The Show Ring


6 Steps to the Showring

By Gene, Collie Forum Member
You’ve watched the shows on TV and been to the local
Kennel Club shows. It’s interesting, looks like fun, and you get to meet
some really nice people. How hard could all of this be? Well…..

Collie Club of America

The Collie Club of America is one the oldest breed-devoted club in America (founded in 1886). The club is dedicated to improving the breed through continual contact with registered collie owners, breeders, and sports clubs.
www.CollieClubofAmerica.com

Collie Standard - American Kennel club

General Character
The Collie is a lithe, strong, responsive, active dog, carrying no useless timber, standing naturally straight and firm. The deep, moderately wide chest shows strength, the sloping shoulders and well-bent hocks indicate speed and grace, and the face shows high intelligence. The Collie presents an impressive, proud picture of true balance, each part being [...]

His Master’s Smile

He had won.
He had done his master proud and he had won.
It wasn’t that he understood exactly “what” he had done to make everyone so happy. It wasn’t as if he had fought off a raging bear, or saved a lost child like Lassie would have. He hadn’t run for help or chased a thief [...]

Intro to Collie Standards (Kennel Clubs)

The collie is considered a “pure bred” dog, designed for a specific purpose. In order to earn titles, show, stud, etc, a purebred collie must have proof of registration with a dedicated kennel club who serves to monitor breed standards to ensure breeds stay true to their original look and purpose.
If you are in [...]

Kennel Time - The AKC vs. the UKC

Written by CDO Member, Gene of Dune Collies
So you have a show dog
and now it’s time to show. Which Kennel Club are you registered with? The American Kennel Club is the registry that most of us know. You see them advertised on Animal Planet, you probably got your new puppy from a Breeder who has [...]

One Breed.. Two Varieties..

In America, the rough coated and smooth coated collie are considered to be the same breed of dog, and are just shown as two separate varieties of that same breed in the show ring. In Great Britain, however, the two coats are considered two separate breeds! Owners and breeders in both hemispheres are [...]

Showring Titles awarded by the AKC

Titles awarded by the American Kennel Club for
winning competitions:

 Conformation

Ch -champion

Obedience

CD -companion
dog

CDX -companion
dog excellent

UD -utility
dog

UDX -utility dog
excellent

OTCh -obedience trial
champion

  Field

JH -junior hunter

SH -senior hunter

MH -master hunter

AFCh -amateur fiels
champion

FCh -fiels champion

  Lure
Coursing

JC -junior courser

SC -senior courser

  Herding

HT -herding tested

PT -pretrial tested

HS -herding started

HI -herding intermediate

HX -herding excellent

HCh -herding champion

  Tracking

TD -tracking dog

TDX -tracking dog
excellent

  Agility

NAD -novice agility [...]

The Old Show Dog

A former champion realizes he has finally grown too old

He was a real nice show dog, but his glory days are through,
And he gazes out the kennel gate, with nothing much to do.
They’re loading up the van now, ’cause they’re going to a show,
But his [...]

Tips for Attending Nationals

Written by CDO Member, Gene of Dune Collies
Okay, you’ve shown your collie at the shows during the year. Now you are thinking about showing at the Nationals. Here are a few tips to help both you and your collie has an experience of a lifetime.

Make sure that you [...]

Tips on Selecting a Prospect Show Dog

Written by CDO Member, Gene of Dune Collies
You have decided to buy your first show puppy, who we will refer to as a prospect. Why a prospect you ask? Well, no breeder can guarantee that any particular puppy will retain the beautiful features that you see at that particular moment when you choose. [...]

Understanding Collies: Divisions - The Hound Group

The Hound Group is a designation used by most major English-language kennel clubs (American Kennel Club (AKC), Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC), Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), The Kennel Club (KC) and the New Zealand Kennel Club (NZKC) being the most notable).
Most hounds share the common ancestral trait of being used for hunting. Some use acute [...]

Understanding Collies: Divisions - The Sporting Group

The Sporting Group (also called the Gundog group) is a designation used by some all-breed dog registries (or kennel clubs) for a group of purebred dogs. Because they were developed as bird dogs with energetic hunting abilities in water and field settings, most sporting dogs require regular exercise. Their naturally active and alert demeanor also [...]

Understanding Collies: Divisions - The Terrier Group

The Terriers - 28 feisty breeds, some of which were developed to hunt vermin and to dig them from their burrows or lairs. Size ranges from the tiny Cairn Terrier to the large Airedale Terrier.
The Terrier Group is a designation used by most all-breed dog registries (or Kennel clubs) for a group of dog breeds [...]

Understanding Collies: Divisions - The Working Group

The Working Group is a kennel club designation for purebred dog breeds descended from dogs bred to assist humans with certain types of work.
Dogs of the Working Group were bred to perform such jobs as guarding property, pulling sleds, and performing water rescues. They have been invaluable assets to man throughout the ages. Quick to [...]