Level 3Experienced
How to choose your shows
The answer
You can find your ring, prepare your dog and follow the judge's instructions. But faced with the calendar, a new question arises: "Which ones should I enter to progress?"
A show means travel, a budget and a whole day with your dog. Here are three tips for choosing your next outings with a clear idea in mind.
1. Choose a show that matches your goal
Before entering, complete this sentence: "This time, I'm going to…" Work on handling? See more dogs of your breed? Aim for a specific award? The main formats are:
- National shows (CACS in France, CAC in many FCI countries): they award the national certificate.
- International CACIB shows: they can award the FCI International Beauty Championship Certificate. All of them are listed in the MyDogShow calendar.
- Breed club shows (specialty, "monográfica" in Spain, "Clubschau" in Germany): shows limited to the breeds managed by the organising club.
2. Look at the day's conditions, not just the distance
A nearby show may involve long waits. A further one may suit your dog better.
- Indoors or outdoors?
- Which day is your breed judged?
- What space is there to wait and rest?
- What total budget: entry, travel, meals and maybe accommodation?
- Does your dog recover well from this kind of day?
FCI rules put the dog's health and welfare first and require show announcements to state whether the show is indoors or outdoors.
3. Choose outings that help you learn
Check the judge announced for your breed. Showing under different judges helps you put several critiques into perspective. After each outing, note:
- the result, with written comments when provided;
- your dog's behaviour: relaxed, distracted, tired…;
- your next work point: gait, stack, teeth examination, focus…
If you're after a certificate, check that your class is eligible. A "1st Excellent" does not guarantee the CACIB.
Your little challenge
Pick three shows in the calendar and write, for each: "Why would this one be useful for my dog and me?" Keep the one with the most precise answer.