DO YOU WANT TO SHOW?
For the uninitiated, the idea of a dog show may seem like fun and something you decide to do on a day off if you feel like it, like going out for a picnic or to luna park. It could not be further from the truth.
You need to decide this is really what you want to do. It requires commitment, dedication, a competitive nature, free weekends, and lots of them, a disposable income , a good ‘dog toting vehicle’, ’show gear, like a gazebo, chairs, dog crate, grooming gear etc. a thick skin , a good suit, and sensible shoes.
Then you need a ‘show dog’. Well a dog on main register is eligible for showing, but that’s not the end of it. Acquiring an actual show potential puppy is thwart with difficulty and mine fields. A successful breeder is a bit loath to part with a top show potential puppy to a novice who may or may not stick at it.
What is a show puppy? That varies from breed to breed but for Danes we will cover that later.
If you buy a ‘show’ puppy off someone who doesn’t show, ie: a backyarder breeder, you are not likely to get something competitive. You are likely to pay a large price for said pup and end up with an expensive pet. However if you don’t like showing after all regardless of where you got the pup, you will have spent a lot of money for nothing.
we enter dog shows in advance so you cant roll up on the day and put your dog in. So this is where part of the commitment comes in, you have to spend money in advance on the event, apart from the gear you will need to be sheltered and comfortable at a show, along with grooming gear etc.
It is difficult to put the cart before the horse in this case, as how do you show if you don’t have a show dog? Well firstly you need to attend a few shows to get an idea of what it is really like then decide yes or no this is for/not for me. You can hook up with a breeder who shows , whom you think is the one you’d like to buy a show dog off them and let them show you the ropes . If you recon showing is for you then you work towards that .
You are far better making haste slowly and allowing yourself to be mentored by a long time experiences show breeder than acquiring a puppy any old where and going it alone.
Imagine that when you start it is an apprenticeship towards becoming a ‘professional’. It isnt going to be fun if you dont know what you are doing, and take a few losses ,if you think you are going to win from the get go and it’s a piece of cake.
If you do that is a bonus, but as a rank novice in a highly competitive sport, you have away to go learning how to handle a dog in the show ring for a start, let alone winning all the time. You will need to grow a thick skin and learn not to take anything personally in the judging ring. You will need to be able to take your wins & losses graciously. No one likes a bad sport. Keep it in perspective, and you will have fun . You will be out for the day with your mate, and new friends, and of course you will always take the best dog home no matter what the judge thinks.
These days showing is moving to be more user friendly to attract more people to the hobby.
People do have the option at some shows of showing a desexed purebred, and if you do have one, you may be able to get a feel for the real thing starting here. Not all shows however cater to the class. So it is limited. You could however find out about show training and still attend these to learn how it is done . A good breeder will mentor you and train you how to show a dog and all that goes with it. So that is why it is essential to acquire a potential show puppy from someone who actually does it!
WHAT IS A SHOW POTENTIAL PUPPY?
It is a pup that exhibits attributes in as close proximity to the standard as possible. I don’t wish to use the words ‘perfect specimen’ as supposedly there are no perfect specimens. . All will have various strengths and weaknesses but we aim for more strengths than weaknesses when evaluating the future show puppy. An experienced breeder who has developed a line can fairly early on see potential in a pup, and know reasonably well wether it will turn into what they want as an adult. However the vagaries of mother nature, can throw a curve ball and the pup ‘goes off’ , and does not fulfil its expectations. .
In the great dane we have a lot of growing to do and some things can change, and so it boils down to an educated guess , fingered crossed, we get what we want when pup is finished growing.
Taking a pup at 8 weeks to show in this breed is a bit precarious for the novice, and it is my opinion they are better to wait a few more weeks to allow things to show themselves a bit more. So patience is a virtue if you want something the breeder is more clear about.
Where the bloodline is outcrossed there is room for the unknown combinations to create something the breeder cant make a call on as well as a developed linage. Depending on the prepotency of one side or the other, and then the in between , one may make the wrong decision. It isnt a simple process.
