Originally posted by mugsy
I have a question for people who show dogs. Why is it that you can't show a dog that has been spayed or neutered? That never made sense to me, but I would be interested in knowing what the reasoning is behind that. Thanks!!
When you are talking about showing a dog, the terminology "SHOWING" is assumed to be someone showing a dog for conformation or for their looks. As Karen stated you are showing in the hopes of having the perfect specimen of your breed. If you have the perfect specimen then it is a possibility that you will want to pass on the traits for the betterment of the breed. Most people who do not have this desire do not want to show in conformation. Conformation shows are very political and expensive. Your dog is scutinized for all kinds of traits such as eye set, topline, how they stack, teeth, coat, weight, height, temperment, gait, stop etc.... Non of this provides value other than the ability to say I have a perfect specimen and he/she is available for the betterment of the breed. The judge's sole job is to pick the dog that most embodies the standard for its breed over all the others of the same breed entered. It comes down to a judges opinion. I would of never bred Dixie to a dog that did not embody the breed standard in every way. And because of the exceptional bloodlines of both parents, we had a waiting list of people wanting our pups before we even knew if the breeding was successful or not.

Just a note.... Dixie is not a conformation standard dog. Her coat is not as long and thick as the standard calls for and the pigment in her nose is not real black. She does tend to get snow nose. Her strong line comes from a working background of Field trial champions and Obedience trial champions although her father was a show champion. These are traits that I was looking to pass on to her pups! Strong, athletic, hard working, intelligent, even temperment pups. and that is what we got!!!!!

A spayed or neutered dog is able to show in other venues with no physical consideration of the dog. They can compete in obedience, herding, agility, tracking, or any other recognized AKC event. Even dogs that have ILP numbers can compete in these events. These concentrate on what you have taught your dog and are more for enjoyment of the relationship between dog and handler. They are less political.

I have never done conformation but have done obedience, agility, and hunt tests. I will be doing conformation with Dusty after he gets a little older because I believe he is a perfect specimen and I would like to continue the exceptional lines he comes from.

Mugsy, I hope this answered your question. I tend to ramble sometimes.