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Basic terms in showing dogs
You Said What?

Here are the basic people terms you'll hear if you go to a dog show:

• Handler: The person showing, known as "handling," the dog
• Breeder: Someone who breeds and sells purebred dogs
• Standard: Each breed's standard explains the desired appearance and temperament of the breed
• Gait: The dog's movement in the show ring

We dogs have completely different terms for all of this!

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In the ring

In the ring, judges examine all of us carefully—dogs, that is. They feel over each of us and watch the way we move. The judges also compare how we stand in line and move together.

What do the Judges Feel?

The judges will use their hands to feel our bone structure (particularly in the shoulders and hips), muscle tone, and quality of our coats.

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All judges follow the same basic guidelines but each has his or her own process for judging us.

Because the judges are all different, Matt says, "Knowing what's going to happen in the show ring is a big part of training."

I say, "And they call it "dog training"?

Get started

I'm allowing the judge to examine my head.
What is the Judge Looking For?

Matt puts Wells on the table (used for shorter dogs), and the judge examines his head and mouth.

He even looks at how straight Wells' teeth are, known as his bite.

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Would you like to show your purebred dog? If your dog's registered with the AKC, then you might try Junior Showmanship.

Begin with Junior Showmanship

Junior Showmanship (Matt calls it "juniors") is dog show competition for young people 9 to 17 years old.

In juniors, we're judged by how well our masters handle us. Matt says, "It's a fun place to learn more about showing and to compete with those in your own age group."

Want to learn more? Visit these sites:

• Kids' Corner
• Tips and Hints

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If you don't have a dog, dog shows are one of the best places to learn more about us.

At shows you can talk with breeders and owners of different breeds to see which breeds you like best. Of course, I'm the best but, go find out for yourself.

Going to dog shows is also the best way to learn about them before competing in one. You can find a show near you by visiting the Events tab on the AKC website.

Matt says, "It's important to train dogs throughout the week. If you're new to showing, it can be difficult to know how to train." I say, "It's important to train humans throughout the week...."

Local clubs often offer training classes with experienced teachers. Matt says, "Ask people at dog shows if they know of good classes."

The price is right

Matt says that showing dogs like me is a rewarding hobby.

Showing dogs like me takes time and can cost a lot of money. In addition to the regular costs of buying and caring for a dog, you need:

• Training classes (about $5 a week)
• Fees for entering shows ($20 to $30 a show, often half that for Junior Showmanship)
• Equipment and grooming supplies (costs vary depending on our breed)
• Travel expenses for shows held far away

Matt Loves Dogs!

Matt owns two dogs: me, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (I'm the one you see in each photo), and a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Colby (not shown in the photos).

I was 16 months old when all of the shots in this story were taken. Colby is 11 years old.

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You won't always win. Matt says, "Learning to show dogs is often a lesson in losing graciously. It's an exciting, rewarding hobby."

Win or lose, the time spent bonding with your human is special. I guess the reverse is true for Matt, because he says that bonding with me is "why I like to compete in dog shows."