Then we get to colour. There are 6 recognised colours in the Great Dane standard. However one must not be conned by claims that something is show quality based on colour alone,. In the perfect specimen (no such thing) everything would be exactly as written in the standard. However solid coloured pups such as blue and black (fawns & brindles too) can have some white on chest or even on toes. It is ‘permissible but not desirable’ .
As we don’t wish to throw the baby out with the bath water, the dog with a bit of white on his chest or toe that is still a grand specimen has ever right to be in the ring. ‘mismarking’ is an over abundance of white (or something else that may not be acceptable on that colour variety) and this is where one should be guided by a good breeder. A show breeder will know the limitations of same and advise you accordingly.
In the harlequin and mantle there are heavy to lightly marked specimens and again it is the call of the breeder to determine wether something should be shown.
Merles cannot be shown, and merles don’t ‘change’ into harlequins when older!
Flashy or ’perfect’ markings in Colour with out good conformation under them are worthless. A mutt can have a fantastic coat colour and markings..
Breeders who breed only for colour and base decisions on that alone to assess a dog should be avoided.
At all times that balance must be considered between acceptable markings and good breed type .
A good breeder will educate you on conformation and help you understand the terminology of the standard so that you will recognise what strengths and weakness your own dog has.
The Pet
Should still be a good representative of his breed and if he comes from a well bred litter he should fulfil your expectations of breed type etc. he is after all of the same genetic material. He wont be ‘the runt’ because he is a pet and not a show dog. Some people think unless they ask for a show dog they wont get a nice puppy. A well bred litter is going to have ‘pet quality’ pups in it but this doesn’t mean they are going to be sickly, or ‘runts’ size also varies in litters and this is just how it is. It isnt necessarily an indication of how big a dog will get.
The ‘pick of the litter’ is a term something many of us don’t use. In a good litter there is more than one good dog . The ‘biggest’ pup may not be the show puppy for us., .so its not cut and dried for us as it might be perceived by the lay person.
The standard states dogs 30" and bitches 28" with no maximum cut off. This shows how the breed can vary in height. Breeders breed for good height but breeding for ridiculous size alone has great pitfalls. So when thinking about how ‘big’ you want your pet to be remember you have to be able to rear a dog that is going to have to achieve immense size and keep it all together.
A sound pet great dane can do all the other things like agility. tracking and obedience etc. So even if you don’t want a show dog as such, you still want a healthy pet well reared and bred pet so again, whilst you may be impatient to get the new puppy, you should still research the breeder, and really, if you don’t go to the property and see for yourself what the environment is like ,how they are reared what their temperaments are like etc , you are buying a pig in a poke and taking a risk. The trend to buy sight unseen with the convenience of the internet means you just do online shopping for pets too, and sadly you may not get what you thought you were getting.
Puppy farmers cater to the want it now brigade. If you cant wait then go to these places forearmed with knowledge.. That is my caution to you.
If it is impossible due to the tyranny of distance to go see a litter and the relatives and make a judgement that way, at least take your time to assess that the breeder is part of the accepted Dane community and is known for good dogs and has the knowledge to back up the pups they sell . Ignorance is not bliss when buying a purebred puppy.
If you have never owned a Great Dane, or maybe never even been near one before, then you need to read on.
Even if you are a dane lover, the following will reinforce in you what drives you to owning a dane, or the need to get another and another….
But before you go any further..If you think a dog is just a dog…..,something to shut out in the backyard and are just looking for something ‘different’ or something to impress or frighten as your only motive for getting one, then please exit now, and do dogdom a favour, and buy a garden gnome, as you don’t deserve any dog, let alone a Great Dane.
