Do you think my dog can show?

[RingoNYC]

Hi,

I was just wondering if I could show my dog. He is a classic fawn and his Mom and Dad are both champions. I didnt do the stack pose or anything and to be honest will most likely never show him but was just curious of any thoughts. His pics below.

http://www.ringo.textamerica.com/

[bunkermom]

I am by no means a person to judge wether a dog is show quality or not. I might be bringing home my very first show prospect next weekend (cross your fingers for me!) and even though his breeder thinks at this point he will be good enough to show, you never really know what they are going to look like when they are grown.

The best person to ask would be your breeder. Did he/she sell you the pup as pet quality or as a show prospect? They should be able to tell you what they think of the pup because it is hard to tell by pictures alone.

Good Luck!

Autumn

PS..if you do show him, keep us updated on how he does with natural ears!

[apollosdad]

ringonyc-
it's always hard to tell from pictures, and often in person as well, what your puppy will be like when he gets older. as far as i can tell from his pictures though, he doesn't have any outstanding traits that would disqualify him from entering a conformation event, as long as he is not neutered.
i would recommend that if you are entertaining the possibility of showing him, that you take him to a few conformation classes in order to get him used to the "stack" and "gait" that are ideal for good showmanship. you might even take him to a few dog shows as he gets older in order to
-see for yourself what is involved in showing and
-to get some opinions from judges and otehr boxer clubs as to whether or not you might have a show prospect on your hands.
also, i'm not sure how old your dog is, but if they are not older than 12 weeks, you might consider an ear crop. although the breed standards have recently been changed to allow the natural ears in conformation, they haven't had as much success as the cropped ears. it all depends on the individual judge, but many favor the older style of having the ears cropped.

[Courtknee202]

Just jumping in here, can you not show female dogs that have been spayed in conformation classes?

[Scrapper's Mom]

Originally Posted by Courtknee202

Just jumping in here, can you not show female dogs that have been spayed in conformation classes?

All dogs shown in conformation must be intact, both male and female. The males must have both of their testicles. The original reason behind the conformation ring was to determine the best breeding stock. Thus, the "specimens" in there have to be ones that would be breedable. If you are interested in showing your dog, I would agree that you should get an objective opinion from an experienced breeder. And you have to steel yourself for an honest opinion. Even first pick puppies from highly anticipated litters with SOM and DOM parents have faults; there is no "perfect" dog.
And there are other ways to compete at dog shows aside from conformation - obedience, agility, rally, luring. And dogs can compete in all those events even if they are neutered, or even if they aren't registered.

[boxer]

Originally Posted by Scrapper's Mom

The original reason behind the conformation ring was to determine the best breeding stock.

I would just add to that that it is still the purpose of the conformation show ring. The only purpose, in fact. Things like having fun with your dog or pride in owning a pretty one are just side effects Conformation showing is purely about assessment of a dog's fitness to breed the next generation (whether it is correctly constructed for it's breed, and displays the correct temperament for that breed). So there is no point whatsoever in showing a dog that is unable to be bred (and they are disqualified from entry).

[TexasTini]

Little off topic on my part....but your baby looks A LOT like Abby. She doesn't have the pretty white diamond on her nose though.

I don't have any plans to breed/show her, but I did want to say that he's a cutie!

[Maggie'sMom]

also, i'm not sure how old your dog is, but if they are not older than 12 weeks, you might consider an ear crop. although the breed standards have recently been changed to allow the natural ears in conformation, they haven't had as much success as the cropped ears. it all depends on the individual judge, but many favor the older style of having the ears cropped.

Appollosdad- I know you just said consider, but the standards have been changed to allow the natural ears, and even though there hasn't been much success, there obviously won't be, if people do not start showing natural ears. Alot of people want to keep their dogs ears natural including myself. If this comment was directed towards me, I would feel like I have not a chance. I know it is just your opinion, but it doesn't sound encouraging.
My Baxter will be in the show ring this fall, against his brother who is cropped. I love the look of both but I am determined to help the natural ear Boxer find it's way in the ring. Baxter's grandparents are Champions with natural ears, and Mother with cropped.

[apollosdad]

Originally Posted by Maggie'sMom

If this comment was directed towards me, I would feel like I have not a chance. I know it is just your opinion, but it doesn't sound encouraging.

maggie'smom-
in all honesty, i don't see how you could have misinterpreted my above comments as being directed towards you, since i don't even see your name being listed in any of this previous threads listings.

Originally Posted by Maggie'sMom

Appollosdad- I know you just said consider, but the standards have been changed to allow the natural ears, and even though there hasn't been much success, there obviously won't be, if people do not start showing natural ears. Alot of people want to keep their dogs ears natural including myself. If this comment was directed towards me, I would feel like I have not a chance. I know it is just your opinion, but it doesn't sound encouraging.
My Baxter will be in the show ring this fall, against his brother who is cropped. I love the look of both but I am determined to help the natural ear Boxer find it's way in the ring. Baxter's grandparents are Champions with natural ears, and Mother with cropped.

my response to threads on this site are never meant to discourage, they are actually meant to do the exact opposite.
i do pride myself in offering the most knowledgeable and factual opinions about the boxer breed that i possibly can. i have merely stated a fact, as to which ear style has the tendency to win and draw in more points time after time (in the US). fact has nothing to do with personal opinion or personal preference of ear styles. you are obviously entitled to your own opinion and choice of ear style. i was merely stating that your probability of obtaining an eventual championship conformation title (in the US) would increase if the ears were cropped, and not that the possibility was nonexistent with natural ears.

[Maggie'sMom]

in all honesty, i don't see how you could have misinterpreted my above comments as being directed towards you, since i don't even see your name being listed in any of this previous threads listings.

I do not think I misinterpreted anything. I said If this was directed towards me, I would feel like I would not have a chance.

also, i'm not sure how old your dog is, but if they are not older than 12 weeks, you might consider an ear crop. although the breed standards have recently been changed to allow the natural ears in conformation, they haven't had as much success as the cropped ears. it all depends on the individual judge, but many favor the older style of having the ears cropped.

This was your original comment. To me, and in my opinion, asking someone to consider an ear crop could sound like you are promoting it. Yes these are facts, but like I said, not sounding very encouaraging to someone who may want to keep natural ears.

It has only been a few months and we all need time to get used to the natural ear in the ring.

It is also a fact, that since then, there have been points won with the natural ear.

This is encouraging.

[apollosdad]

[QUOTE=Maggie'sMom]I do not think I misinterpreted anything. I said If this was directed towards me, I would feel like I would not have a chance.




again, i don't understand how you could have misinterpreted my original statement as possibly being directed towards you since you were not even listed on this thread at the time of my original response, which was to ringoNYC.

your personal preference is your own choice and no one is trying to take that away or discredit it in any way. if you feel discouraged by a statement i might have made then again, that is also your personal preference.

[bunkermom]

Appollosdad-

She was refering to a hypothetical situation. For instance if your response had been geared towards her.

We all realize it wasnt, she was saying how she would feel IF it was.

Autumn