Alexandra Ortiz
Photo by LRuss
After spending quite a bit of time under lockdown, you may wonder what you should watch next. Luckily, there are a plethora of interesting shows available that cater to a variety of interests - including ones that center around celebrating man’s best friend.
The world of dog shows is quite intriguing - in fact, there are numerous types of shows that showcase dogs of diverse breeds that you might not have ever seen before! For example, the lamblike Bedlington Terrier, the Komondor with its thick corded coat, or even the curly-coated retriever. Why not introduce yourself to the fluffy ball of fur that is the Pekingese?
Dog shows are also known as conformation events or conformation shows. They are a type of dog event that is hosted by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in which judges assess the conformations of dogs according to their breed standard. The three types of conformation dog shows are all-breed shows, specialty shows, and group shows. All-breed shows allow over 175 breeds and varieties of dogs to compete that are recognized by the AKC, and are typically broadcasted on television. Specialty shows allow dogs of a specific breed or varieties of a breed only to compete. Group shows allow dogs to compete that belong to one of the seven groups defined by the AKC. A dog that is awarded the title Best of Breed after competing against other dogs of the same breed moves on to compete for the title Best of Group. Dogs that win the Best in Group title are eligible to compete for the highly coveted Best in Show title.
The groups in shows consist of breeds with similar traits, and the AKC has its own set of groups. They are the herding, hound, non-sporting, sporting, terrier, toy, and working groups. Dogs from the herding group were bred to help herd livestock, and dogs from the hound group were bred for hunting game other than game birds, while dogs from the non-sporting group are diverse and are typically companion dogs. Sporting dogs were bred to hunt game birds, terriers were bred to be vermin hunters, toy dogs were bred to be companions in the household, and dogs from the working group were bred to guard, be search and rescue dogs, and pull carts. A dog from the herding group is the Old English Sheepdog, one from the hound group is the Beagle, and the Poodle is from the non-sporting group. Spaniels are from the sporting group, the Wire Fox Terrier is from the terrier group, the Shih Tzu is in the toy group, and the Doberman Pinscher is from the working group.
There are additional types of awards for dogs that meet certain criteria in many dog shows. One such award is Best in Variety, which is given to a dog whose breed has several varieties, such as the smooth-coated and rough-coated varieties of collies. Another type of award is Best of Opposite Sex, which is awarded to the dog that is deemed the best of the opposite sex to the winner of the Best of Breed title.
Agility competitions are also very exciting dog events that emphasize the athletic abilities of many dogs. Dogs and their trainers have much fun running through courses together, hoping to win the title of Grand Champion in the Westminster Masters Agility Championship, for example. Tune in to see different breeds competing in agility competitions at Crufts as well. The courses include teeter-totters (seesaws), elevated walks, and tunnels. Whether the dogs speed through the course or elect to take their time, your eyes will surely be glued to the screen.
What are you waiting for? Power on a device and start watching! Popular dog shows include the American Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and Great Britain’s Crufts Dog Show. If you would like to view a show with more formality pick the former, or select the latter for a relatively more relaxed atmosphere. You can find videos on the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and Crufts YouTube channels.
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