Pet Quality Pups / Show Quality Pups

[TrishB]

You often hear people here who want "Show Quality Pups". I was one of them and got one! ;)

I'd like to know the following:

1) Do you have a pet or show quality dog?
2) If you have a show quality dog, do you show it?
3) Do you compete in obedience or other venues (non-conformation, doesn't need to be 'show' quality)
4) Where did you get your dog?

I have a theory that MANY dogs that are sold / wanted as 'show quality' don't actually make it to the ring (don't qualify, owners lose interest, etc.). Isn't that a waste of a possible good example of the breed? If all you really wanted was a pet, why not get a pet quality dog?

I happen to know of 3 beautiful, solid tempered, pet quality pups that are available right now (feel free to PM me). Why these wonderful pups have been overlooked is beyond me.

It's kinda like getting a Ferrari and only using it to run over to the corner store.

[TrishB]

Sorry, I forgot to answer my own questions:

1) I have a show quality pup.
2) I do intend to show him in conformation classes.
3) I do intend to show him in obedience.
4) A great breeder in PA that I found via networking.

:D

[AngelBunny]

1) Do you have a pet or show quality dog?

We have two personal bitches.

2) If you have a show quality dog, do you show it?

Both are rescues; when I got my show quality puppy, she was shown.

I'm currently showing our NERR girl. Mox is very talented, very smart, & has tons of energy. She has 5 titles and I expect her to earn at least two more. She needs to work so she's pleasant to be around.

3) Do you compete in obedience or other venues (non-conformation, doesn't need to be 'show' quality)

Mox has a CD and HIC. We're attending a tracking clinic in a few weeks and if she's interested, I'll put at least a TD on her. I haven't looked into finding a place for us to herd. She's starting work on her CDX.

I want my talented dogs to be more than pets. Our oldest Rottie girl doesn't have the nerves for working--she's a special needs child, so to speak--it'd take too much from her and me to work her. She's a pet--a well-mannered, very well trained pet--but it'd be unrealistic of me to expect anymore from her.



4) Where did you get your dog?

[babydungeon]

1) Do you have a pet or show quality dog?
pet
2) If you have a show quality dog, do you show it?
n/a
3) Do you compete in obedience or other venues (non-conformation, doesn't need to be 'show' quality)
i'm trying to get an ilp# now for dungeon to possibly explore agility and therapy work
4) Where did you get your dog?
byb

i'm getting a female "show" quality puppy soon, @7 months, from a breeder and plan on jumping into the show ring with her. there's going to be a lot of traveling though because i'm not very close to anywhere that has regular anything. i.e.-agility, confirmation, Sch or anything so it's going to be rough. i'm looking forward to it though.
i just applied at my vet's office today to volunteer on the weekends. i hope they let me, i just want to learn. -kevin

[tilerspop]

Tiler is a rescue but he sure looks like he could be show quality. I don't know what show quality is but he has all the proper markings and none of the minuses that I've read about here. If he is I won't be showing him, but I may compete in some skills oriented arenas. Right now we are still working out the basics.

[Goniella]

1) My first rottie was a rescue,my current rottie is my first ever non rescue show quality male, and I am about to add a show quality australian shepherd to the mix!
2) Kizmet is only 8 months old he has been in a few fun matches and placed 2nd and 3rd which isnt bad at all, at this time he is going through a phase of hocking out, he is absolutely gorgeous other then his coming and going looks like he is carrying a nickle between his knees <VBG> If that doesn't clear up with age and maturity then he will not be showing conformation. Skye (the soon to be aussie will possibly be shown however she broke her foot as a little one and her gait is a little off as well it depends on how much she pulls out of the tiny little hop on that foot whether she is shown or not)
3) Kizmet is enrolled in OB class right now and I fully intend to train him for a CD at least, Skye will definately be an obedience dog and possibly agility as well.
4) I got Kizmet from a breeder here in Texas, she is very active in conformation and has 3 finished champions in her home, I found her through the internet she lives 2 hours north of me and we visited ALOT before the puppies were ever born and we visit alot more than that now she has become my best friend 2nd only to my mother. We talk on the phone at least 5 times a day hehehe
She also owns and shows aussies and I am getting Skye from her as well. Skye comes from a very well known aussie breeder. I guess you could say I will be Skye's handler, the breeder will still own her, she will just live with and be trained and shown by me.

