Dog Showing: Why do you do it?

Let me start by saying, unequivocally, I have a lot of respect for those that do, as clearly there's a hell of a lot that goes into showing dogs. But, help an uneducated baffoon who hates 'not knowing' out. Why show? What do you get from it? What made you think it would be the thing for you and your dog?

I've sat and thought about it a couple of times, (why, that is, not actually doing it) and I can't quite fathom in my head what motivates people to do it.

I can only speak from my experience. My step-mother has shown her red setters for over 30 years and I do the summer companion dog shows.
I do it because I find it fun, it is a day out with the dogs, we meet other dog mad people and learn alot.
My step-mother does it as a hobby. She is not (too) upset when she does not win. She is dog mad and anything fun for dogs and her is OK! There is a real friendship among the 'showers', though some are respected more than others.
People do it for different reasons, mostly (I have found) through the love of dogs. I must say that I have met a few people that get rid of the dogs that dont do well in shows and I personally dont understand that at all!
I will only waffle if I say more, so will let others add!

I would imagine then that the preperation is pretty much year round, no? As in, you really have to keep your dog(s) at their peak all-round? If so, are there things that you might avoid with your dogs that we, who don't show, might indulge in?

for me its a day out with the dogs and meet other people with the same breed as me or who are proud of their dogs who wants to show others the quality of their dogs.
i do show now and again its not a big deal to me at all, i go for a day out with the dogs so i might as well enter the show, we have been placed some times we don't it doesn't matter either way.
the dogs enjoy it and get the chance to socialize with new dogs or dogs they remember from other shows.
i get to meet new people or catch up with 1's i already know plus get to see and learn about breeds i don't know much about...so all ways round we enjoy it.
i had a kc boxer before the leo's but we never shown her but i was always interested in how it worked etc so when we got tob we started showing.
if its a breed show then you also get to know the latest info on your breed and its a good chance to see other peoples dogs and lines.

the dogs should be kept in good condition but any owner should do that any way even if you don't go in the ring.
all we do is give them a bath to make sure the coats clean the rest is routine stuff grooming etc.
the trick of showing is to get your dogs to focus on you and stand correctly regardless of how many people or dogs are in the class or around the ring.
theres nothing hard in it really other than getting your dog to work for you in the ring, its the handlers that are more nervous in the ring than the dogs.

I know of some people with some breeds will avoid walks, mud, wet etc before shows. It does differ with the preparation needed for the show.
My step mother who shows more often and seriously than me, purely keeps the boys well groomed, trimmed and in top condition all year, but they go in the river and mud etc. She understands that they are dogs and need exercise and fun, exercise etc. She may walk her dogs away from the river a couple of days before a show, but they still get to have fun and a good run etc.
After all you really cant show an unhappy, unfit or unhealthy dog! They will not show well.

Ive always got the impression that showing; and for me- going to obedience training classes- is more for the humans than the dogs most of our training is done at home; my dog sees plenty of her pals every day at our local park- so she doesnt need to go to class for socialisation.But I like to get out and chat to other dog owners I spent a day at Crufts 3 years ago and I saw a lot of very tired/bored dogs in their crates, and plenty of gossip going on amongst the owners:smt002

And so, forgive me for asking, are there financial rewards in it for successful showers, and if so how? I can't imagine that it's a major incentive, even if there are, going by the above responses alone, but I am genuinely interested in the where's, why's, and wherefore's.

Some friends of mine breed Sharpeis and they make a LOT of contacts at shows- for further breeding and for potentialy selling pups- I believe the shows get you "known "in the breeding world.....so yes Im sure money is a part of it....

my dogs are never crated or benched if the dogs are not allowed to go round with me then i don't enter.
i don't know gsd i don't attend that many, some shows to get a years supply of dog food etc from the company that are sponsoring the show etc.
i guess if your dog is the champ at crufts then there is the publicity that goes with it but i have never been to crufts with or without the dogs.