What do I have to do to make my dog a champion? UK ONLY?

I'm just about to start showing my chihuahua. He has a lot of champions in his pedigree but what makes a champion? What shows does he have to win or be placed in etc?|||To become a champion a dog has to win 3 Challenge Certificates under 3 different judges. To win a CC, basically your dog has to first win his class (puppy, novice, limit etc), then to challenge for Best Dog when the winner is usually awarded the CC. CCs are only offered at Championship shows which are expensive and involve a lot of travelling - if you haven't shown before, it's best to start off at a few smaller local open shows or go to some of the breed club's shows so you can get hints from other exhibitors.


If the breeder of your ***** is an exhibitor, they are the best person to ask for advice.


There's a lot of useful information here:


http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/dogshowi鈥?/a>|||First off - is it in your contract that you can even show the dog? Reputable breeders send their show-quality dogs to show homes, meaning he would already have been shown early on in his life, not randomly later on. Any other dog sent to a home is usually on a spay/neuter contract, meaning you can't show the dog, and if it's not on a s/n contract, it's specified that you can't show the dog for one reason or another.


So what's your contract say?





Second - is the dog registered with a KC? That's necessary for it to be shown.


Is the dog neutered? He can't be to be shown.





Third - does the dog fit the breed standard? If not, you'll just be wasting time and money on dog shows that you'll never win.








I highly suggest contacting a reputable show breeder of Chis and starting there. If they're close enough they may accept you as a "student" of theirs - them being your mentor in the showing ring to start out.


Otherwise, contact your local KC and ask them if they know anyone willing to coach you and educate you in the show world.


Believe me - with the questions you've asked, you need the education.|||Take a handling class.


Have him evaluated by someone who IS NOT showing anymore. Sometimes people will encourage owners to enter their dog because they know their dog can beat it and they need the points. Or your dog is very good and they are afraid.


Be prepared to spend lots of money and time in entry fees and traveling to shows.|||To be a champion, it depends entirely on the dog. Of course, it helps if they have great backgrounds, but a perfedt show dog can come from a perfectly normal litter, and many champion parents can have a litter with no champions at all.





Like I said before, it depends entirely on the dog.