Potential Show Dog

[moho]

Originally Posted by LynnS

I go on vacation and everyone starts talking about me behind my back LOL!

Hi Moho! You know what I think of your adorable puppy but most certainly you should listen to your breeder. I have no idea what in the heck that person at the dog park was talking about but I agree with FBKeays that there are a lot of Animal Rights people in the city.

If this was MY puppy (and I might just steal him so watch out) I would talk your breeder about entering him at Del Valle. The specialties are so much fun....

Hi LynnS,
Sorry it took so long to respond.
I do plan on listening to you know who. I was just curious after the dog walker was telling me about the test. Funny thing is she told me that she used to show great danes. I figured she knew what she was talking about.
My pup Kato is doing excellent, he gets more handsome every day. I will discuss the Del Valle show when I talk to _____ next.
Hope things are going well. Talk to you soon.
Al

[fbkeays]

Originally Posted by moho

I was just curious after the dog walker was telling me about the test. Funny thing is she told me that she used to show great danes. I figured she knew what she was talking about.
Al

I found it amazing how many people claim to have done this or that. Then show themselves to be completely ignornant in what they claim to have done. I had one person ask me what CD stood for and when I told him, he claimed to have put several CDs on past dogs. His current dog had absolutely no training or manners. It was very clear that the guy had not the first clue on how to even train a sit.
I would be very suspect of any one claiming any show experience at a dog park. SF is full of people that believe that the only good dog is a spayed/neutered dog from an animal shelter or rescue. Any dog from a "breeder" is bad and that you are a bad person for actually buying a dog. The amazing part is if you do buy a dog that it is better to buy one from an internet puppy mill (of course they don't know it is a puppy mill) then buy one from a good, decent, COE show breeder.
It is even worse is if you actually show and compete. Did you not know that "making" your dog behave is tandamount to cruelity I have been told many times that I am cruel because I make my dogs show and compete.
Trying to educate these people is impossible. They will give you a hard time for having an intact dog over the age of 6 months. Telling people that he is a potential show dog is the worst thing you can do. They will just accuse you of being responsible for every single dog in the shelter. You might even get spit on (I have).

[LynnS]

A lot of people are just full of hot air.....and people who work with dogs in one capacity often consider themselves expert in every other capacity. I could not believe it when a vet tech asked if I was going to breed Bella because she was such a beautiful Rottweiler (this was before she was spayed). Like a Vet Tech is an expert in this area?

Outside of your breeder, handlers will sometimes give you a more unbiased opinion of your puppy.

None of this is entirely black and white unless your dog has some obvious disqualifying fault (and even then some of those Rotties obtain CH titles)...

[spoiledgirls]

Originally Posted by Sharon Marples

Or at the least, taking him to some shows (before he is entered) and getting some breeders or professional handlers to go over him and give a critique of what they think he would do in the ring.

I did that exact same thing. I too had received lots of comments about my first rotty such as "she's beautiful, get her in the ring", "Hope you're planning on breeding her". I was only a pet owner at the time and only interested in trialing! A year later, I happened to be trialing Moka at a show in Paducah, Ky. Not knowing exactly what judges were looking for I had asked a Rottie breeder to "tear apart" my girl. Took guts on my part. The breeder and her friend said that it was an unusual thing to do and remarked that more novice owners should do the same. Turned out that Moka wasn't that bad after all. A few prefential things (such as not as feminine, looking eyes could be a tad darker) but that was about it. She was well put together. I took a handling class and entered some fun shows just for a lark. She (we) did well taking group but it wouldn't count for anything of course. But we had fun.