What I am going to say next might seem corny, or it might seem over the top to some..but for many people who are drawn to the Dane, that first encounter can be akin to swimming with Dolphins. It is an emotional experience that is never forgotten. It truly has altered peoples lives, and that is saying something. All those of any breed fancy will defend its special qualities and portray it as the ‘best breed’ to have. I wouldn’t dispute the attributes of all the breeds there are, and I too have lived and worked with different breeds . But folks, until you have lived with a Great dane, you have not experienced the ultimate of the canine world. It is not merely the size of this breed that is its unforgettable attribute. And certainly, there are smaller specimens, that may not be as big as they ‘should be’..they still possess the same ‘presence‘. Many anti dog, non committal people have been swayed the other way once they have the privilege of being with a dane. In order to fully appreciate what I am trying to impart..you must actually live with one. (At least spend a few hours ) By that I do not mean sticking him in a kennel and pushing his food at him once a day..you also wont experience the passion and joy of being with one and know his true self if you just shut him in the backyard, and never let him in with you. The Great Dane thrives in your company. The more interaction there is between you, the more developed mentally he will become, his personality will shine and bring with it so many memorable moments, you wont find a diary big enough to write it all down. True enough, he is hard to walk past and not lay your hands upon him, such is his beauty and character. He often takes your breath away , caught majestically posing in the backyard..on brings a smile to your lips by doing something funny, or special. True Dane temperament..or ‘essence’ is something that gets into your soul and can never be shaken off. Keeping your dane outside away from you most of the day and or night is depriving him and you of a great fulfilling experience. As I said at the beginning, if you are going to treat him like ‘just the dog’, then please don’t get one. He expects and needs more from you. If ever a ‘dog’ thought himself above his supposed station, it is a Great Dane. In return you get someone beyond a friend. A daily experience of the best ‘dog and human’ relationship you can achieve. Living with a pack of Great Danes, as I do, is a unique experience, and many are awed by this when they first arrive. Certainly the prospect of entering my domain amid six to seven Danes all at once to the uninitiated can be daunting, even intimidating, but having once realized that though it may seem at first as though one is entering something akin to a lions den, the opposite is true. Experiencing this for the first time, the person ,for whom the Great dane is so far an unrequited dream , is transported into a state of euphoria and leaves with more longing than before….
By shear virtue of his size and beauty, the Great dane is an inspiring creature. But to know him as a close friend is something you must experience. So, if you are contemplating a dane as your next dog., remember this..A Great Dane is not JUST a dog. Think as carefully , if not more so than if you were contemplating marriage to someone! Not only will he need rearing with more awareness and knowledge, but he will need more input from you on an emotional level. How well you will be rewarded , only people like myself know.
Get close to a Dane and your life is never the same. He is truly the Apollo Of Dogs.
By: G. Revill
For the uninitiated, the idea of a dog show may seem like fun and something you decide to do on a day off if you feel like it, like going out for a picnic or to luna park. It could not be further from the truth.
You need to decide this is really what you want to do. It requires commitment, dedication, a competitive nature, free weekends, and lots of them, a disposable income , a good ‘dog toting vehicle’, ’show gear, like a gazebo, chairs, dog crate, grooming gear etc. a thick skin , a good suit, and sensible shoes.
Then you need a ‘show dog’. Well a dog on main register is eligible for showing, but that’s not the end of it. Acquiring an actual show potential puppy is thwart with difficulty and mine fields. A successful breeder is a bit loath to part with a top show potential puppy to a novice who may or may not stick at it.
What is a show puppy? That varies from breed to breed but for Danes we will cover that later.
If you buy a ‘show’ puppy off someone who doesn’t show, ie: a backyarder breeder, you are not likely to get something competitive. You are likely to pay a large price for said pup and end up with an expensive pet. However if you don’t like showing after all regardless of where you got the pup, you will have spent a lot of money for nothing.
we enter dog shows in advance so you cant roll up on the day and put your dog in. So this is where part of the commitment comes in, you have to spend money in advance on the event, apart from the gear you will need to be sheltered and comfortable at a show, along with grooming gear etc.
It is difficult to put the cart before the horse in this case, as how do you show if you don’t have a show dog? Well firstly you need to attend a few shows to get an idea of what it is really like then decide yes or no this is for/not for me. You can hook up with a breeder who shows , whom you think is the one you’d like to buy a show dog off them and let them show you the ropes . If you recon showing is for you then you work towards that .
You are far better making haste slowly and allowing yourself to be mentored by a long time experiences show breeder than acquiring a puppy any old where and going it alone.
Imagine that when you start it is an apprenticeship towards becoming a ‘professional’. It isnt going to be fun if you dont know what you are doing, and take a few losses ,if you think you are going to win from the get go and it’s a piece of cake.
