Show-bred

An American Cocker Spaniel show dog with its ears wrapped in preparation for showing

A show dog is a purebred dog that is displayed at conformation dog shows to determine how well it physically conforms to established breed standards.

In many cases, show dog is used to distinguish dogs whose appearance is valued above its ability to do a job, or whose ancestors were selected more for appearance than for skills, in comparison to working dogs.

Show dogs are usually used for breeding purposes and so are generally always kept entire. Breed clubs, who define the breed standards, usually maintain that a dog\'s physical conformation is a factor in determining how well that dog may do the job for which the breed was originally developed. In fact, few show dogs are employed for actual work. Critics often point to conformation showing as a leading cause of the decline in the working abilities of dogs.[1]

Championship titles

Golden Retrievers being groomed

Dog shows are hierarchical competitions and winners earn points at each level; these are recorded and added up and eventually a dog may earn enough points to be accorded the title Champion.

In the American Kennel Club, a dog attains its Championship after earning fifteen points. Included in the fifteen points must be two "majors." A major occurs when a dog wins 3, 4, or 5 points at one dog show. The amount of points that can possibly be won for a dog depends on how many dogs or bitches need to be entered at the show for that breed and in that region of the country. For example, breeds with typically small entry numbers (like Pharaoh Hounds) need fewer entries to earn a major than breeds with large entry numbers, like Golden Retrievers.[2] The United Kennel Club uses a combination of points (for example, winning the class earns 10 points in non-variety breeds, 5 in variety breeds) and competition wins (including group placements and Best In Show/Reserve Best in Multi-Breed Show).[3] It is entirely possible to earn the championship without facing a single dog in the breed.

In the UK a dog becomes a Champion once it gains 3 challenge certificates. A dog can win these at Championship dog shows and some breed club shows.

A dog who has earned the Championship title is entitled to use the designation "Champion" (or "Ch") in front of its name, for example, Ch. Emerald\'s Brightest Sparkle.

The official term for a newborn litter of Show Dogs is a "Batch" thought to derrive from the ancient Irish term for baking bread.

Registered names

Show dogs have a registered name, that is, the name under which they are registered as a purebred with the appropriate kennel club, and a call name, which is how their owners talk to them.

The registered name often refers directly or indirectly to the kennel where the dog was bred; kennel clubs often require that the breeder\'s kennel prefix form the first part of the dog\'s registered name. For example, all dogs bred at the Gold Mine Kennels would have names that begin with the words "Gold Mine".

The call name can be anything that the dog\'s owner prefers. For example, Ch. Gold Mine Emerald\'s Brightest Sparkle might be called “Goldie’, "Sparky", "Bright", "Green", "Precious", "Gem", or, for that matter, "Fido".

By contrast, dogs in the breed registry of a working dog club must usually have simple, no-nonsense monikers deemed to be “working dog names” such as “Pal”, “Blackie” or “Ginger”.

For a complete discussion of naming, refer to registered name.

See also

• Conformation point
• Fault (dog)

References

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia