Show dog

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A show dog might refer to any dog entered into a dog show. More specifically, a show dog is a dog which has been specially bred, trained, and/or groomed to conform to the specifications of dog shows, so as to have a chance of winning. Often used as a single word (showdog), the term is also used within the sport of conformation to refer to a dog that displays a particularly energetic or outgoing character.

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Dog shows

An American Cocker Spaniel with its ears wrapped to protect the fur in grooming for a show American cocker dogshow.jpg
An American Cocker Spaniel with its ears wrapped to protect the fur in grooming for a show

Entry into many sports of dog shows is restricted to purebred dogs registered with the kennel club or breed club sponsoring the show, and dogs are selected by breeding to excel at the particular sport for which they are being shown. .,

Dog shows may be held indoors, in horse arenas or other suitably large spaces, or outdoors on groomed fields. Events at which dogs may be shown vary in the requirements for entry and the amount of preparation required. Types of dog shows include:

Criticism of dog showing

One argument is that the kennel clubs' requirements that breeding be conducted within a breed is tantamount to mandatory, continuous inbreeding as all members of the same breed are related. [1] Another is that whether breeding primarily for appearance [2] or for a particularly desirable working style, [3] too much emphasis is placed on breeding from the few winning stud dogs, [4] causing an already limited gene pool to encounter a genetic bottleneck.<<The comments above can be contributed to a very small minority of pure breed preservers who may, or may not, choose to show title their dogs>>

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dog show</span> Competitive exhibition of dogs

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dog breeding</span> Mating selected dogs for specific qualities

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kennel club</span> Organization working with dog breeding

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Championship (dog)</span> Dog award

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conformation (dog)</span> Dog appearances, by breed

Conformation in dogs refers solely to the externally visible details of a dog's structure and appearance, as defined in detail by each dog breed's written breed standard. A dog that conforms to most of the items of description in its individual breed standard is said to have good conformation. Unlike equine conformation, there are no fixed rules for dog conformation, as dogs are the most variable in appearance of any animals. Instead, conformation in dogs is based on the dog type from which the breed developed, along with many details that have been added to the breed standard for purposes of differentiation from other breeds, for working reasons, or for enhancing the beauty of the animals from the viewpoint of the fanciers who wrote the breed standards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Retriever</span> Scottish breed of dog

The Golden Retriever is a Scottish breed of retriever dog of medium size. It is characterised by a gentle and affectionate nature and a striking golden coat. It is commonly kept as a pet and is among the most frequently registered breeds in several Western countries. It is a frequent competitor in dog shows and obedience trials; it is also used as a gun dog and may be trained for use as a guide dog.

Pedigree Dogs Exposed: Three Years On is a 2012 follow-up to the 2008 BBC One documentary, Pedigree Dogs Exposed (PDE). While this second programme looks at the positive changes made since the original film, it focuses on investigating areas of continuing concern. The programme concluded that it was time to call a halt to suffering created by breeders. It states that as long as the Kennel Club (KC) tolerated human whim leading to dogs that cannot run, breathe, or see freely, dogs would continue to suffer, but featured that, in fact, the Kennel Club would continue in the vein, suggesting that the organisation has a conflict of interest in juggling its commitments to breeders and to dogs – when the interest of dogs does not match up with that of breeders, the dogs suffer. It also called on dog fanciers to stop being consumers of 'freak-show" appearance, the driving factor in developing dogs to physical extremes. KC refused to participate in the production. The programme aired on 27 February 2012 in the United Kingdom.

References

  1. "Closed Registries, Genetics, and Inbreeding Depression". Archived from the original on 2016-08-07. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  2. Blog article: Rosettes to Ruin
  3. Coppinger, Raymond; Coppinger, Lorna (2001), Dogs, A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior & Evolution , New York: Scribner, p.  251, ISBN   0-684-85530-5 about working Border Collies in Scotland: "dogs that win command premium prices for stud services and puppies. But genetic problems are increasing."
  4. Coppinger, pg 251 "Contestants are eager to succeed, and therefore seek to breed their dogs with the trial winners"