6 Essential Tips to Prepare for Your First Dog Show Competition

Lights, camera, action! Stepping out into the ring at your first dog show competition will be exhilarating but possibly terrifying, in equal measure. If your nerves are down to your meticulous preparation for the big day, then you're already a winner.

Successful participants dedicate hour upon hour, week after week, to get their dogs looking and behaving their best. It's all about attention to detail and focusing on all those show dog essentials that'll help your champ put their best paw forward.

Read on for the show dog tips you need and discover the luxury pet products you should never be without.

1. Understand What the Judges Are Looking For

This is similar to the advice our teachers or parents gave us before a school exam: “Remember to read the question.”

Judges examine the dogs on show carefully. They rate them according to how closely they resemble the ideal dog described in the breed's official standard. The key considerations are:

• Your dog's overall appearance
• Its temperament and behaviour
• Its structure and its performance

All judges pay close attention to the characteristics of your dog's breed. They will inspect a dog's body with their hands, checking out their muscles and bones. They may also focus on characteristics such as a dog's attitude and stride length. In short, judges measure each dog against the parameters of the idealised version of its breed while paying homage to the breed's originality – that is, what they were bred for. For example, the stride of a Siberian Husky was vital for their long-distance sled pulling over vast frozen expanses.

Therefore, understanding your breed's uniqueness and knowing your breed standard is critical.

2. Essential Grooming and Presentation

Grooming correctly is one of the key ingredients to a dog's success in any competition. Get it right, and you'll certainly work out how to enhance your dog's natural features. This means you can both enter the ring with confidence.

When most people think of grooming, they may conjure an image of brushing. Dog grooming is far more than that. You need to ensure every part of the body is in tip-top condition. This of course includes nails, teeth and ears.

For the coat, Plush Puppy has a brilliant range of grooming products, including gentle shampoos and conditioners for all coat types, as well as an extensive range of styling and finishing products. Don't forget your accessories such as brushes, combs, mixer bottles and aprons.

Styling products are specifically created and carefully considered to create magic for particular coat types. You will find however that our range of styling products can be used across many breeds. For example, if you need a fuller thicker looking coat, our volumising spray will give this appearance. This is particularly useful when the coat is not at its peak. Perfect on Poodles, Samoyeds, Keeshonds and Siberians and many more. Just brilliant when any coat needs a natural thicker look.

For coats in need of a white, crisp finish, Plush Puppy Fairy Frost is a must-have winner. Specially formulated and naturally sourced, it contains no talc or chalk, so it never clumps, even when wet. Perfect for any white coats or parts of a white coat that can be enhanced. Think Westies, Samoyeds, Bichon Frise, Japanese Spitz, Coton de Tulear.

3. Practice Makes Perfect

We all know that the greatest athletes and swimmers put in seemingly endless hours of training. In a similar way, you need to be consistent in the time and effort you spend coaching your dog. This will improve your dog's skill set as well as their confidence. For instance, tricks that boost a dog's flexibility are excellent for agility training if you are competing.

You will need to dig deep into your reserves of resilience and patience. This will ensure your dog ticks all the specific skill boxes required of the competition, which will vary between obedience, stacking and gaiting. Practice, practice and practice!

4. Make it a Social Experience

The more you expose your dog to social gatherings and situations, the better for your first dog show competition. Dogs need to feel comfortable around different kinds of people and environmental settings.

Socialisation can reduce stress and improve performance. If you have a dog that needs a bit of extra help managing unusual situations, we recommend Plush Puppy Showreviver Flower Essence Drops. This product is ideal for nervous dogs who are under stress. It's one of those show dog essentials that will help keep your dog calm, so they focus on the competition.

5. Health and Nutrition

You need to constantly pay attention to your dogs health and wellbeing. That means getting them checked regularly by a Vet, ensuring they're up to date with any vaccinations and feeding them a healthy, balanced diet.

Ask your Vet or Breeder for advice about the best type and quantity of food for your dog's particular breed and size. Regular exercise is another essential component of keeping your dog fit and healthy.

All Your Luxury Pet Products in One Place

Dog competitions are the foundations of the Plush Puppy brand of luxury pet products. We stock all the show dog essentials you'll need. Follow our essential show dog tips, and soon, your dog could be a winner! Good Luck!