Why are only purebreds allowed in dog shows? Get Your Pet Thinking

Clubs Offering:

While watching a dog show on television or in person, many casual viewers find themselves completely mystified about aspects of the sport. But here are answers to four basic questions to give you a better understanding of dog shows.

Most dog handlers you’ll see in the TV portion of the show are professionals. They’ve spent the year showing a “string” of dogs on behalf of the dogs’ owners. Among a pro handler’s responsibilities are the grooming, conditioning, transportation, and diet of their charges, often with the help of assistants. But some handlers you’ll see on TV are the dog’s owner and breeder. They’re technically “amateurs,” but there’s nothing amateurish about their expertise.

The dog show judges come from the ranks of breeders, amateur breeder-handlers, pro handlers, and dog club members. Many have played all these roles. Judges are AKC-approved and licensed, and the club that is sponsoring the dog show selects the judges.

Why are only purebreds allowed in dog shows?

How do people “show off” their dogs?

Pet owners show off their dogs at dog shows, which are organized events that provide an ample audience primed for admiring the glory of the canine kingdom. A dog show is an official gathering of dogs and their owners/ handlers in a competitive arena.

Dogs are pampered, pranced, and positioned to best display how well they conform to a Breed Standard. The Breed Standard, dictated by the American Kennel Club (AKC), is a detailed written description of what the perfect dog in a certain breed would look like. It is the “gold standard” that specifies the optimum characteristics for each canine breed, taking into consideration appearance, movement, health, and temperament.

Judges approved by the AKC examine the dogs and “place” them according to how closely each dog compares to the breed’s official standard. In a dog show competition, the pooch that conforms most closely to the Breed Standard receives an award. This type of show attracts owners of purebred dogs, but there are opportunities for owners of mixed breeds to “show off” their dogs, too. Why do people show their dogs?

Although many people show dogs for fun, the real purpose of dog shows is to evaluate quality breeding stock in order to maintain the integrity of the breed. A winning dog has good conformation (appearance and structure), which makes him or her likely to produce high quality purebred puppies. Since the focus is on breeding, neutered or spayed dogs are not allowed to compete in purebred shows, but are allowed in mixed breed events.

Why do dog shows only allow purebreds?

“Spayed or neutered dogs are not eligible to compete in conformation classes at a dog show, because the purpose of a dog show is to evaluate breeding stock.” The shows create a culture based on breeding, showing and selling dogs, in the pursuit of a champion.

The Bizarre Truth About Purebred Dogs (and Why Mutts Are Better) – Adam Ruins Everything

This weekend, the National Dog Show will be taking over the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center — though, as always, you’ll have to wait until Thanksgiving day to watch it on TV (if you can convince your less animal-obsessed extended family to hand over the remote). The world-famous competition has been ongoing since 1879 (seriously, that’s not a typo: eighteen-seventy-nine) and airing over living-room Thanksgiving arguments for the past 20 years. It’s impossible not to respect that legacy — or the hundreds of well-trained, well-groomed pups who have strut their stuff over the years.

But when it comes to show eligibility, not all dogs are given a fair shot. As in most major dog shows, mixed-breed dogs aren’t able to compete. Luckily, there are other dog shows filling the gap. Below are four competitions that lift up mixed-breed dogs and remind us that wherever a pup came from, they deserve a chance at stardom.

Leave it to Hallmark to host the most feel-good, warm-and-fuzzy event of the year. The American Rescue Dog Show spotlights both mixed breed and purebred rescues in categories including — but definitely not limited to — Best in Snoring, Best in Underbite, Best in Wiggling, and Best in Wrinkles. The 2023 show is set to premiere next May. Needless to say, we will be watching.