give up a quality male than a quality female - especially to a newbie. Some breeders will require you to co-own a dog. At the end of the day, it's not so much abotu picking a dog - as it's about picking a breeder. My best advice is to start going to do shows, watch the rings of the dog breeds you like, and begin to identify which breeder's dogs you like. Buy a show cataloge and log each show and which breeders won and which dogs you liked. Then, after the breeders have finished showing, approach them and ask if you could talk to them for a bit. Some of the people at the show will be pro handlers, not the breeders themselves, but many are also approachable and you can also ask them who owns the dogs they show. It takes a lot of time and patience just to identify your breeder but if you find a good show breeder, who wants to work with you, your experience in the breed will grow from there. I also have to give you fair warning that most people, including yours truly, dont manage to finish their first show dog.

 

[borzoimom]

As far as which breed, I would go with what suits your lifestyle the best first. Also-One good thing about males is that in some breeds its more obvious to have a retained coat as a female may drop her coat during a heat, or even have less of a coat because of the fact they are female.. Pick the breed that best suits your lifestyle- find a good mentor ( someone to help you learn etc) and go from there.
Second remember that some breeds need a great amount of care to keep in show coat. Examples would be some of the toys in full long coats ( like a Maltese etc), or terriers were the coat is stripped.
I uh could comment on the comment of the Borzoi. lol.. I am uh biased though.. lol

 

[dogsarebetter]

LOL! yeah, they have always been a fav. But right now i am leaning more to Afghan hounds. I love grooming and have no problem brushing my dogs daily, or more!

 

[mom2dogs]

Always wanted a terrier, loved the look of a WHWT so when my desire was spoken of to a groomer she urged me to get in touch with the president of the regional club. She brought me to a dog show, introduced me to a well known handler for the breed, and I started working for her occasionally. When one of my dogs passed away while I was on vacation she contacted one of her clients and I got my puppy the day I arrived back. LOL, working for her though and being around so many WHWTs I realized this was not the breed for me but oh well I was in the world of white..

Since moving I miss showing (just not the same here), and cannot wait to go back to the states for nationals later in the year.

Definitely hang around the breed you think you want and meet and greet a few before deciding - jmo. A good mentor is worth it's weight in gold, I was taught how to groom and handle by one of the top terrier handlers in the country and the experience is irreplaceable. As far as male or female, if you want to get into breeding, I say go for a nice bitch with a reputable breeder as it's co-owner (just make sure you agree to all breeding information in the contract before signing )

 

[mrose_s]

I'd love to show one day, I'm still undecided whether I'd like to show a great dane (a blue one), a GWP or a GSP. My first, I'd probably prefer a male because
1. I prefer males, personally
2. I won't be looking to start a breeding programme till I'm more show savvy

 

[Laurelin]

Males are much easier than females, and in many breeds it's basically impossible to get a show quality female as a newbie. Plus males are just easier since they don't go into heat all the time and blow coat.

 

[Bahamutt99]

I show what I love, and what I have. I don't make the decisions about what to bring into my home based on what will show the best.

 

[dogsarebetter]

I am actually afraid to have an unneutered male with my two unneutered males. I am scared of fights and aggression.
But before i got Chance i was scared of two males together even if neutered. I am overly paranoid because when i worked at the collie kennel sometimes a male would jump or climb a fence and fight with another male. I had to break up a few hellachios dog fights.

 

[Bahamutt99]

Just a thought. If you're not ready to separate intact males, don't forget you'll have to separate an intact female from the boys you currently have for about 2 months each year. And there's always a chance the two intact males you have now will fight each other for posession of her once she's in season. If you're not ready to deal with extra reproductive organs around, might be best to wait until your current dogs are no longer an issue. Otherwise, start subscribing to the crate and rotate lifestyle.

 

[LuvsDogs]

I was going to get a show male, mainly because I've never had a female on heat b4 & all it entails.

 

[dogsarebetter]

oh my two boys are neutered! sorry for the misunderstanding

 

[mrose_s]

Even then it can be an issue. We learned that the hard way, 2 neutured males around a bitch in heat can turn nasty even if they have been fine throuhg heats together previously.
$800 in vet bills, a week of seperation and possibly a ruined relationship between the boys later, we know no to make that mistake again.

My next dog will most likley be a girl from working lines. She will be most likly spayed aswell. A few years later I'll be looking for my next dog. Depending on how Buster/second dog is at that time will probably effect what sex I get next.

 

[Irridescent]

Also be ready to have to retire your dog from showing and alter them! It happens a lot unfortunatly, they may have a DQ, test unfit for breeding, or just not be a good candidate to pass on their genes.

 

[mrose_s]

I am looking forward to showing one day though I never saw the attraction will I went to a dog show.
Lucky for us we have enough dogs to have small mixed breed shows at home lol. We practice how we stack them and how they gait next to us. Harry is Grand Champion. For some reason he's a natural.

 

[SmexyPibble]

As far as choosing, I'd go with a breed you are very familiar with, have owned before and suits your life style well. I would love to show and breed someday, and I am thinking about AmStaffs or Neapolitans!

As far as starting, I would go with a female who is up to standard and then once she is shown and ready to breed (at breeding age) I'd pick a young male who has already been shown.

 

[JennSLK]

First off dont let people discourage you. As a first timer it will be harder to finish your dog but it can be done. It is easier to get a boy but to start a line you want a girl. There is better and more competition in females as well. Not to mention mood swings. Many bitches in heat will give you the big paw in the ring. Find a mentor. I cant stress this enough. I had to do it myself and it was so much harder.