If you do that is a bonus, but as a rank novice in a highly competitive sport, you have away to go learning how to handle a dog in the show ring for a start, let alone winning all the time. You will need to grow a thick skin and learn not to take anything personally in the judging ring. You will need to be able to take your wins & losses graciously. No one likes a bad sport. Keep it in perspective, and you will have fun . You will be out for the day with your mate, and new friends, and of course you will always take the best dog home no matter what the judge thinks.
These days showing is moving to be more user friendly to attract more people to the hobby.
People do have the option at some shows of showing a desexed purebred, and if you do have one, you may be able to get a feel for the real thing starting here. Not all shows however cater to the class. So it is limited. You could however find out about show training and still attend these to learn how it is done . A good breeder will mentor you and train you how to show a dog and all that goes with it. So that is why it is essential to acquire a potential show puppy from someone who actually does it!
WHAT IS A SHOW POTENTIAL PUPPY?
It is a pup that exhibits attributes in as close proximity to the standard as possible. I don’t wish to use the words ‘perfect specimen’ as supposedly there are no perfect specimens. . All will have various strengths and weaknesses but we aim for more strengths than weaknesses when evaluating the future show puppy. An experienced breeder who has developed a line can fairly early on see potential in a pup, and know reasonably well wether it will turn into what they want as an adult. However the vagaries of mother nature, can throw a curve ball and the pup ‘goes off’ , and does not fulfil its expectations. .
In the great dane we have a lot of growing to do and some things can change, and so it boils down to an educated guess , fingered crossed, we get what we want when pup is finished growing.
Taking a pup at 8 weeks to show in this breed is a bit precarious for the novice, and it is my opinion they are better to wait a few more weeks to allow things to show themselves a bit more. So patience is a virtue if you want something the breeder is more clear about.
Where the bloodline is outcrossed there is room for the unknown combinations to create something the breeder cant make a call on as well as a developed linage. Depending on the prepotency of one side or the other, and then the in between , one may make the wrong decision. It isnt a simple process.
Then we get to colour. There are 6 recognised colours in the Great Dane standard. However one must not be conned by claims that something is show quality based on colour alone,. In the perfect specimen (no such thing) everything would be exactly as written in the standard. However solid coloured pups such as blue and black (fawns & brindles too) can have some white on chest or even on toes. It is ‘permissible but not desirable’ .
As we don’t wish to throw the baby out with the bath water, the dog with a bit of white on his chest or toe that is still a grand specimen has ever right to be in the ring. ‘mismarking’ is an over abundance of white (or something else that may not be acceptable on that colour variety) and this is where one should be guided by a good breeder. A show breeder will know the limitations of same and advise you accordingly.
In the harlequin and mantle there are heavy to lightly marked specimens and again it is the call of the breeder to determine wether something should be shown.
Merles cannot be shown, and merles don’t ‘change’ into harlequins when older!
Flashy or ’perfect’ markings in Colour with out good conformation under them are worthless. A mutt can have a fantastic coat colour and markings..
Breeders who breed only for colour and base decisions on that alone to assess a dog should be avoided.
At all times that balance must be considered between acceptable markings and good breed type .
A good breeder will educate you on conformation and help you understand the terminology of the standard so that you will recognise what strengths and weakness your own dog has.
The Pet
Should still be a good representative of his breed and if he comes from a well bred litter he should fulfil your expectations of breed type etc. he is after all of the same genetic material. He wont be ‘the runt’ because he is a pet and not a show dog. Some people think unless they ask for a show dog they wont get a nice puppy. A well bred litter is going to have ‘pet quality’ pups in it but this doesn’t mean they are going to be sickly, or ‘runts’ size also varies in litters and this is just how it is. It isnt necessarily an indication of how big a dog will get.
The ‘pick of the litter’ is a term something many of us don’t use. In a good litter there is more than one good dog . The ‘biggest’ pup may not be the show puppy for us., .so its not cut and dried for us as it might be perceived by the lay person.
The standard states dogs 30" and bitches 28" with no maximum cut off. This shows how the breed can vary in height. Breeders breed for good height but breeding for ridiculous size alone has great pitfalls. So when thinking about how ‘big’ you want your pet to be remember you have to be able to rear a dog that is going to have to achieve immense size and keep it all together.
