If you watched Devon win Supreme Champion at Crufts in 2016 it may have sparked an interest in dog showing. Showing your Westie can be great fun but how do you get to Crufts in the UK or Westminster in the US?

A decision to show your Westie needs to be made early and certainly before you buy your puppy. If you fancy attending your local fete or charity show and entering the cutest dog class or most obedient dog, or even for open shows breeding is not so important. if Crufts is your target however you need to prepare!

Finding a breeder

If you are aiming for Championship shows you need to locate a good breeder. It is unlikely you will find these easily as many will not advertise. Speak to other owners who show their dogs or search the Assured Breeders register on the Kennel Club Website. Another good tip at this time is to speak to the regional or national Breed Associations and join. At this level most dog breeders know each other, they meet regularly on the show circuit and will offer advice on how to get started. Breeders may have litters now or will be able to advise when their next litters are due.

You will find that ‘show quality’ puppies are often reserved before birth therefore you may have to wait a while. The breeder will name each puppy in a litter and register them with the Kennel Club, this will be your dogs ‘official name’ which is used for showing. You are of course able to choose a ‘pet name’ for your puppy which doesn’t have to be the same as their Kennel Club name.

Finding a puppy

Once you find a breeder start by asking questions, a breeder should be happy to answer them. Similarly don’t be offended if the breeder asks you questions about your home, family and other pets. Breeders are often very protective of their puppies!

1. Do they have puppies ready now
2. Are they show quality – there are no guarantees how good the puppies will be
3. Ask about the pupplies lineage and if the parents or grandparents are champions
4. Have the puppies been socialised, house trained etc.
5. Have the parents had any health issues and have the puppies been healthy since birth.

Arrange to see the puppies and make sure you are able to handle them.

Puppies can not be shown until they are six months old.

One of the first things to do when you have your puppy is to transfer the Kennel Club registration to your name. This can be done via the Kennel Club website.

The next step is to learn everything you can about dog shows and showing and make a start on training your puppy. The Kennel Club have plenty of information on Dog Showing for beginners. The Kennel club recommends that you attend some ringcraft classes. You could also attend a couple of local shows to gain some experience.

Categories of dog shows

Companion Shows: There are regional non affiliated shows and offer a range of classes. These shows are often fundraising events and tend to be more relaxed which may be a good first step. Classes are likely to be less formal.

Breed Specific: These are single breed shows and will usually have a variety of classes. These shows are usually organised by a breed club and will often attract many breeders. If you don’t feel ready to show, or your puppy is too young, it is still well worth going along. You will have an opportunity to meet and talk to breed specialists as well as observing ring craft.

Open Shows: An open show will offer a range of classes for many different breeds. Shows are run by canine societies. It is possible to be awarded challenge certificates at some open shows.

Championship shows: The most prestigious dog shows. Class and breed winners of Championship shows will win Challenge Certificates. A CC is the highest award.

Crowned a Champion

To gain the award and title of Champion you dog will need to have won three Challenge Certificates (CC’s) from three different judges at Championship shows. At most championship shows there will be a Challenge Certificate for both best dog and best bitch. Where only one challenger certificate is on offer it will be awarded to the best of breed winner.

In order to attend Crufts a dog has to either be a Champion or have been awarded certain placings at Championship or Open shows. More details can be found on the Kennel Club Website.

Another good source of information is the Dog Press. Our Dogs is a weekly newspaper that is also available by subscription on the internet. There are many websites with details on how to show, ringcraft, preparation.

Grooming for showing

If you are aiming for Championship shows then how you groom and care for your Westie is crucial. Show dogs must be hand stripped to perfection so read the breed standard and learn as much as you can on how to prepare your dog. More information can be found here.

Showing for fun

There are other alternatives. If you have a Westie and want to have a go at dog showing but don’t want to go to structured breed or championship shows why not take look at community or charity shows and enter a class. As mentioned above these tend to be much more relaxed.

Other Activities to enjoy with your Westie

What about agility? Westies are renowned for their energy and enthusiasm, they are athletic and have plenty of stamina – all necessary ingredients for agility. Flyball is another high energy activity that your Westie may enjoy. If you have watched the competition at Crufts this event is great fun and fiercely competitive.

