Today, I thought I’d write about how we prepare for dog shows. I want to divide the preparation into two parts: general maintenance and specific preparations for the show. The truth is, you can’t just wave a magic wand over your dog the night before a show and expect a show-ready dog if you haven’t put in any effort beforehand. No matter the breed, it’s important to start building show condition months, even years in advance, and maintain it throughout the dog’s show career.

By show condition, I mean everything that is required of a dog at a dog show. For me, this includes the following:

1. 1. The dog must enjoy dog shows
      Not all dogs are naturally show dogs. Most of them learn to enjoy shows as a fun shared hobby, whether they are taught from puppyhood or, why not, as an adult, if it’s a rescue dog or a dog whose owners have simply not been interested in shows before. If a dog has a somewhat normal temperament and health, i.e. is not too shy or so explosive that the owner can’t handle it, it will learn to enjoy shows through positive experiences.

   2. The dog’s musculature, skeleton, and joints must be in good condition.
      A sore dog and a dog withous muscles will not present itself well. A sore dog is not even allowed to be brought to a show according to show rules. We cannot influence the skeleton and joints themselves very much, but well-conditioned musculature makes a big difference in the dog’s performance. As a dog massage therapist, I have been able to delve into a pretty interesting world in this matter, but even the basics go a long way. I will write a more detailed blog post about this matter, as I probably will about all of these points later.

   3. The coat must be in condition according to the breed standard
      Since I have Lhasa Apsos, who need really long coats to be in show condition, this point may sometimes seem like the most important thing. The coat is one of the most visible breed characteristics in dogs. It really affects the first impression that the judge gets of the dog. Not only must the coat quality, quantity, and length be according to the breed standard, but it must also be clean, tangle-free, and groomed according to the breed. With Apsos, you can’t really get a tangled, possibly scissor-cut matted coat into show condition in one visit to the groomer, but the coat of a show dog must be groomed regularly, often weekly basis. If the Lhasa Apso’s coat is shaved off, it can take up to two years to grow back to show condition. Depending on the Apso’s structure, size, and coat growth genetics, the coat may, however, be ready in less than a year.

   4. Nails, teeth, eyes, and ears must also be cared for
      Long nails hinder healthy movement and cause the legs to be in the wrong position, which causes muscle cramps and can even cause arthritis in the long run. Lack of dental hygiene, on the other hand, can lead to bacteria entering the dog’s body and even heart disease, but especially pain in the mouth area. Teeth may fall out or have to be removed if the teeth are not taken care of.

   5. The dog must know the ring choreography
      Dog shows don’t require an impossible amount of skills from dogs, but standing still, being handled by the judge, and trotting are surprisingly versatile elements in dog shows and it’s good to hone them to perfection. The better the dog performs, the better results can be expected. Judges can only judge dogs based on their performance and condition on that particular time in the ring, so it doesn’t matter how nobly the dog stands or trots outside the ring if it collapses in the ring. There are skilled judges who can see the dog’s fine qualities, even if it hasn’t practiced the choreography, but why take the risk?

   6. The dog must also know other things that belong to both participating in shows and traveling there
      It makes the hobby much easier if the dog is used to traveling in the car and especially if it is used to being in a crate or pet stroller and finds them a pleasant place to relax. Especially with a small dog, it is much easier when it has its own place at shows where it can be on its own. Dogs naturally sleep a lot and it’s good if the dog can also sleep during a show trip. A rested dog is in a better mood and the performance will go much better. The dog must also be able to walk in public and tolerate other dogs. Often, especially in indoor shows, it is crowded and noisy when the dogs’ barking echoes off the walls.

Once my dog is in show condition, I can enter it into shows. You usually have to register for shows about 1-2 months in advance, but for larger shows, even earlier. Once I’ve registered for a show, I reserve the entire day for it and don’t plan anything else for that day. The schedules are usually published 1-2 weeks before the show, so I can plan the schedule in more detail, especially what time I need to leave in the morning.

A week before the show, I wash and groom the dog. At the same time, I trim the paws, the area around the tail and anus, and possibly also the skirt hair. Of course, I also do the usual weekly grooming tasks, such as clipping nails, checking ears, etc. The day before, I wash and blow-dry the dog for the show. I pack brushes, combs, and other grooming supplies, a water bowl and bottle, a towel, weather-appropriate gear such as spare socks for rainy weather or a cooling pad, show leads, number holders, poop bags, dog’s papers, vaccination certificate, and number, as well as a treat bag into the show bag. The show bag also contains many other more or less essential items as well.

I pack into the car the pet strollers with tabletop, the crate where the dog(s) travels during the car journey, camping chairs, and a sun/rain umbrella for outdoor shows, as well as possibly a show tent. Previously, I used to protect the dog’s coat with a suit and booties after walking it after the show grooming was done. Nowadays, I’m lazier about dressing the dog and instead, in the morning after the walk, I might fix wet or damp coat on feet and belly with a hairdryer. One tip is to use potato flour or cornstarch like a dry shampoo. They also remove moisture from the coat.

I always give my dogs food in the morning and evening, even on show days. Our dogs are so greedy that they will definitely enjoy treats, even if they have had a normal breakfast in the morning. Once my own morning chores are done, it’s just the dogs and the rest of the stuff into the car that wasn’t packed the night before and off we go!

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