QUESTION – Can I Show My Bolognese Puppy, by Chris Thatcher
I have frequently been asked various questions from pet owners when they have had their puppies for a while and have been out and about with them and people admire their pups they come back and ask, Can I show my pet?
Here are some of the general questions, which I will answer as honestly and as truthfully as I can.
Can I show my puppy?
If you have had your Bolognese puppy from a reputable breeder, I suggest you contact the breeder who should be able to give you some honest idea of whether your dog would be suitable for the show ring. A breeder usually has an idea by the time the puppy goes to its new home around the age of 12 weeks or more as to whether it has “Show potential” i.e. was the mouth as it should be, was the puppy square, was the pigmentation where it should be etc., etc., Obviously over time these things can and do change, especially the dentition which with the advent of the second set of teeth can have a massive change.
Does my puppy have to be in full coat?
The simple answer to this question is yes.The coat needs to be in its natural state free from knots, matts, with no trimming of the coat, except for tidying up of the pads.
My puppy has some apricot shading, can I show him/her?
Apricot patches on the ears are a sign of good pigmentation and may never go away but will usually fade as the dog gets older so that it is hardly noticeable. I had one dog who always had slight apricot ears, but it never detracted from her winning in the show ring.
Other attributes my puppy should have
Black nails/claws are a luxury in the Bolognese breed. Your dog must have black pads under his feet without any pink/brown patches. Specialist judges will check the feet. Black nails, as I say are a luxury and I expect if you checked every show dog probably only 25 -50% have black nails. It is something that breeders are really striving to achieve but if pigment is good elsewhere, i.e., eye rims and nose and pads are black the nails should not be a problem.
Can a male puppy/adult be shown if he has been neutered?
Unfortunately, if you read the breed standard a dog without any testicles is a major fault. To show a male at any Kennel Club Licenced show you would need a letter from your Veterinary Surgeon to say that he had been castrated for medical reasons. Vets are usually very happy to supply proof of castration if, as I said for medical reasons. This letter you would then send to the Kennel Club who will then give you permission to show. I would not suggest you show him at Championship Show level as he would probably not get very far. You could, however, show a neutered dog at Open Show level and Companionship Show level. He could also be entered into any fun dog show without the need for a Kennel Club permission to show.
Where can I find out about Dog Shows?
You can find out about local shows from the Kennel Club Website. They hold a list of all licenced shows, Championship Level and Open Level. There are also two other websites to look at. One is Fosse Data and the other Higham Press. These sites give lists of all “Open”, and “Championship” Shows nationwide. You can enter shows on-line with these sites. Most shows have a closing date of around a month prior to the show. Companion Shows are usually advertised locally and are generally used to raise money for charity. They can be great fun to start a show career where you can meet other like-minded people all with the same interest in their beloved pets.
Will I need to have trained my dog?
It is ideal if you can do some basic training such as the dog learning to walk on a lead on your left-hand side and also being able to stand for a short period of time. You can also source a local Ring craft training class, there are classes within reach of most people. These clubs are run by experienced show people who can point you in the right direction and give you an insight into what is required in the show ring. They are also ideal social evenings for you and your dog.
I hope this has given you some insight into the world of dog showing from a novice’s point of view and should you have additional questions, any of our members who show their dogs would be happy to help.