[Jaegergirl]

1) Do you have a pet or show quality dog?
-he was sold as pet but breeder would change his AKC registration if I decided to show him. unfortunately he has a bald spot on his tail (or what's left of his tail) that will disqualify him in conformation.

2) If you have a show quality dog, do you show it?
n/a

3) Do you compete in obedience or other venues (non-conformation, doesn't need to be 'show' quality)
-i'm giving it some thought..he's 6 months old now and we're currently taking obedience classes and are working toward c.g.c. eventually would like to do therapy work. we'll see how it goes.

4) Where did you get your dog?
- i went to the american rottweiller club website and got the name of the group in my area. the contact directed me to the breeder.. who was EXCELLENT and really loved her dogs.

[Carina43]

I have three non-show quality dogs. Two are rescues.

I have started competitive obedience with Cooper. He's now 21 months old & has done very well in agility fun classes - so we may do that too. He loves it! My little female Daphne isn't very..."sound", she was badly abused and I don't think will ever have the confidence to be anything but a good pet and resident couch potato. (Dutch is a lovely dog I took in, treated for HW, neutered & have worked with but needs to be rehomed. :( He and Cooper just detest each other.)

Daphne came from a kill shelter. Dutch was abandoned & chained alone in a back yard when his owner moved & just left him behind. I found Cooper's breeder by calling the Rottweiler Club in Denver - he's long haired, definitely pet quality! She would not have let a show prospect pup go to a home where it wouldn't be shown.

[fbkeays]

Originally posted by TrishB
You often hear people here who want "Show Quality Pups". I was one of them and got one! ;)

I'd like to know the following:

1) Do you have a pet or show quality dog?
2) If you have a show quality dog, do you show it?
3) Do you compete in obedience or other venues (non-conformation, doesn't need to be 'show' quality)
4) Where did you get your dog?

1. My first dog, a bitch, I got from a byb. I was told she was showable, naive me. She is definately pet quality. Nothing about her is show quality except for her personality/temperament. She has obedience, herding and carting titles. I may start her in tracking. She will be seven in a few days.
My second, third and forth dogs- all dogs were show quality. I had to return the third for temperament problems. The second one didn't like to show so I retired him from the ring at age 3 by neutering him. He is a beautiful dog and I get lots of comments on how great he looks at herding. That is were he excells at. He has beautiful stack, reach and drive while out there herding those sheep. I just wished he looked that good in the conformation ring. He also has his CD and CX(carting) titles.
Third dog was beautiful and attempted to show him, but he kept on being excused for being unable to be examined. He wasn't right in the head.
My forth one is also beautiful- almost 17 months old. Will be taking the show ring my storm shortly(I am not bias am I
:D ). He already has a couple of herding titles(PT and JHD), will go for his CD later this year and TD hopefully next month. I have just started training him for VST(varible surface tracking) , assuming we have his TD, I want to go for the VST at the ARC nationals in April. I figure with him, by the time it is all over, he will have his tracking Ch. AKC Ch. UD(X), HX(HC?), CX and an agility title or two.
2. All of my dogs have been shown in conformation. My bitch was shown at six months at an USRC fun match- her only conformation experience.
3. I try to find out what my dogs like to do. I am a novice as I have had rottweilers(dogs) for only seven years. I have exposed/titled dogs in obedience(Misty is going for her CDX), carting(I prefer driving, but it sure helps to have the dogs haul their show gear on the grounds), herding(all three of my dogs have at least a HT, Duncan almost has his HS(with placements) and now tracking with the youngest one.
4. I got Misty out of the newspaper. I knew enough to ask about hips and elbows and the parents were. They were about an hour away from me. Duncan was from Lousiana, the third from NJ and Fizzy is from CT. I am from California.

