Why Do People Feel It's Wrong to Show Dogs?

Because they don't realise what showing is. It's not just parading a dog around and making it trot this way and stand this way, it is people with a passion for the breed doing something for it with their dog.

Lui was show quality when we got him and his breeder used to show him. I got into young handlers, and now, for the past 3-4 years I've been showing him, and we both love it!

Lui loves getting all ready and jumping in the car for a day out. Seeing other dogs, and some of his relatives, and just working with me to do it all. He loves to please, and our close bond is made closer by this thing we do together.

If the dogs don't want to do it, they won't. The dogs trot around the ring, tails wagging, and always get praise regardless of winning or not.

Lui is a pet (and my best friend) first and foremost, and he is a show dog too. I show Lui because we both enjoy it, and if for some reason he began to lose interest and not like it, I'd just stop. His breeder kept his showing and breeding rights, and she would fully support Lui stopping if he didn't enjoy it.

Basically, people make opinions based on what they think they know, yet forget people that show love their breed and love their dogs, and don't understand that the dogs enjoy it too.

Showing in no way makes you a bad owner, it's just another fun thing to do with your dog. People that think that either just don't understand or are insane PETA fanatics.

I personally find nothing wrong with showing as long as those who show their dogs put the health and welfare of heir dogs and their breed before showing.

That's to say they care more about their dog than the prizes or the potential for pups.

That's also to say they will fight to do their breed justice. I've seen/heard of some pretty crazy doings involved in showing just to win a ribbon...things that really just cross the line (the overly sloped GSD back is an example, as well as some other things I won't mention as I don't want to stir up controversy).

Then, of course, there is the ages-old problem of 'barbie' dogs...dogs who couldn't work if they dreamed to, owned by owners who wouldn't honestly know what to do with a working dog of their breed if their lives depended on it.

All-in-all, *you* sound like a good 'show-er', but we all know not everyone is.

There are specific things I don't like about shows, namely the use of products to alter a dog - nose black, powders to make colors look better/different from what they really are, etc.

If things were up to me, all you would be allowed to use in preparing your dog for a show is shampoo, water, and a brush/comb.

I don't wear makeup, and I avoid chemicals around myself and my dogs - I don't like the fact that in many cases they have to be used to be competitive in a show.

That said, I still see the tremendous value in conformation showing and aim to learn as much as I can about it to determine if I would some day eventually like to participate.

After reading many of the other responses here, I think one of the biggest things people don't realize is just exactly what all is being judged.

I have been reading a bunch of information on a breeder's website and there is one thing that she explained that has really stuck with me. In a nut shell: with a working dog that is supposed to be able to run all day and pull a sled, excellent movement is essential. If a dog is not of the right proportions and does not move smoothly, he will burn extra calories simply in his movement alone. This is not what you want when you are depending on this dog to work.

Until really reading this and becoming interested in conformation, this had not really occurred to me. I think the more people understand the true purpose behind many of the evaluations, it's impossible to see the true value in it.

** I do realize that just because this is the ideal way a show should be judged, it is not always the case. There are definitely some show lines that are simply incapable of the work they are bred to do. This is one thing to dislike about the conformation ring. **

Because too many people have the notion that dogs, cats and other animals that are shown are pets are just that..PETS. I have seen people ***** about service dogs, k9 dogs, drug dogs bomb dogs,etc etc because they should be just in someone's home being loved and pampered. Some of these people are PETA nuts who at the end of the day don't agree with pet ownership of any kind and some are just misinformed people who don't understand.

My dogs growing up when BERSERK when it was time to get ready for a show. Not that they weren't happy in their daily lives but they loved to be shown. The same goes for every dog that has a job and enjoys it.

And as someone pointed out, Child beauty pageants are more exploitive AND actually have large cash prizes.

The people who spout off negatively about showing dogs, have no clue what it's all about, how the dogs are trained nor do they understand the reasoning behind showing dogs. They most likely have never even attended a dog show. They choose to stay closeminded and ignorant.. Dog shows do not make you a bad owner.

