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Thursday, January 16, 2014

Dog shows!

Collies are shown at all breed dog shows all year long, but there is a "collie specialty season," when specialty shows are held. What this means is that there are dog shows that are held for collies only, and they are the only dogs allowed to enter and compete at these shows. There are specialty shows for all the different dog breeds, but collie specialty shows are held each year from late Fall until early Spring. All breed dog shows are the shows where all the different AKC recognized dog breeds compete, first against each other in the breed ring, then against all the other breeds in their group. (such as the herding group, the working group, the toy group, etc)  Then the winner of each group then competes against each other for the coveted title of "Best In Show." 

At collie specialty shows, the smooth collies compete against other smooths.  The roughs compete against other roughs.  And then at the end of the show, the Best of Variety smooth and the Best of variety rough compete against each other for "Best of Breed" and "Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Breed."

The reason they hold these collie specialty shows during these months, is that the rough coated variety is typically in full coat during the colder weather. And if you are going to pay entry fees, travel expenses and possibly dog handler fees in the hope of winning at a dog show...well, you want your dog to look his or her very best!

The smooth coated variety has the bonus of being able to be shown even in the warmer months.

We are very busy right now preparing, because the collie specialty season is starting in our area in just two weeks!  So we have been spending extra time exercising the collies and grooming them.  We thought we would do a post where we showed you everything that went on during a typical dog show day.  We would take pictures throughout our day - From getting up early in the morning, driving to the show, setting up our grooming area, grooming for the show ring and then competing.   Is this something you would be interested in seeing/reading about?

8 comments:

  1. That is great! I love a breed specific show! I just posted about our Michigan Dog Show today and have posted in the past when I attended (with photos)...2 Brown Dawgs just did a post the other day about the Michigan show because one of her dogs is entered. I would love to see a breed specific dog show post with photos...you may want to break it up over a few posts if you have a ton of photos

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  2. I'd love to see that! Please share what kind of products you use for grooming too...I'm always looking for the perfect brush!

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  3. You know - no matter how many times I see smooth collies - they always look naked to me :) It is funny how we have the long coats set in our brains :)

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  4. Cool, look forward to seeing all the photo's of a day in the life of a show Collie :) xxoxxxx

    Mollie and Alfie

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  5. Yes. I would love to see a collie getting ready for the big stage. Its a lot of work just keeping my guy knot free for hanging around the house.

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  6. I'd love to read about it. I wish there were some close Collie Specialties to where I am. I would be in heaven!!

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  7. Such a pity that so much dog politics can get in the way of 'pure' dog appreciation! All this info sounds a little familiar to some of what I have read about Schipperkes and the national shows that occur here. Both my dogs are tail-less, (not born that way!) because of the 'standard', I asked if my first dog, just a couple of weeks old then, if they would leave her tail insitu, but apparently they took it on day 3 of her life. Such a shame! Now of course this is illegal and Schipperkes are allowed to keep their tails, and such cute little tails they are! The Border Collie is such a gracious and stunning looking animal. Great post!!! Looking for large dog breeds for families Wondering what large dog breeds are good with kids or would be good for apartments Find out here A complete list of large dog breeds

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  8. Me and my wife were looking into getting a pure bread golden retriever. I've heard they're excellent family dogs but she wants to go more of the show dog route. I'm not against it, but it won't stop me from taking him on camping trips. http://www.pawmarks.com

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