598 words about dog shows...

Although winning is a nice form of recognition, along with winning comes losing (it’s just the nature of the game). A judge is only giving you their opinion on that particular day. As with all exhibitors, we have had one of our dogs take best of breed under one judge and the very next day competing against the very same dogs, have a totally different outcome under a different judge.

There are many factors that go into judging a dog and each judge’s opinion is subjective as to which dog is the best representation of that breed. Furthermore, winning is not just based on if you have the best dog as far as meeting the breed standard; it is also influenced by “showmanship”.  Not just the “showmanship” of the dog, but right or wrong, also the “showmanship” of the handler.

Judges are very knowledgeable about the breeds that they are responsible for judging and are tested on this knowledge before being granted permission to judge a particular breed. Idealistically, judges should not have any biases when judging a group of dogs, but that being said, they are human.

Many breed standards offer quite a bit of variance among dogs.  For example, according to the breed standard for French bulldogs there are two classes - a lightweight class under 22 lb. (10 kg), and a heavyweight class, 22 lb. and not over 28 lb. (10-13 kg). That being said, dogs are not divided and shown based on these two weight classes, and 5 pounds on a frenchie can make a huge difference. The key is to have a bulldog that is proportionate in size, has proper conformation and movement, and a well-balanced temperament.

All breeds go through “phases” on what is considered desirable for that particular breed.  Most English bulldogs that you see in the show ring today are shorter and squarer in the back than they were 10 years ago. Breeders selectively breed to develop certain characteristics, and these characteristics are often swayed by what judges choose in the show ring.

If the majority of bulldogs that are winning in the ring have shorter backs (I am just using shorter backs as an example, it could be any attribute) breeders start to look for shorter backed stud dogs and keep back shorter backed puppies for future breeding. Unfortunately, if not careful it can get carried to the extreme. Short may be good, but too short can cause all sorts of health problems. It is very important for breeders, judges and organizations to place the health of the breed above anything else.

There are many outstanding purebred dogs that will never be entered in a show but could easily champion, and there are a number of champion titled dogs that many people would not even consider giving a second look.  For us, dog shows are not about competing against other dogs to see which one is “better"; it is about continually learning, getting feedback from experienced judges, and connecting with other bulldog enthusiasts.

My point in writing this is to put dog shows and dog titles in perspective. Our purpose in showing our dogs is to further develop our breeding program and contribute to the betterment of the bulldog breed. Any “title” that one of our dogs receives is simply a “nice to have”, not a necessity or an opportunity to make more money off of them. It is nothing more than confirmation, recognition and assurance that we will continue to develop strong show qualities in our puppies and keep abreast of attitudes and influences that affect the breed.