Is Your Dog “Ready”?
Patience is a virtue, but in today’s world of “quick gratification” many breeders and owners find themselves in a hurry to finish dogs as young as possible. A flashy puppy is very exciting and often times can win from the six to nine month class. The question arises, what do you do with the puppy flyer after it finishes his or her championship? Typically they are too young to be campaigned as a special or to be bred. Breeders and owners face the reality of having to show a promising puppy that can do well in the puppy classes, but do not complete their championship because they are not able to defeat their more mature counterparts. The reality is: some judges are hesitant to put up puppies, additional shows mean additional show expense and young puppies can become bored with dog shows.
Being objective about your show prospect with a puppy or an adult will allow you to start showing your dog at the appropriate time. Some breeds obviously mature faster than others. Some lines mature faster than others. Some dogs age better than others. Basically each dog has its own unique window to optimally be shown. Each individual show prospect should be evaluated for what is that dog’s ideal age to start in the ring. Besides the physical maturity there is the mental maturity. Some dogs learn the show routine easier than others. This can also be breed specific. Have you done your homework in training, coat work, conditioning and socialization? These are just a few of the variables that go into making a dog as competitive as possible. Quality is what judges are all looking for and want to reward, but showmanship helps in getting an exceptional dog that extra attention from a judge.
Waiting for a dog to mature has a lot of advantages. The extra time allows you to train and socialize your show prospect without a sense of urgency. The mature dog has a better chance to complete their physical and mental development. Adult dogs tend to have more confidence than puppies. An adult dog in their prime is the picture that any judge appreciates in their ring. It is exciting to see and discover puppies that are the future of the breed, but there is always the concern if they will hold their early promise. One can easily argue that a mature, trained, conditioned dog is competitive under any judge. Another advantage to showing a dog when it is physically and mentally mature is the cost savings realized. With the expenses incurred for entry fees, hotels, food, gas, time away from work and/or handling fees it makes sense to do everything possible to ensure that your dog finishes in a timely manner.
There are often times the question after a promising dog finishes – when is he or she ready to start a specials career? It is the rare puppy flyer that can go directly into the specials ring or able to handle the additional demands of a special. A mature dog that is ready can not only finish in style but also make the transition to a specials dog due to the mental and physical maturity it possesses. So the next time you have that exciting young puppy, consider your goals and objectives when determining the best time to start their dog show career.
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