Does a title make the dog any better ?
The answer is a simple NO!
But let me explain WHY!
Dog shows are set up so that an individual brings a dog to the show and parades it around the ring so that an individual or a group of individuals, who SUPPOSEDLY have an expert knowledge of the breed, determines it's quality based on the placement or points they give the dog either from comparing it to the other dogs in the ring or from comparing it to the breed standard as set forth in that registries breed standard for the given breed.Now here is the first problem based on the above criteria.
What happens if a dog with outstanding confirmation and breed standard correctness doesn't enter the show?
#1 - they place a less than spectacular dog in 1st place and it gets it's points and the ribbon.
#2 - Points given will advance into the books for future title recognition and
#3 - a ribbon that will more than likely be displayed PROUDLY leading their puppy buyers to believe they have top quality breeding stock.
- Do Show Dogs automatically change their conformation or ability to meet breed standard simply because the owner choose to enter it into a show?
- NO it did not! Truth being that the animal is either a well bred one or it's not.
- Does a beloved pet who lounges around on a coach all day not meet breed standard or be a very appealing animal to the eye simply because the owner chooses NOT to show it?
- NO it does not! Again Truth being that it is either a well bred animal or it isn't.
- Does every animal that has achieved a Title deserve that title?
NO it does not! Truth being that MANY animals who have titles are inferior specimens of their breed but were either shown extensively to get enough points or attended enough low attendance shows to be able to manipulate the point system.
Here are some star examples of what I'm talking about and 99.9% of all Show Breeders know how to work the system.
The #1 thing that All breeders look for when wanting to show their dog is finding the registry that has the easiest and quickest formula for getting a title. I.E. APRI is set up so that a title can be achieved in 3 shows and they have the majority of their shows based on 2 days back to back with 3 shows during that time span. Wa-La - One weekend and you've got a CHAMPION
I.E. AKC is based on a formula of how many entries and several other policies on how their points are given. Attending a low breed count show or showing under a PARTICULAR judge that PREFERS the type dog you have can get you a Championship Title in very short time.
I.E. There is one registry now that lets you send in a PHOTO of your dog and their panel will examine it and give the dog a title if they feel it meets breed standard - FROM A PHOTO NOW I SAY!!!!!
I.E. ACR is based on a point system. Depending on the judges and your dogs QUALITY and ability to out-place and out-perform the other dogs you could get a Champion Title in 7 to 11 shows. Not as quick as the other registries but at least your dogs are being JUDGED according to their OWN MERITS and in comparison to other dogs at the same show.
The #2 thing that breeders look for is how forgiving the registries JUDGES are on your dog meeting the breed standard.- QUALITY is in the eye of the Beholder!
The #3 thing that draws dog show folks is location and time to get there. I.E. There are many little clubs forming now and hosting their own shows for their club members. These shows are set up for their own personnel gain and to title out their own dogs in short order and without much effort or expense. Is it WRONG - NO - but it COULD BE if the judges attending these shows are not QUALIFIED JUDGES and are just handing out titles to the locals.
The #4 thing that Show Breeders look for is CERTAIN JUDGES.I.E. Judge #1 isn't fond of the shorter more stocky Rat Terrier so if that is what the breeder has he will bypass shows where that Judge is judging in favor of a show with Judge #2 who is more favorable to his TYPE dog.
YES - Judges do show FAVORITISM to the TYPE dog they PREFER whether it meets BREED STANDARD or not - It's called HUMAN BIAS and it's there and ALWAYS will be.
The #5 thing Breeders look for is for Shows from certain Registries that allow their Specific dog in it's breed standards.I.E. To my knowledge only APRI and ACR recognize and allow the MERLE Rat Terrier. Anybody with a Merle Rat Terrier would need to attend one of those 2 shows if they wanted to show their Merle dog. These shows may give the breeder an added EDGE as the Uniqueness of their dog sometimes draws enough attention that it can sway the judges vote.
Points to Ponder
A dog should be purchased with an open mind and an open heart. Considerations need to be taken as to what will be done with the dog or happen to it if it doesn't meet your expectations Prior to purchasing it. Dogs are not sold on "TRY ME and SEE IF YOU LIKE ME!" basis. They are living, breathing and animals with feelings and emotions.
Not All dogs are meant to be Show dogs.
Not all Show dogs are quality dogs.
Many Non-Show dogs are of outstanding Quality.
Not all titled dogs deserve that Title.
- Is every titled dog a quality dog? - NO
- Is every NON-SHOW dog of inferior quality? - NO
- Should every titled dog be considered breeding quality? - NO
- Should a titled dog or offspring from a titled dog be automatically worth MORE? - NO-NO-NO
- Are some registries titled considered to be more worthy than others? - YES
- Should you purchase an animal based on it's red line pedigree? - NO-NO-NO
- Does a title mean the dog is of GOOD HEALTH and GENETICS? - NO-No-No-NO
- Will the puppy look like it's titled parents when it gets grown? Some do and some don't and only Time will tell.
- Can a PUPPY's adult quality be determined? NO - a puppy grows and changes on a daily basis. Until a puppy is 90% grown at 8 months of age an accurate determination of it's quality can NOT be made. Until that point it is a Guess and Estimation at BEST and totally Unreliable .
- Will a respectable breeder give me a guarantee of Show Quality on a puppy? - SOME MAY. Let me ask you what you plan to do with one that doesn't turn out as guaranteed? Does it become an expendable commodity? How many times is the BREEDER willing to replace a puppy that they've given a show quality guarantee on and how many years and dogs are you willing to go through awaiting for that PERFECT dog? The first thing you might want to get clear with the guarantee is what is CONSIDERED Show Quality. Some have very LOW standards.
- Will 2 Champion dogs produce Inferior or less than desirable offspring - YOU BETCHA and anybody who says otherwise is one of those breeders that you avoid at all cost.
- Is a Show Breeder a better source for getting a puppy? No - there are many GOOD breeders out there that KNOW their breed and raise QUALITY offspring - they just CHOOSE to use their dogs for Companions instead of showing.
- Will PRICE determine the QUALITY of animal that you get - NO - NOT IN ANY WAY - SHAPE - or FORM!!!!! Let me repeat that - NOT IN ANY WAY - SHAPE or FORM!!!!! Some people just like raising puppies and MONEY is not their primary objective. They can have just as nice of puppies as somebody trying to make money or pay for their expenses from showing.
- Will every BREED STANDARD QUALITY dog be able to be a SHOW dog? NO - some dogs just don't have the patience, attention span, mental capacity or desire to be a show dog.
- Is every titled dog a candidate for breeding? NO - genetics, temperament, confirmation and working ability should all be taken into consideration Prior to using a dog for breeding.
A dog should be purchased with an open mind and an open heart. Considerations need to be taken as to what will be done with the dog or happen to it if it doesn't meet your expectations Prior to purchasing it. Dogs are not sold on "TRY ME and SEE IF YOU LIKE ME!" basis. They are living, breathing and animals with feelings and emotions.
Not All dogs are meant to be Show dogs.
Not all Show dogs are quality dogs.
Many Non-Show dogs are of outstanding Quality.
Not all titled dogs deserve that Title.