The best and easiest way to break into
the show world is to find a mentor. This is often the breeder
of your puppy. They have been there, done that, and can help
to show you the ropes.
If for some reason you can't
find a mentor (or you have a fiercely independent streak and
want to "go it alone"), you'll need to start long before the
puppy hits the six month mark.
First, of course, the
puppy must have a Full AKC Registration to be able to compete
in AKC conformation shows. The puppy must also be intact (not
spayed or neutered) for the entire time you are showing it in
conformation. (This relates to the original purpose of
conformation shows, which was to evaluate breeding stock.)
It is never too early to start puppy training!
Sessions should be short - just a few minutes at a time - and
fun!! You should start out working on stacking and leash
breaking. There are several great articles on training puppies
for the show ring:
http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/conformation.html
Spending
time stacking the puppy every day will also get her used to
being handled and groomed. Socialization is important, too,
and she should experience as many new sights and sounds and
people and dogs as possible. You should also practice grooming
her, again short sessions, working on her nails, trimming ears
and whiskers and flanks. This practice is for you, too! If
you're not sure how to groom a Boxer for the show ring, talk
with a breeder or handler (or, if one isn't available, get the
book "The World of the Boxer" by Rick Tomita - it has a great
section on grooming.)
Once your puppy is a bit older,
it's time to start practicing. Many obedience clubs offer
drop-in conformation classes, which will give you a feel for
what happens in the ring, and will get your puppy used to
having to pay attention to you while being around other dogs
and people (not always easy for a Boxer puppy!).
There
are also Matches, which are like practice shows without any
points awarded. They can be Boxer only, offered by a Boxer
club, or all-breed offered by a kennel club. Most matches
allow puppies of young ages to participate - usually four
months, although some allow as young as two months. Matches
are typically casual affairs, and entries are usually accepted
the day of the match.
Once you've been to a couple of
matches, you should think about whether you want to show your
puppy yourself, or you want to hand her over to a professional
handler. There are benefits to both. Professional handlers are
more experienced, and truly know how to bring out the best in
a dog. They do this for a living, so they don't worry about
having to "find time" to work with the dogs or take time off
work to go to shows. Showing her yourself (owner-handled)
takes a lot of hard work, patience, and sometimes a thick skin
- but finishing a Champion owner-handled is a special kind of
accomplishment. It is a personal choice, and not one you have
to make right away. You can show your puppy in her puppy
classes while you're deciding, since the judges are much more
forgiving of handler - and puppy - errors at that young of an
age.
OK - so now you've practiced with your puppy,
you've decided to show her yourself, you've been to classes
and a couple of matches (and even won your class! Who cares if
you were the only one in it - a blue ribbon is a blue
ribbon!). Your puppy is turning six months old in a few weeks,
and you're ready for the "real thing." Now what?
The
first thing to do is to find out when and where the shows are.
You can check with the show superintendent - most of them have
websites, and there is a complete listing here:
http://www.akc.org/events/static/index.cfm - but you'll have
to ask around to find out which one(s) usually handles the
shows in your area. Another way to find out about shows is to
subscribe to the AKC Gazette, which is a monthly publication.
The Gazette is filled with great information, but more
importantly it comes with the AKC Events Calendar, which lists
all upcoming shows for the next four months, in calendar order
by state, including judges names, closing dates and
superintendents. Information on a subscription to the Gazette
is here: http://www.akc.org/pubs/index.cfm
Once you
enter a dog show through a superintendent, you get put on that
superintendent's mailing list, and you receive "premium lists"
of upcoming events in your area. A premium list includes show
information, judges, classes offered, prizes, and entry
blanks. It will also tell you what the entry fees are
(typically $20 - $30, depending on your area and the show.
Puppy classes and Bred-by-Exhibitor classes often have a lower
entry fee) and when entries close ("closing" is the latest
time that entries will be accepted, usually about 3 weeks
before the show).
Once you've submitted your entries,
it's time to think about what you're going to need for your
first dog show. It's best to start shopping now, so you don't
run into a crisis at the last minute!
COLLARS AND
LEADS
First, you need a show collar and lead for your
puppy. A show collar for a Boxer is a slip collar, or choke,
made of nylon, leather, or chain (serpentine or hexagonal only
- no obedience chokers here!). For a puppy, nylon is the best
option. It's the least expensive, since you'll be replacing it
often as she grows, and is the gentlest on her neck. The
collar is placed high on the neck, right behind her ears, and
should only have an inch or two of extra collar when it is fit
snugly. Appropriate colors for nylon are white, black, or
brown. The idea is to make the collar almost invisible, not to
draw attention to it - hot pink is not a good idea, no matter
how cute it looks on your puppy!