If you prefer something a little more gentle that relies on the special bond you have with your dog consider heel work to music or obedience activities. Both require tremendous patience and lots of training so you will be spending plenty of time with your dog – What could be better!

There is lots of information about all of the above activities on the Kennel Club website along with details of clubs and how to get started.

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Agility is an exciting fast paced sport for dogs. The course is an obstacle circuit that dogs have to complete as quickly and accurately as possible. This canine sport is increasing in popularity undoubtedly due in part to the excellent coverage of the annual Crufts competition.

Unlike dog showing, agility is not breed specific. For competition dogs are usually divided into three groups based on size. The Westie competes in the small dog class. Agility competitions are often run under the Kennel Club banner so dogs must be registered on the Kennel Club Activity register. Dogs do not have to be breed registered.

Agility training and competition is based on a circuit of obstacles which the handler (owner) has to help the dog to navigate by voice command. To start training dogs have to be 12 months old and for a Kennel Club show they can’t compete until 18 months old. This is to ensure that the dog’s bones and joints are fully developed and strong enough to withstand the training and competition.

Agility is fast paced and athletic for both you and your Westie! Training takes patience and practice. To start join a club and attend training sessions. You can buy agility equipment for your garden but to replicate the competition environment club training would be better. Agility is a friendly pastime and a great way of meeting new friends.

The Agility Course

The course will have about twenty obstacles including jumps, tunnels (tubes), weaving poles, ramps, hoops and often a sea saw. If your Westie refuses an obstacle then a penalty is applied. The event scoring and placings is based on speed and accuracy. There are often two circuits – one with jumps and one without. Each class follows the same circuit but the jumps are adjusted to suit the size of the dogs in the group.

There is no doubt agility can be tremendous fun which may suit the Westies character. Dogs need to be strong and athletic and must work well with their owner. The Westies desire to please their owner will certainly help.

There are plenty of clubs scattered across the UK and events take place during the summer months. More information can be found of the Kennel Club website.

Flyball for Westies

If your Westie loves to run but is not so good at navigating obstacles you could consider Flyball. The sport originated in the USA but is now enjoyed throughout the world. Flyball relies on great teamwork. The format is a two team head to head relay rice with hurdles and a spring box. Each dog runs the length of the course (normally around 15 metres) clearing 4 hurdles on the way. At the spring box the ball is released for the dog to collect and run home. The next dog then repeats until all four dogs have finished the course. The fastest, most accurate team win. Competition formats vary but are often a ’round robin’ followed by elimination. The hurdles height is determined by the size of the smallest dog on the team.

For more information visit the British Flyball Association.

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Dog showing is a wonderful hobby that can be extremely good fun. But before you rush online to register you need to prepare. Once you have your puppy you need to start a regime of training and grooming to get both you and your puppy ready for the show ring. Puppies must be six months old to enter the ring and must not be spayed or neutered.

A good starting place is to look for a local club that run ringcraft classes where you can take the first steps into the exciting and often obsessive world of competition for dogs. Ringcraft classes are usually run by experienced breeders who have trained many dogs for exhibition. These classes are not breed specific they are more about gaining an understanding of what happens in the ring, what is expected of you and your dog.

You need to learn the lingo!

You will read about ‘stacking’, walking patterns, grooming and ring etiquette when you start to research how to show your dog. A great way to understand all these is to attend a couple of shows and look at how the dogs are prepared in the benching area and what happens when they enter the ring. The basics of dog showing are the same for most breeds so look at as many different classes as you can.

Grooming:

Grooming and presentation is all important. To show your Westie must have a double coat that is hand stripped (not clipped). To make grooming and show preparation easier invest in a good grooming table that is portable along with quality brushes, stripping knives, scissors, nail clippers and a chalk block. If you will not be grooming your dog yourself you will still need a table and tools to prepare your dog on the day. Look at other dogs when you visit a show and study pictures and videos to see how they look.

As you learn how to prepare your dog use the grooming table daily or every other day to get him used to standing while you groom him. It takes time and patience to master this art so don’t be disheartened if you to don’t achieve championship looks the first time you try!

