New to dog showing?

Dog showing is the most popular canine activity in the country and is a great way to show others why your dog is the best in the world.

All pedigree dogs can take part in dog showing and you never know, it could lead to you taking part in the world's greatest dog show, Crufts.

What is dog showing?

Dog showing or exhibiting is an exciting competitive activity where dogs compete against each other for prizes or awards. It is a competition where a dog’s attributes and conformation are compared against a breed standard for its breed. Whilst it can often be taken very seriously, it can be a fun pursuit that people and their dogs thoroughly enjoy.

What do I need to know?

Ensure your dog is registered with The Kennel Club on the Breed Register. Only pedigree dogs are eligible to compete at dog shows (this does not include companion dog shows, where crossbreeds are allowed to compete)

In order to compete, your dog will need to be at least 6 months of age or over on the first day of the show. However training can take place before it reaches 6 months of age

Go to a local ringcraft class to learn the basics of how to show your dog in the ring

All breeds are shown differently, so you will therefore need to understand how you can show your dog in a breed-specific way. Try to go to an open show or championship show and watch how your breed is shown 

Speak to exhibitors who are around the ring side. No question is a silly question - we were all new once, so ask away! Just remember not to disturb or distract someone who is just about to go into the ring

Health is of paramount importance, so before taking part in dog showing, make sure your dog is fit for function, fit for life

Familiarise yourself with The Kennel Club's show regulations

Are there any training classes I could attend?

Yes, these are called ringcraft classes and are highly recommended. Ringcraft clubs are usually very sociable, where groups of like-minded people meet on a regular basis and have a great time together training their dogs.

Some ringcraft clubs not only run training classes for your dogs, but also hold competitions such as matches, which are like a mini dog show so that members can see how they are progressing.

Ringcraft classes can also be used as the basis of training you and your dog on how your dog should be handled and presented even if you have no thoughts of entering the ‘show scene’. They are not just for people wanting to show their dogs but for everybody with a dog, and they will teach the basics such as:

• socialisation with people and other dogs
• training your dog to walk on a lead nicely without becoming distracted by people or other dogs
• training your dog to allow people to examine and assess them by putting their hands on them, as a judge would

Next step - attending your first dog show

Have you already done some training and think you might like to enter your first show? Learn more about attending your first dog show. 

Once you are ready, you can begin to think about entering your first show. Limited or open shows are a great place to start. They are more relaxed compared to a championship show. Once you feel comfortable in the ring with your dog, you may then decide to attend a championship show..