[laurlitt]

The question I'd like to ask to everyone/anyone is "Who wanted a show quality pup, paid for a show quality pup, and actually ended up w/ a show quality pup/dog?". Once you've determined at 7-8 weeks that the pup has no faults (which you may or may not be able to tell at this age) then it's a crap shoot from there. One can hope that what they see at this young age is what they turn out to be... but how likely is that??? Anyone who's seen a lot of show pups have any good insight?

I like to hear "my pup has great show/work potential" and then once it's proven itself say "I have a show quality dog."

[Rottnlove]

Great question, laurlitt! This is also a great thread, since I'm going through this dilema right now!

Here's my story:

I have to have a puppy out of this stud dog who died just recently. (Long story, it was poisening.) :(

Here's my only chance to get a puppy from him. He has two litters born this year and they were fairly close together. (They breed 1-3 litters a year.)

Anyway, here's the situation. One of the females had her pups about 5 and a half weeks ago. They look pretty good, but the mother is just really, really short. I was going to pass on that litter altogether. The breeder contacted me first and asks me if I want the show quality female from that litter. She doesn't think it's likely I'll get a show quality female from the other that I want. The other female that I wanted a puppy from has 3 people ahead of me for a show quality female. There are a total of 5 females in that litter. I really, really want show quality and wanted one from this stud dog, without a doubt. The mother of the litter I wanted a puppy from is just gorgeous. The puppy's are exactly one month today and they all look great.

Any suggestions? I'm thinking I might need to go pet quality to get a puppy out of this litter, since the parents are exactly what I like. Then again, I would like to try showing. I want to make the right decision!!! I saw photos of all the puppies and they're really cute. I'm just afraid I won't be getting a show quality puppy out of 5 females, 3 show quality already in line in front of me! Any suggestions?

[Goniella]

Rottnlove I am going to assume you are speaking of Umbro, correct? If I am not mistaken they have frozen semen in stock on him, maybe you could wait for the next litter? If not then I would at least have a look at the show quality female she may have more of Umbro's qualities than her mothers and might be just what you want :P

[fbkeays]

Originally posted by laurlitt
The question I'd like to ask to everyone/anyone is "Who wanted a show quality pup, paid for a show quality pup, and actually ended up w/ a show quality pup/dog?".

Looks is one thing, temperament and personality is another. My first show dog had the looks, but he didn't have the personality. He always did well, I have lots of ribbons, but not many points. Judges told me that he just doesn't want to win. I learned a lot about showing with him. I had a lot of fun. I don't regret the high price I paid for him. My next show dog was really nice conformationally- but he could not be examined. He was way too fearful- was that way from the first day I got him. I tried everything to get him over it, but what set him off changed every day. I finally returned him because I couldn't do anything with him. I was too afraid he would bite someone(he did a few months after I returned him- completely unprovoked bite). My current show potential I think will do well. I haven't shown him much. He has the conformation(still waiting for him to mature, but it is there) and he has the personality to win. He has great working drive. I figure he should have at least three titles behind his name before he starts his conformation career seriously. The most amazing thing is I paid the same price for him as I did my byb bitch five years earlier. My "best" dog is actually my cheapest.

[Rottnlove]

Gonniela,

Thanks for your advice! The stud dog was Umbro. In my eyes he was perfect. :) I asked the owners if they had any frozen semen. Just waiting for a response. If so, and I wait, I'd hope the pregancy would take. If they didn't have a lot that would worry me some.

Understandably, the breeder wants a decision soon for the show quality female, as they're letting her go to someone else if I don't take her. She'll be ready to go to her new home in a couple of weeks. By a couple of weeks, that other litter will have changed a lot and they will know a lot more. It'll be too late to turn back and decide on that female. This is SUCH a difficult decision! :(

I'd like to include the pics of the puppy's, so you can see!

This is the two show quality female puppies.
Puppy pictures
Please post pictures in the Chit Chat forum.

Tell me what you think! :)

Lisa

[Knucklesmom]

Knuckles is pet quality, no papers, therefore, obviously not showing him. Not really interested in competing in any obedience venues. Got him from a byb, found an ad in the paper. My son got to meet Knuckles parents - both sweet dogs with great, gentle personalities, which we thought was the most important thing- when Knuckles was 2 weeks old. He has turned out to be a healthy, happy, smart (of course), clown of a dog.