Stacking:

What is stacking? – in simple terms it is helping your dog to ‘stack’ or pose properly. Some dogs will stand with held held high and tail at just the right angle whilst others may need a helping hand. The picture above shows the owner ‘presenting’ the dog. You can use the lead, gently, to remind the dog to lift his head – with time and patience this will become automatic. The tail needs to sit slightly forward and you will often see dog handlers gently hold the tail in position. Your dog will need to learn to stand still while the judge examines him.

Handlers:

You can choose to handle your dog yourself in the ring or for top shows you can recruit the services of a handler. This in itself needs plenty of planning; your dog will need to build a rapport with the handler and be confident with them. If you choose to handle yourself practice walking for show. Dog showing relies on you making the judge see how wonderful your dog is so you need to learn to show him off!

Walking to show off:

There are various walking patterns that a judge may ask you to follow. Each are designed to show the judge different angles. He will study your dogs walking gait, how he carries himself and how closely he matches that all important breed standard. Your dog needs to learn to walk confidently. He should carry himself with pride whilst having fun. The judge will be looking for the ‘spring in his step’. Walking patterns include straight line, circle or a triangle. You only have a couple of minutes to make an impression so learn to take your moment.

Judging:

Each judge will compare the dogs in the ring and ‘measure’ them against the breed standard and against each other. The judge will pick a placing of 1 -3 in each class. The first place dog would then qualify for the best bitch or dog round. At some shows there may be further qualifying rounds before the best dog or bitch. The winner of best dog and best bitch then go head to head for best of breed. In a mixed breed show the Best Westie would then progress to the best Terrier Class. If successful he would then progress to Best In Show.

Dressing to impress:

You will need to walk and run with your dog as well as lifting him on and off a table. Add to that grooming, chalking and toileting which means that comfortable clothing and footwear for you is essential. Advice given in books and show guides suggest using colours that compliment your dogs colour. Thankfully with a white dog colour clashing can be avoided! However avoid black or dark colours where white fur and chalk marks may show! If it is a championship show or Crufts a suit or something smart is appropriate. Wear flat shoes – it could be a long day!

Have Fun!

Dog showing is tremendous fun and the community is friendly. Many exhibitors and breeders will share, with pride, their experiences, but never underestimate showing is competitive, sometimes fiercely so!

If dog showing isn’t for you consider agility competition, heal to music craft, earth dog competitions, flyball, obedience or tracking. There is plenty of information on a range of opportunities on the Kennel Club website.

Whatever you choose, always remember that above all having fun with your dog is most important.

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If you have decided that dog showing is not for you and your don’t fancy the rigours of agility training or the discipline of obedience competition what can you do? Do you have time on your hands? Does your Westie have a delightful temperament and want to please? Have you considered her becoming a therapy dog?

What does a Therapy Dog do?

Therapy dogs play a massive role in bringing joy to people who may be ill or elderly or in a home with dementia. These very special dogs may also visit schools to meet children where they can help build confidence. A Therapy dog can be really helpful when working with adults or children to overcome fears.

If this is something you are interested there are plenty of sources of information on the internet.

The Kennel Club run a programme called Bark and Read. Trained therapy dogs attend schools to help struggling or nervous readers to gain confidence and to help improve literacy.

There are many charitable organisations that arrange and manage visiting dog programs across the whole of the UK. There are no hard and fast rules regarding breed but it is really important that dogs have the right temperament. Dogs will be assessed to ensure that they are suitable for the job.

Personal Experience

Therapy dogs can bring immense pleasure and can help restore fond memories. I have a relative with advanced dementia who committed her life to breeding and showing dogs (they were wonderful Afghan Hounds). In retirement she kept two faithful Dachshunds who, I am sure, kept her going! Once she lost her four legged companions her own health deteriorated and she was eventually moved to a care home. When I first saw a therapy dog visit the home I was amazed. Having owned dogs all my life I am fully aware of the joy they bring, but to see a dog awaken joy in someone so very poorly was very special.

My aunt now has regular visits from a therapy dog who seems to enjoy her company. More importantly she comes alive, she smiles, strokes and converses with this wonderful dog who sits adoringly and takes all the love she offers!

To find out more visit the Kennel Club website.

Special thanks to Amy McGovern, Forsaken Fotos on Flickr, for the lovely picture of Sam at the top of the page. 

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