I do everything I can. A conformation Ch. is important to me. I show in conformation to learn from others, see other dogs, evaluate other dogs against the standard, and have my dogs evaluated by a trained, unbiased eye. I want to keep the working ACD in the show ring. I want to keep the show ACD in the working arena. To me, they are one and the same. The standard was written with a solid working dog in mind. ANY ACD who can herd (and do it well) all day, can finish in AKC conformation. There should not be a split, and so far, I don't see one.
I do other sports to prove the working ability and biddability of my dogs. All types of dog sports (conformation included) prove temperament. Like Redyre said, an unstable dog is not going to be able to handle the stress of traveling and showing in different venues. I do not do herding. I would have to drive a min of 3 hrs one way to the closest trainer. With gas nearing the $4/gallon mark, I can't feasably do it. When I went to nationals I had both of my girls do the HIC and both passed with flying colors. I refuse to send them out to a herding trainer because I have been a part of each and every title so far and I don't want to change that. I would love to do herding more than anything, but right now I have to stick to other sport events.
Health testing is very important to me. I want healthy dogs. I want my dogs to live well into the teen years and be sturdy and strong until the end. I do every test that is common to my breed and only breed when the dog/bitch has passed all of them.
Showing is not a brag or just a title. It's a tribute to the dog. It shows everyone else out there that while I think my dogs are great, obviously someone else did too. That my dogs were good enough to earn titles and that they deserve to be in a breeding program, or in some cases, prove that their parents were good producers. Yes, it takes time and money, but IMO, the only way to learn and better your breeding program is to get out there and prove them.
I do other sports to prove the working ability and biddability of my dogs. All types of dog sports (conformation included) prove temperament. Like Redyre said, an unstable dog is not going to be able to handle the stress of traveling and showing in different venues. I do not do herding. I would have to drive a min of 3 hrs one way to the closest trainer. With gas nearing the $4/gallon mark, I can't feasably do it. When I went to nationals I had both of my girls do the HIC and both passed with flying colors. I refuse to send them out to a herding trainer because I have been a part of each and every title so far and I don't want to change that. I would love to do herding more than anything, but right now I have to stick to other sport events.
Health testing is very important to me. I want healthy dogs. I want my dogs to live well into the teen years and be sturdy and strong until the end. I do every test that is common to my breed and only breed when the dog/bitch has passed all of them.
Showing is not a brag or just a title. It's a tribute to the dog. It shows everyone else out there that while I think my dogs are great, obviously someone else did too. That my dogs were good enough to earn titles and that they deserve to be in a breeding program, or in some cases, prove that their parents were good producers. Yes, it takes time and money, but IMO, the only way to learn and better your breeding program is to get out there and prove them.