Studding out your male

[Alisha Mobley]

But don't some of the health tests required for responsible breeding have to wait until a dog is two years old?

OFA certification for hips is the only thing that can't be done until a dog is at least 24 months...but not everyone uses OFA, PennHip can be done earlier. All other testing can start at 12 months...many like to wait until the dog is closer to 2 yrs before dopplering but it isn't a "requirement".

Haven't they really missed the window to succeed in the show ring if you wait that long to get started?

I hope not!! :eek: My boy is just under 2 and we're just getting started. My girl is 15 months and I'm still waiting on her to mature more. The best age to show a dog depends on how quickly that dog matures and developes. Dogs that look like adults at 10 months will do best being shown at 10 months and the ones who take *forever* to finally look their age will do better showing at an older age. That doesn't mean you can't show a slow maturing dog at an early age though...many do so the dog can gain ring experience. But, there are others who don't want their dog seen until it looks it's best so if slow maturing, it won't be brought out until older.

 

[VTbxrFan]

For those dogs that don't start showing until 2 or close to 2, is there any prep work (training) that starts before then to prepare them for eventually being shown? I'm just trying to really get a handle on whether you can truly start from scratch at 2 years and have a dog succeed in the ring. Perhaps my misconception comes from having seen lots of pictures of young puppies learning to stack.

 

[Alisha Mobley]

It's always easier to start any type of training with a puppy but even an older dog can be trained. Will be more work but I'm sure it can be done. A person could start the training even if they don't know for sure if they want to show...it will not hurt a dog to know how to show even if it never steps into a ring.

I started working with Ruby (and learning myself) as soon as I brought her home. We've only entered a few shows but was mainly for both of us to gain experience...Ruby really isn't ready to be seen. Kodi came to me at an older age but had already been worked with. I spent a few months working with him myself (basically trying to get him to teach me how to handle him... ) before entering our first show. After the first weekend out I realized we're still not ready!! But, after getting him out I now know what points I need to focus on in his training. Kodi is one of the very slow to mature dogs (as is Ruby)...if I were to wait until he looks his best I'd be sitting out for another 2+ years. That'd put him up to 4 yrs old...still not too old to start showing but that doesn't seem to be the norm (in my area at least) either.

It will truly depend on the dog...from what I'm told, there are dogs that finish early but wouldn't be able to finish once mature. If a dog is like this, then waiting until health testing is finished to start showing isn't gonna work. And like Debbie said..."thats a whole nother story!"...

 

[kassa]

I would advise getting a puppy out early to learn the basics -- not just how to behave in the ring (that can be taught in class) but more for socialization to the greater show scene -- walking doubletime from set up area to ringside in close quarters with dogs everywhere around, standing calmly on a short lead ringside with dogs everywhere around, behaving on the grooming table with dogs and commotion everywhere around, settling down in the crate with dogs and commotion everywhere around, using a public ex pen, eating on the road, etc. etc.

Being exposed to that for the first time at age 2 would be quite a shock for the average dog.

That doesn't mean you have to spend vast amounts of $. Depending on the accessibility of local shows, you could do matches and local specialties and just a few all breed shows a year until you really think you have a shot at points.

 

[GoCougs]

Originally posted by Alisha Mobley
My girl is 15 months and I'm still waiting on her to mature more. The best age to show a dog depends on how quickly that dog matures and developes. Dogs that look like adults at 10 months will do best being shown at 10 months and the ones who take *forever* to finally look their age will do better showing at an older age. That doesn't mean you can't show a slow maturing dog at an early age though...many do so the dog can gain ring experience. But, there are others who don't want their dog seen until it looks it's best so if slow maturing, it won't be brought out until older.

Like Alisha, we also have a slow maturing bitch. She is about 18 months. However, we show her regardless of the fact that she's probably just not ready. She's having a tough go at it because she is still a little underdeveloped, but she absolutely loves going to the shows, as do we.

The choice is ultimately yours, but you have to be honest with yourself and not get frustrated when a slow grower doesn't seem to be making any progress. There are lots of dogs who go to 2-3 years without a single point, and then finish in a matter of a few weekends.