Show ring condition - Page 1

What weight does this mean to you?  For SV shows i have a tendancy to put them in Lean ( 2 ribs showing slightly) For CKC/AKC they seem to be what I would call obese but I get them to that weight to be competative.  What does show condition mean to you?

LOL same here.  I was at an SV show a few weeks ago and some dogs that are leaner than what I see in AKC/UKC the judge outright said were fat.  He was really picky on size AND weight.  If I were to show my dog in an SV show he'd be 70-72lbs and for a UKC show he'd be fine around 75.  My dog's littermate got V2 at that SV show and the judge said she was "absolutely correct" as far as size.  Her coat could've been a little better so I could see ribs.

It is more than weight. Slim is not the issue it is the muscle tone making the dog appear slim weight wise. The dog feels solid yet looks slim. A slim dog with no muscle appears weak and lightweight. I keep the hint of a dip in between the ribs but he is all toned muscle. You can run your hand over him and feel each individual muscle. Both dogs I have shown in the ring were commented on excellent condition each time they were examined. I have never used a treadmill to do this or biking. They build lung stamina but IMO not muscle. A carpet mill type treadmill however does build muscle as the dog is creating the movement not just following it. Some of my dog friends use those but I have not. I work my dogs on hills trotting them up and down. Swimming also creates good tone. A toned dog can be heavier than it looks when weighed and be very slim to the eye. A slim dog does not have muscle to give it power unless it has been built to a toned muscle to power the dog.

    Some confuse bulk on a dog as body, it is not body unless it contributes to the power of the dog and not just weight to hinder it.

You need to put your hands on some AKC dogs too.  There are fat dogs shown in all venues, but AKC dogs can definitely LOOK fat because they are bathed, blown out, and have products added to their coats to make them go "poof".

The top dogs are in EXCELLENT condition.  They have to be, or they don't win.  Perfect coat condition and a hard body are very important, and many of these dogs are kept lean, but you won't know it unless you put your hands on them.

When you put both hands on the dogs rib cage;  without digging you should be able to feel ribs even through the coat.  Nan

So for those of us that are just thinking about the show ring, would you say they should be heavier? I have always kept my dogs at a good weight with a waistline, it amazes me how the general public will say wow you should feed your dog more and I constantly have to say no your dog is supposed to have a waste.  I have a man made 5 acre lake so mine do swim frequently to stay in shape and I make sure to vary the type of exercise they get so the muscles don't get used to doing just one thing.  I can't imagine though that a judge would want to see a fat dog.

There is not an ounce of fat on my dogs in show condition. I do not keep my dogs overweight even when not showing. Non gsd people do act horrified about seeing a gsd at a proper weight. I invite them to touch the dog and feel it's loin and show the the ribs are just visible and that they have a healthy build. They seems to think every dog needs a heavy body. Poor small breeds so overweight they cant breathe all the time. I blame most of it in the non breed descriptions on animal planet when they go after people for emaciated animals. There is a difference between a breed like dobes, Gsds, mals, greyhounds, whippets and ect that are healthy working weight and malnutrician that they do not cover on those shows. How many rescued greyhounds in pet homes have you seen that are obese these days?

 Aleit 65 pounds
 Quinto 85 pounds
 Ulf 83 pounds

A dog in an AKC ring makes maybe 3 laps around a very small ring. No conditioning is needed. The dog just needs to look plump, plush and happy.

In a speciality ring, the dog is going to have to run some and needs to be in good condition. Not over weight.

In an SV (or SV type show in the U.S.) the dog is going to have to run a lot and needs to be in excellent condition to not fall behind and have the judge comment at the end of the class " this dog could have placed better with training" and I have heard this comment at every show I have attended.

JMO,
Rik

I prepped two dogs for a ckc show this weekend.  One was a lab that literally jiggled when he walked and I darn near keeled over lifting him in the tub, another was a lovely all breed type Shepherd.  Again wiggly you grab a handfull of coat and the dog jiggled from one end to the other.  The owner was horrified at the weight of the Shepherds I am prepping for an up coming SV show. Both got called FAT by the judge last time out. He said they looked in excellent condition(muscle) but were carrying to much fat over the shoulders LOL. ( and he used the word fat no mincing of words :)  You just cant win! But I have to admit I am horrified at how obese pets are becoming.  A 45 pound Shih Tzu is now the norm at my shop....

I keep my dogs in correct condition for their size and proportions.  I will not make a dog fat to win in the show ring.  I do take conditioning seriously, and do the best that I can to keep my dogs in excellent condition.

I do not have the means to take my dogs on 12 mile bike rides every day, but we do 1-3 mile bike jogs, my husband will do long runs and take the dogs up and down hills, and we participate in agility.

My bitch's normal weight is 52-55 lbs, my male 85-87 lbs.