A sound pet great dane can do all the other things like agility. tracking and obedience etc. So even if you don’t want a show dog as such, you still want a healthy pet well reared and bred pet so again, whilst you may be impatient to get the new puppy, you should still research the breeder, and really, if you don’t go to the property and see for yourself what the environment is like ,how they are reared what their temperaments are like etc , you are buying a pig in a poke and taking a risk. The trend to buy sight unseen with the convenience of the internet means you just do online shopping for pets too, and sadly you may not get what you thought you were getting.
Puppy farmers cater to the want it now brigade. If you cant wait then go to these places forearmed with knowledge.. That is my caution to you.
If it is impossible due to the tyranny of distance to go see a litter and the relatives and make a judgement that way, at least take your time to assess that the breeder is part of the accepted Dane community and is known for good dogs and has the knowledge to back up the pups they sell . Ignorance is not bliss when buying a purebred puppy.
If you have never owned a Great Dane, or maybe never even been near one before, then you need to read on.
Even if you are a dane lover, the following will reinforce in you what drives you to owning a dane, or the need to get another and another….
But before you go any further..If you think a dog is just a dog…..,something to shut out in the backyard and are just looking for something ‘different’ or something to impress or frighten as your only motive for getting one, then please exit now, and do dogdom a favour, and buy a garden gnome, as you don’t deserve any dog, let alone a Great Dane.
What I am going to say next might seem corny, or it might seem over the top to some..but for many people who are drawn to the Dane, that first encounter can be akin to swimming with Dolphins. It is an emotional experience that is never forgotten. It truly has altered peoples lives, and that is saying something. All those of any breed fancy will defend its special qualities and portray it as the ‘best breed’ to have. I wouldn’t dispute the attributes of all the breeds there are, and I too have lived and worked with different breeds . But folks, until you have lived with a Great dane, you have not experienced the ultimate of the canine world. It is not merely the size of this breed that is its unforgettable attribute. And certainly, there are smaller specimens, that may not be as big as they ‘should be’..they still possess the same ‘presence‘. Many anti dog, non committal people have been swayed the other way once they have the privilege of being with a dane. In order to fully appreciate what I am trying to impart..you must actually live with one. (At least spend a few hours ) By that I do not mean sticking him in a kennel and pushing his food at him once a day..you also wont experience the passion and joy of being with one and know his true self if you just shut him in the backyard, and never let him in with you. The Great Dane thrives in your company. The more interaction there is between you, the more developed mentally he will become, his personality will shine and bring with it so many memorable moments, you wont find a diary big enough to write it all down. True enough, he is hard to walk past and not lay your hands upon him, such is his beauty and character. He often takes your breath away , caught majestically posing in the backyard..on brings a smile to your lips by doing something funny, or special. True Dane temperament..or ‘essence’ is something that gets into your soul and can never be shaken off. Keeping your dane outside away from you most of the day and or night is depriving him and you of a great fulfilling experience. As I said at the beginning, if you are going to treat him like ‘just the dog’, then please don’t get one. He expects and needs more from you. If ever a ‘dog’ thought himself above his supposed station, it is a Great Dane. In return you get someone beyond a friend. A daily experience of the best ‘dog and human’ relationship you can achieve. Living with a pack of Great Danes, as I do, is a unique experience, and many are awed by this when they first arrive. Certainly the prospect of entering my domain amid six to seven Danes all at once to the uninitiated can be daunting, even intimidating, but having once realized that though it may seem at first as though one is entering something akin to a lions den, the opposite is true. Experiencing this for the first time, the person ,for whom the Great dane is so far an unrequited dream , is transported into a state of euphoria and leaves with more longing than before….
By shear virtue of his size and beauty, the Great dane is an inspiring creature. But to know him as a close friend is something you must experience. So, if you are contemplating a dane as your next dog., remember this..A Great Dane is not JUST a dog. Think as carefully , if not more so than if you were contemplating marriage to someone! Not only will he need rearing with more awareness and knowledge, but he will need more input from you on an emotional level. How well you will be rewarded , only people like myself know.
Get close to a Dane and your life is never the same. He is truly the Apollo Of Dogs.
By: G. Revill