Not All Dogs Can Be Show Dogs

Libby, who was a champion show dog, is long retired from the ring. But she still "works," now as a therapy dog. She regularly accompanies Susan to schools and senior homes.

"She helps the kids 'read,'" said Susan. "And she offers comfort."

Echo, meanwhile, was supposed to be a show dog, Susan said.

But after just a few shows, Susan discovered that Echo didn't have the temperament for show dog competition.

"Echo is a very handsome dog and my intent was to show him, but it was too much like a sensory overload for him," she said. "He just wasn't comfortable. There was too much going on: too many dogs, and people, and noise. It just wasn't right to subject him to that just because I wanted to do it."

Susan still enjoys competitions, which she attends frequently in her role as president of the Glen Falls Kennel Club. She especially enjoys watching young people learning to compete.

"I think it teaches kids a lot about being a responsible dog owner, and teaches them confidence and poise," she said. "And it's fun for the child and good for their relationship and their bond with their dog as well."

The American Kennel Club (AKC) encourages children as young as 5 to show dogs with a "Pee Wee" class.

"The Judge MUST like children, be patient, kind, and have a sense of humor!" the AKC website notes on its guidelines for the Pee Wee mentoring sessions.

The Downsides of Show Life

There are downsides to dog shows as well, Susan said. Shows require multi-day travel and the cost of entering competitions is getting higher, which turns potential competitors away, she said.

In fact, it can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to win at Westminster. One handler, who won best in show at Westminster in 2006, told The New York Times that the three-year run-up to the victory cost around $700,000.

While Susan enjoys the camaraderie of the events, there are some people, like those who show at Westminster, who take shows to a much higher level of competition. Many of the owners of the top show dogs hire professional handlers to show their dogs rather than doing it themselves, for instance. Some hire personal groomers to achieve the perfect pompadour.

Meanwhile, researchers and animal health advocates have long been concerned about health problems in purebred dogs that meet AKC standards.

"To foster the desired appearance, breeders often turn to line breeding—a type of inbreeding that mates direct relatives, such as grandmother and grandson. When a male dog wins numerous championships, for instance, he is often bred widely—a practice known as popular sire syndrome —and his genes, healthy or not, then are spread like wildfire throughout the breed. As a result, purebred dogs not only have increased incidences of inherited diseases but also heightened health issues," Claire Maldarelli wrote for Scientific American.

Some competitors have been known to take their quest for a win way too far. Vanity Fair detailed the 2015 death of a champion show dog whose owners believe was poisoned at the most prestigious dog show in England, though it couldn't be proved.

'It's a Fun Sport'

For laid-back owners, like Susan, who simply love dogs, shows are a way to spend quality time with their dog, meet like-minded people, see interesting dogs, and learn about the animals.

For fans, it's fun to watch owners fuss over their pup's coifs, discover new breeds (have you seen the American hairless terrier yet?), and perhaps bet on a winner.

"It's a fun sport," Susan said. "No matter what type of breed you have, it's a way to spend time with your dog, to be together."

If you're interested in showing your dog, be sure to search for competitions near you. Not all shows are as competitive as the more prestigious ones, and they offer you a chance to show off your pampered pooch in a friendlier environment. Even if you are not interested in showing your own dog, going to shows can be a fun family activity as you get to learn about different dogs in your area — plus, there's the whole thing about spending a day with a bunch of dogs, which is hard to beat!