My dogs are "show dogs" and are my companions. Cadman loves agility, you can't mistake his behavior for anything else other than, "c'mon Mom, lets run!" As for the breed ring, it's not exactly brain surgery, and he's happy to gait up and down for tasty treats, he would really like a fur covered squeaky mouse, but that get's him to over the top. He get's praise and treats, no matter how he does.

My dogs always know when we're packing up for a show or even for training classes, the string cheese and special squeaky ball get packed. They rush to the door, barking, saying Lets Go Already!

I'd like to know who's getting this 50K prize money...I think this is a myth, like the alligators living in the sewers of NYC. I have yet to attend any dog show that had a 50K prize. I'm lucky I won $25.00 for Puppy Sweeps!

That $25.00 went on dog stuff anyway.

I am so sorry for your loss. I am in the same boat right now, after putting my 13 year old down this week. She was my heart dog. She was old, and suffering from a disease that restricted her breathing, along with hips so bad that she could not get up. She still wagged her tail when she was feeling okay, but there was suffering in her eyes. Your dog loved you, and showed that by wagging his tail, but he really did want to go rest, the only reason he was staying was you. I gravitate between guilt that I put her to sleep, and guilt that I waited so long and made her suffer so I could keep her with me. At the end of the day, I know in my head that I did the right thing, but my heart gets in my way sometimes. :o(

I don't know why anyone thinks it's bad.

I mean these show dogs are all "working dogs" to one degree or another. They were bred with a PURPOSE in mind and there's nothing wrong with an owner who wants a judge to tell them that all their hard work has finally paid off :)

I show horses. My horse is a jumper - she was bred with a PURPOSE. I have put TONS of work to get her to the level she is at and it took me years to find a horse like her with the right bloodlines. Does it make me a bad person to want to compete? I love the competition! I want to know that all my time and money went into making my horse a champion.

To me there is no difference between a dog show and a horse show. In fact I feel worse for the horses because they actually have to break a sweat doing what they are doing and so do the riders! lol It is hard physically and mentally.

It's not like you're exploiting your 7 year old daughter in some sick beauty pageant.

I think people just hear and see things on tv and make them selves believe that showing is bad and wrong. I like it more when people adopt from the pound and I know that if you want to get into a big show you have to get a dog with papers from a reputable breeder. I'm for breeders when it comes to showing and hate it when people go to random not reputable breeders just because they don't want to go look at the pound. Some people just take that fact way to far and go over board ranting about how showing is wrong but clearly dogs enjoy showing and getting attention. Just keep doing what your doing. People will always have their opinions.

To start off with, what you and I know and those who have this opinion don't is, the ones who don't enjoy showing - don't do it! It's impossible to get a dog in the ring to display proper attitude when they hate being there. You spend much more time on average with a dog getting it ready to show than most pet owners ever do. Multiple training sessions on a daily basis in order to get them ready.

I think it's simply a matter of certain 'breeders' trying to justify breeding both mutts and any random dogs by attacking the motives of people who actually have a purpose in breeding. They attack 'show breeders' with terms like 'inbreeding' when it's typically the BYB who allows close breeding with no knowledge of the genetics of their dogs and lines, and do more toward producing the horrors they complain about than any 'show' breeder out there. 'Show' breeders don't love their dogs, yet BYBs breed strictly for profit, put their b*tch's lives in danger to line their own pockets and somehow think that makes them 'superior'.

Yes, their are breeders out there who have sacrificed function for form, but I don't think that's the issue we're talking about here. That fact doesn't automatically translate into their dogs becoming a product rather than beloved pets. Those BYBs have no interest in proving their dogs are not worthy of showing, therefore breeding, so instead of presenting valid reasons why they should be breeding their dogs, they try to divert the attention from themselves by attacking others.

Most people do not understand dog shows or showing. They think the judges just picks the dog they like 'best' by means of appeal or personality. They don't understand how a judge can look at a yorkie and a mastiff and determine best in show. They do not understand the politics or competition or how much work goes into it.

I think showing your dog is a great way to stay involved in their lives. It is a way to educate people about your breed though most shows are probably only attended by 'dog people'. I wish I had the time in my life to be competing in shows.