SO,
You have decided to try your hand at showing, maybe you are considering showing a dog you already own or perhaps you have already contacted a breeder about purchasing a show puppy.
Either way, their are a few things you need to know in order to get your dog ready for the show ring as well as yourself!
#1. If you have a dog you have been thinking about trying to show, you must make sure you have Full AKC rights in order to show him or her as well as him/her are still intact (not spayed or neutered) because if you do not have either of those things then you will only be able to compete in fun shows and not confirmation shows.
#2. Your Bull Terrier MUST have good manners and may not be nervous about being in crowds of people or having a stranger being hands on with them, a dog barking,growling or biting a judge will be a disqualification so make sure your dog is not prone to doing any of those things to strangers.
The judge WILL touch your dog and look your dog in the face, the judge will look at teeth and open the mouth, look at the eyes, ears, if it is a male touch the testicles and feel the body all over.
#3.Your dog MUST be manageable around other dogs, while Bull Terriers who are dog aggressive is excusable and your dog MUST be kept leashed, a dog who cannot focus on anything other then the other dogs and cannot be stacked properly will not do well and may be excused from the ring all together, so make sure your able to get your dogs full attention while in the ring.
#4. You must be able to stack your dog or lure them into a proper stacked position for the judge, if you do not know HOW to stack a dog then you must learn how to do so before entering the ring. an improper stack will give the dog a poor image thus causing the judge to judge your dogs structure incorrectly and pass you by.
#5.You must understand the Written standard for the Bull Terrier to some degree before entering the show ring, so you can better understand what the judge is looking for.
#6. Make sure your dog is having a good time! If your dog is miserable or upset by the entire thing, then you should really reconsider showing them again.
Showing is about having fun and enjoying yourselves, if your dog is not enjoying themselves why would you want to continue?
Not to mention one of the criteria a Bull Terrier is judged on is his expression and personality, if he is too busy looking miserable the judge will not see that happy terrier expression or personality and will choose another over you.
#7. Make sure your dog is accustomed to walking on a fine slip or choke and not a harness.
They need to be well controlled on such in crowds of people and other dogs so practice socializing as soon as possible.
#8. It would suit you and your dog to know basic manners and obviously NOT be human aggressive in any way.
#9.Your Bull Terrier needs to be kept healthy so she looks her best in the ring, a dog that has poor skin or coat will not do well.
#10. Go to the AKC.org website and read up on some of the rules of showing and do your research!
You have decided to try your hand at showing, maybe you are considering showing a dog you already own or perhaps you have already contacted a breeder about purchasing a show puppy.
Either way, their are a few things you need to know in order to get your dog ready for the show ring as well as yourself!
#1. If you have a dog you have been thinking about trying to show, you must make sure you have Full AKC rights in order to show him or her as well as him/her are still intact (not spayed or neutered) because if you do not have either of those things then you will only be able to compete in fun shows and not confirmation shows.
#2. Your Bull Terrier MUST have good manners and may not be nervous about being in crowds of people or having a stranger being hands on with them, a dog barking,growling or biting a judge will be a disqualification so make sure your dog is not prone to doing any of those things to strangers.
The judge WILL touch your dog and look your dog in the face, the judge will look at teeth and open the mouth, look at the eyes, ears, if it is a male touch the testicles and feel the body all over.
#3.Your dog MUST be manageable around other dogs, while Bull Terriers who are dog aggressive is excusable and your dog MUST be kept leashed, a dog who cannot focus on anything other then the other dogs and cannot be stacked properly will not do well and may be excused from the ring all together, so make sure your able to get your dogs full attention while in the ring.
#4. You must be able to stack your dog or lure them into a proper stacked position for the judge, if you do not know HOW to stack a dog then you must learn how to do so before entering the ring. an improper stack will give the dog a poor image thus causing the judge to judge your dogs structure incorrectly and pass you by.
#5.You must understand the Written standard for the Bull Terrier to some degree before entering the show ring, so you can better understand what the judge is looking for.
#6. Make sure your dog is having a good time! If your dog is miserable or upset by the entire thing, then you should really reconsider showing them again.
Showing is about having fun and enjoying yourselves, if your dog is not enjoying themselves why would you want to continue?
Not to mention one of the criteria a Bull Terrier is judged on is his expression and personality, if he is too busy looking miserable the judge will not see that happy terrier expression or personality and will choose another over you.
#7. Make sure your dog is accustomed to walking on a fine slip or choke and not a harness.
They need to be well controlled on such in crowds of people and other dogs so practice socializing as soon as possible.
#8. It would suit you and your dog to know basic manners and obviously NOT be human aggressive in any way.
#9.Your Bull Terrier needs to be kept healthy so she looks her best in the ring, a dog that has poor skin or coat will not do well.
#10. Go to the AKC.org website and read up on some of the rules of showing and do your research!