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a hound of a
hobby Stafford showground hosts hundreds of different shows throughout the year including numerous dog shows. Staffordshire University’s Victoria Wilkins guides us through the ancient hobby and shows us how to get involved.
Up-dos, curls, crimps, bows and a bit of back combing – it’s the start of a four-day pageant in Stafford – for dogs. More than 5,000 of them will bound around the county showground over four days, with many more thousands of human chaperones hoping their dog will bag that best-inshow award.
These thousands of people and their canine companions are part of a dedicated ring of hobbyists who, throughout the course of the year, travel the length and breadth of the country competing to out do the rest in their quest to make their pets champions of dogdom. The dog governing body, The Kennel Club, licenses over 5,000 dog showing events each year, of which preparation lies in the hands of 2,000 different dog clubs in the UK. These clubs mark the followings of 210 registered pedigree breeds recognised in the UK, who also hold their own licensed events purely for their own breed. The iron gates of Stafford showground encase one of the dog hobbyists best used venues. It’s accessible location, large halls and endless grounds provide 7 of the 27 English championship shows a home with others scattered as far north as Blackpool and as far south as Bournemouth. Don’t let the deafening sound of yipping and barking put you off, in fact, it masks the quiet, calm and content animals parading around rings surrounded by fairytale white picket fences. There is no expense spared at these events, with the dogs even having their own Page design also by version of a red carpet to Victoria Wilkins strut around on when they who is studying compete for their group and best-in-show awards. journalism at The alluring hobby of dog Staffordshire
University
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Even if someone asked me to swap my dog with a top winning pedigree, the answer would be a firm no! Whilst dog showing can be great fun, it is a competition, and you must remember that regardless of the ups and downs, you and your family take the best dog home at the end of the day and that’s how you must think.
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-Roz Hickman, PADs dog training
between dogs and bitches and each class is placed from first to fifth place.
the
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showing dates back to 1859, and is a hobby where ownDog ers and their dogs showing is a great form of socialisation compete against and can be massively rewardeach other in ing. It isn’t for every dog, so it’s order to find the best to start out at fun dog shows most fitting where you and your dog can meet likespecimen to minded people in a more relaxed attheir breeds mosphere. ‘standard’. This They’re a great way of making friends set of points outfor both you and your dog. lines the typical breed features, -Roz Hickman, characteristics and PADs dog training movement which judges look for at shows. The entry with the closest likeness to this will then be awarded best of breed. There are individual classes according to the age of your fourlegged team member, ranging from classes for puppies, to veterans over the age of seven. These classes are separated
Crufts is the pinnacle of the dog showing world and Staffordshire hosts numerous qualifying events.
protocol
To assess a dog completely, the judge must have a ‘hands-on’ with the dog. At this stage of the process, the judge is feeling for any abnormalities, muscle, bone and relevant breed characteristics that your dog should have. The judge will also asses movement, asking exhibitors to move their dogs around the ring which will enable them to see whether the dog moves correctly or if they’re ‘lame’. At a show, males are always judged first, with the youngest dogs competing at the beginning, leading up to the more experienced show dogs. After judging these, each class winner will then reenter the ring to compete for the best dog award, the winner of whom will go on to compete against the best bitch, before competing for best of breed. This particular event, a championship show, is one of the most important types of shows in the calendar – why? - Because if you’re lucky enough to place 1st – 3rd, you’ll be invited to the greatest dog show in the world, Crufts. Championship shows often offer some exhibited breeds the chance to win a ‘ticket’ or challenge certificate for each sex.
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The ‘CC’ is awarded to the best unbeaten sexes out of the total number of dogs in the breed, receive three of these and your well on your way to securing yourself a show champion (Sh Ch). Out of the best bitch and dog, the judge will declare one the best-of-breed, who will then go on to represent the breed in the group ring. As many of the exhibitors funnel out of the showground, those declared the best specimen of their breed line up in alphabetical order to challenge one another for the best in their group. There are seven groups: Utility, Toy, Hound, Pastoral, Working, Gundog and Terrier. It’s not a red carpet, but a blue carpet especially kitted out for the dogs, who all enter the ring to their own introduction and a ruckus of applause. Hundreds of pairs of eyes gaze intently at each specimen, but only one pair matters, the group judge, who in just under an hour will put one of these dogs through to best in show on the final night. Best-of-breeds in each group battle it out in a doggy-showdown to earn a group placing of 1st – 4th, with the 1st place sailing through to square up to the other six group winners for best-in-show. Best-in-show always lies on the final day of the show, with group winners coming back to the showground to be judged against each other for the title along with a runner up prize. For exhibitors, this is the ultimate accolade and each and every one of them imagines the day that their dog will prance around on the star studded carpet, inside those white picket fences, to the cheers, whistles and elation of their dedicated fans.
get
- Sarah James, regular visitor to shows in Staffordshire.
The fur has flown over the last four days at the Stafford showground and a new winner has been crowned until next year. Only a year? Better start preening, pampering and preparing your pooches on the buzzer. Get ready, get set, go! For more information on shows in your area visit, www.thekennelclub.org.uk
started
Just about anyone with a pedigree dog and a little bit of patience can enter a show and even for the most nervous exhibitor and the newcomers, the dog show scene can be a great way to make
Dog showing has helped me not only improve my confidence, but to harness my relationship with my dog. After getting my dog, I wanted to push myself to get out there and show. It was very difficult to begin with and I was so nervous, but I had wonderful support from other entrants and got myself through it. No matter what, I enjoy spending time with my dog, who will always be the best dog to me.
friends for life as well as some friends for your courageous canine. Training your dog to do what is required at one of these events may seem easy enough, but it can only be achieved by hard work and perseverance. Classes aimed specifically at dog showing are called ‘Ringcrafts’. There are many situated around Staffordshire and these are events, usually held in the evening, where like-minded people meet on a regular basis to improve their dogs ring presence or to ‘give it a go’. These classes are essentially a practice run for the real thing and are set out just like a dog show, with the aim of helping the dog perform and improving the handlers confidence in a relaxed and informal way and most importantly, teaching you and your dog a new sport to have fun with, together.
Staffordshire hosts hundreds of dog shows throughout the year
Gundogs like the Large Munsterlander are often shown “top and tail” meaning both the head and tail are extended to show the dog off.