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BPO Working Dog Forum => Big Dogs with Jobs => : Janisjin July 31, 2005, 11:50:43 PM

: Newbie to Showing!
: Janisjin July 31, 2005, 11:50:43 PM
Hello everyone! I am new to showing (and to this forum!). I was wondering if anyone else was a newbie to showing akitas and maybe veterans can give us some advice!

I currently own an akita mix and recently purchased an akita male who will be 12 weeks tomorrow. I was very interested in competing in agility or obedience (how serious I will become will depend on how well I am able to train my dog). I was also interested in possibly showing my puppy in conformation. The stud's pedigree is excellent, but the bitch's was quite lacking. I intended on purchasing him as a pet, but then decided to see if I could show him when my breeder agreed to cash out his breeder if he decided to breed/show or give his breeder the pick of the litter. His breeder wanted to be cashed out until she saw the litter and wanted my puppy. good thing for me, I already put down a deposit on him. I have reservations concerning the bitch's pedigree, but let's hope he has his dad's genes! So, anyway, that's how my interest in conformation showing was peaked. Maybe I got a diamond in the rough!

Anyway, sorry for the long intro. I was wondering if anyone had any tips, advice, info concerning showing him in agility/obedience shows (or could suggest any books. I intend on purchasing Culture Clash or Good Owners, Great Dogs, but any additional reading material will be greatly appreciated!)

Also, there's been quite a debate on using clicker training for akitas or using food as the sole motivator (or relying heavily on just food). Does anyone have any success training stories to share for the obedience ring in support of or in contradiction of this debate?

Anyway, thanks in advance to everyone!
: Re: Newbie to Showing!
: zimas_mommie July 31, 2005, 11:59:41 PM
I honestly dont know a thing !!! I know my dog is AKC registered I dont even know how to find out if I would even be able to show my dog! So Im more in the dark then you... so dont feel bad!  I am interested  in finding out if I am able to do anything with her though. So I am very interested in any information you come across! So I will see what info I can come up with and maybe we can learn together!!! Look forward to happy learning!!
: Re: Newbie to Showing!
: zimas_mommie August 01, 2005, 12:00:46 AM
By the way your puppy is so cutee too!! congrats on your diamond!
: Re: Newbie to Showing!
: Janisjin August 01, 2005, 12:32:36 AM
Hi Zima Ashi!

You're absolutely adorable! I don't know much either but here goes (and anyone, please feel free to correct me as I am a newbie!): when you register your puppy with the AKC, they should send you a certified pedigree showing the parents, grandparents and great grandparents. Whenever it says CH or Can CH, that means they are champions (which I think that means they have at least won 2  majors under 2 different judges and for a total of 15 points under 3 judges). I think that may be a good idea to see whether you want to start showing. Like I said, my puppy's bitch was quite lacking (no champions whatsoever and you could tell by looking at her) but my puppy's dad had all but one champion in his pedigree. Does anyone else have an opinion on how to decide whether to try out the waters as a conformation dog?

Where I live, there is a conformation class which shows you basic handling skills. The instructor has won a lot of championships including Best In Show so I was thinking of enrolling just for fun and bouncing some questions off of her and seeing whether she thought I should continue. hopefully she is professional enough to tell me the truth, not just what I want to hear or what will get me to enroll in the advanced handling class. There's also a specialty show going on in mid-August and the breeder suggested that I show up and bring my puppy (she was sure to add that he should be well groomed) and bounce some questions off the nicer comeptitors (of course, I've been warned by the cut throat nature of the show and to take advice with a grain of salt in case someone is being nasty).

I know for conformation, your dog cannot be altered, but can be for obedience/agility classes. That was another reason I wanted to see whether he could show or not (I think they have to be at least 6 months) before I altered him.  But that's it. That's all I know. Not much, I'm afraid. Hopefully someone else will be able to fill us in! (hint hint! :P )
: Re: Newbie to Showing!
: BabsT August 01, 2005, 05:56:09 AM
I have shown my dog in rare breed once and will do it again in October.  I only go to the ones my breeder goes to...The first show was o comical, you need to have a light heart if you are a newbie.  Zero would sit for the judge when he needed to stack...and mosey along for the moving parts LOL

The best thing you could do is register in handling/confirmation classes...a lot of dog trainers do that to

It is far more technical than I imangined but it is fun if you talk to normal people...on the othe hand, somre are just nasty

GOod luck with your cutie
: Re: Newbie to Showing!
: Janisjin August 03, 2005, 10:10:24 PM
Thanks for the insight, everyone! The trainer evaluated my pup and thought he had potential as a show dog (as did the breeder of his stud), but we won' tknow until he's 6 months. even if he is show quality, you guys are right...it may be too cut throat to be worth it. Agility seems like so much more fun (although I believe on 1 or 2 akitas have ever received the highest titles, but I'm just doing it for fun and to start somewhere so I'm not shooting for that!!) and obedience seems like it would make me happier having a well behaved dog regardless if we are in the ring or not...if I do end up showing him in conformation, I'm just shooting for champion, not BOB or BIS (although champion is quite hard to do too!) Anyway, thank you to everyone who responded!
: Re: Newbie to Showing!
: Bear August 03, 2005, 10:49:58 PM
We're here to root him on for sure! Where do you live again?
: Re: Newbie to Showing!
: Janisjin August 04, 2005, 10:11:30 PM
I always forget to include where I live! grrr
I live in Seattle and surprisingly there isn't an akita club in seattle--strange.