About Dog Shows
Preservation, Promotion and Fun!
One of the pleasures of owning a quality, purebred Beagle is showing them off to other people. Of course, not every Beagle is going to make a good show dog, even though you and your friends may think he is the most handsome beagle you have ever seen - this does not mean an experienced dog show judge will think the same. It is advisable to attend a few dog shows, see lots of beagles, and talk to breeders so you can understand what showing is all about before making any decisions.
Dogs NSW will be able to tell you what shows are coming up and whether there will be beagles being exhibited. You can contact them on (02) 9834 3022 or [email protected] for more information.
Beagle Club of NSW Shows (where only beagles are shown) are held on Easter Saturday and Sunday each year. This would be an ideal place to see lots of beagles, watch how they are shown, and talk to breeders and exhibitors. We will also have fun activities that you and your beagle can participate in, and win ribbons and prizes.
It is important to get to know the beagle Standard so you can visualise what the ideal beagle looks like. A dog show judge will compare your beagle to the Standard when they do their assessment, the dog that is closest to that standard (in his or her opinion) will be awarded the ribbon. Don't be surprised if you win under one judge and are completely overlooked by another. This is actually a good thing because if the same dog won every day, there wouldn’t be any incentive for other owners to even enter after their first few shows.
Once you decide that you would like to show and are looking for a 'show quality' puppy then you will need to be advised by the breeder of your pup. Most breeders can tell whether a puppy will make the grade but there are no guarantees - their assessment can only be based on the construction and temperament of the young pup and experience with their own bloodlines. No one can tell what may happen a few months or even weeks down the track
Having decided on your puppy, make sure it will be registered with the Dogs NSW on the Main Register (blue certificate). This indicates the breeder is of the opinion that the puppy is worthy of being shown or bred from. Pet puppies are usually registered on what is called a Limited Register (orange certificate) which indicates that the pup is not to be shown or bred from.
Your puppy will be able to be entered at a show once he has reached the age of three months. Prior to this, you will need to join Dogs NSW, the friendly office staff will be pleased to direct you to the relevant information and application forms. Dogs NSW also has a great web page that guides you through the things you need to know about showing.