You have to own a show dog to understand....from the day before when I pack my show bag to when we get back in the car after the show they are in doggy heaven!They enjoy every minute!
They also enjoy a normal dogs life with walks and training etc but nothing compares to the excitement they show when going to a show.

i agree- you have to own a show dog or at least be involved in competition with your dog to understand.

i dont actually show my gsds but i compete in agility-obviously different from showing as there is not as much preperation in terms of 'cosmetics' as there are for some breeds that show. but i believe show dogs have to be in good physical condition, ie well exercised and muscled like and agility dog has to be fit to be able to do a days worth of agility.
i have two dogs to compete and i leave my dogs alone while i compete the other-but i dont leave them tied around the place-they are in the car in the winter or crated in the boot with the door open in the summer-also with sun screen over the top and are not left for long periods like that.
i like competing, its sociable-just like showing is, im sure. i enjoy winning even more but it isnt the be all and end all. my dogs are pets first and secondly they are competition agility dogs and yes i do have high hopes to qualify for crufts -in agility obviously!
i love my dogs for being dogs-and im sure it is the same within the showing circuit.
anyway im off my tangent now lol-

I have had the privilage of handling pellow a couple of times for Lovezois, I got my first BOB with this handsome boy I have to say, Now given this dog didnt know me well, he went in to the ring with me and because he enjoys what he does and is well trained he did it all for me, I mearly was there to hold the lead, he loves what he does, making it easy for me to work with him,.

Rotties dont need any preperation for showing really, they are so easy, keep em fit, feed em well, wipe down with a damp cloth the morning of the show, quick brush up and your there...
I guess the preperation is needed with coated breeds but the main thing with short coats is keeping them fit and healthy.

Even when we did start showing Kali at the local agri shows, it was more to be taking part in the local community than with any thought of getting placed. It was nice when he did, though - the "icing" on a nice day out!

We were mightily chuffed, and Kali loved the attention!


Snorri

How absolutely shocking!

The poor dogs are obviously being forced to run miles over muddy fields when all they want to do is hop on the number 32 bus into town and hang around the mall with their mates.

I think if you read Paw Paw's other posts you will see that she is just trying to highlight the difference between pets and non-pets, in fact she has specifically said that she is not saying that hounds don't have a good life.

Particularly bearing in mind that English is not her native tongue, I think Paw Paw is expressing herself very well.

As for showing, yes, I agree that where the dog enjoys it, it is great (and it would seem, though I don't know from personal experience, that you can't win with a dog that doesn't enjoy it).

What does worry me (though as Paw Paw says, I don't think it applies to anyone on Dogsey), is where winning becomes the be-all and end-all. But this applies to any competitive environment with dogs, whether it be showing, agility, OB, etc. etc.

I am sorry to offend anyone! That was not my aim. I was trying so let everyone see this from other viewing points. Please do not think i am critisizing anyone because i am not. Yes some showing is good and some is bad. But they thats life. Some are in there with their heart and others with their wallet. x

I show my dogs, they live in the house as family members they get walked and exercised regular, my dogs get as excited going to shows as they do going for a walk or a run, no matter how successful they are in the ring, they are MY dogs MY faimly members and couldnt be loved more. to be honest I am sick to death of insinuations that because I show my dogs they are somehow missing out on a life, they have more of a life than some dogs who get (if they are lucky) walked on a lead for half an hour after its owners have been out all day, and before the dinner is cooked, left to its own devises at weekends while its owners are off shopping doing their own thing or going out in the evenings leaving the dog once again, I'm with my dogs most of the day they come to work, I walk them EVERY day I spend my evenings grooming them and socialising them, my weekends when I can I spend with them at a show, whats the harm in that.

Mo

Unless I have missed something over the past fifteen years, showing takes money out of your wallet! It certainly doesn't put any in it!!!

Mick