Show leads are made
of nylon or leather. It should match your collar (unless
you're using a chain, in which case it should be neutral).
There are two types of leads, regular leads (which have a clip
at the end to connect to the collar) and loop leads (which
loop around one ring of the collar). Loop leads eliminate the
possibility that while you're holding the lead, you'll
accidentally unclip it from the collar; clip leads are easier
to interchange with different collars.
There are also
all-in-one leads of nylon or leather, and martingales. The
all-in-one leads are not generally used in the Boxer ring, and
martingales are for toy dogs.
You may use the collar
and lead you've been training with, as long as they are clean
and in good condition. Nylon show collars and leads can be
placed in a pillowcase which is then tied in a knot to close
it, and washed in the washing machine.
BAIT
You
will also need bait for your puppy. Typically liver; however
you can use whatever works for your dog that is easy to break
into small pieces and store in your pocket. (Steak is a
popular alternative for people who can't stomach liver!) Some
dogs, Boxers especially, get *really* charged up about liver
or steak, so you may need to find something a little less
exciting.
Some dogs bait better with a favorite toy,
typically a "squeaky" toy. If this is small enough to fit in
your pocket, you may use it instead of food - but DO NOT
squeak when the judge is examining someone else's dog. It
distracts most dogs, and will get you at minimum dirty looks
and sometimes a fight. Also, don't squeak outside of the ring
when there are dogs in the ring. Usually just showing the dog
the toy will get his attention. Watch professional handlers
who use squeakers, and emulate them. Most dog supply vendors
sell pocket-sized squeaker toys.
CLOTHING
You will
need to think about how you are going to dress. AKC
conformation shows are much more business-like than matches,
and you will need to dress appropriately. For men, this means
dress pants, jacket and tie. For women, a dress or skirt, or
skirted suit. Pantsuits are becoming more acceptable, but some
older judges are turned off by them. Shoes are of the utmost
importance - they should be comfortable and sensible, and
allow you to move freely around the ring. High heels do not
belong in the show ring! Your skirt should be long enough to
accommodate you bending and kneeling by your dog without
giving the spectators at ringside a show! Also, low-cut
blouses, while some judges may appreciate the view, are not
appropriate.
Basically, what the judge is wearing is
the minimum that you should wear. If it is very hot, the judge
may remove his jacket - then and only then is it acceptable
for you to remove yours. (Don't do this if you're already in
the ring, though!)
Women should have their nails
neatly polished or buffed. Hair should be styled in such a way
as to not fall into your face - or your dogs' - when you are
bending over the dog to stack it. Jewelry should be simple,
classic, and kept to a minimum, and if you wear bracelets only
wear one so that nothing makes noise as you are moving your
dog.
Remove any loose change or keys from your pockets
before you go into the ring. The attention should be on the
dog, not on you or your noisy attire!
Your clothing
color should contrast with your dog - you don't want to wear a
tan skirt with a light fawn dog - the dog will blend right in
with your legs! Subtle patterns are fine, but again the goal
is to highlight your dog, not distract from her.
STUFF
Whether you're going to a local show that you'll drive to
and from each day, or to a farther away show where you'll be
staying over will determine what kind of "stuff" you need to
bring. If you're not going to be going home, you'll need to
bring your puppy's food (and bowls), grooming equipment, potty
bags, crate, ex-pen if you have one - plus your own grooming
equipment and change of clothes.
Regardless of where
the show is, there are certain things you will need to take,
including small towels for ringside (Boxer + liver = mess!),
dog's registration and health records, a spray bottle of water
for ringside.
About a week before the show, you will
get your entries and the judging program in the mail. Entries
are the slips of paper that must accompany the dog to the show
- they prove that the dog is entered (at many shows unentered
dogs are not permitted) and usually if you have one you don't
have to pay an admission fee at the show. The judging program
tells you what time Boxers show (usually early in the
morning), what ring they are in, and how many Boxers are
entered. For example, a judging program that shows 50 Boxers
entered, and then lists 25-20-(3-2), means that there are 25
class dogs, 20 class bitches, 3 Champion dogs and 2 Champion
bitches entered. The judging program will also give you
directions to the show, and any rules of the show-giving club
or the show site (these are often included in the premium
list, as well).
The night before the show, you want to
give your puppy a bath and groom her (this is where all that
training and handling comes in). Grind or cut her nails back,
clip her whiskers, and trim any scraggly hairs. It seems like
a small thing, but it can really clean up her outline. Then,
try to get a good night's sleep!
JulieM