Frequently Asked Questions
Your workshops seem expensive?
We’ve offered a range of training options to cater for the majority of people’s needs, but we understand that our workshops may not be in everyone’s price range or budget. However we believe the value you’ll receive and the level and quality training provided is both unrivalled and well justified.
The K9 Showcraft Club will support you throughout your showing career through group workshops, online support, 1:1 tuition, theory education, demonstrations, progress tracking, support documentation and access to top professional handlers, trainers and international dog show judges.
You will also have direct access to our in-house top experts and will experience a show-training format that has never existed until now… we know our intensive workshops will fast-track you on your journey to success.
We are so confident in our workshops, that we have decided to offer a money back guarantee if you are not 100% satisfied after the initial session at K9 Showcraft Club.
Also, if you compare the adhoc cost of show handler training to our Showcraft workshops - our prices are competitive. Our format of teaching is especially cost effective long term, because at K9 Showcraft we will be educating you with best practices and processes to nurture any of your potential future show dogs. This is unlikely to be part of any other typical dog handler or trainers’ services.
On a final note, we want to keep these sessions exclusive - for an exclusive group of likeminded individuals. After all, there would be no point competing in the ring against ten other people who have also accessed the same level of schooling as you.
We’ve offered a range of training options to cater for the majority of people’s needs, but we understand that our workshops may not be in everyone’s price range or budget. However we believe the value you’ll receive and the level and quality training provided is both unrivalled and well justified.
The K9 Showcraft Club will support you throughout your showing career through group workshops, online support, 1:1 tuition, theory education, demonstrations, progress tracking, support documentation and access to top professional handlers, trainers and international dog show judges.
You will also have direct access to our in-house top experts and will experience a show-training format that has never existed until now… we know our intensive workshops will fast-track you on your journey to success.
We are so confident in our workshops, that we have decided to offer a money back guarantee if you are not 100% satisfied after the initial session at K9 Showcraft Club.
Also, if you compare the adhoc cost of show handler training to our Showcraft workshops - our prices are competitive. Our format of teaching is especially cost effective long term, because at K9 Showcraft we will be educating you with best practices and processes to nurture any of your potential future show dogs. This is unlikely to be part of any other typical dog handler or trainers’ services.
On a final note, we want to keep these sessions exclusive - for an exclusive group of likeminded individuals. After all, there would be no point competing in the ring against ten other people who have also accessed the same level of schooling as you.
Does my dog need to be perfect to be shown?
There is a general misconception that show dogs are walking trophies, they aren’t. They are normal dogs that live normal lives, which just so happen to be shown by their owners. A dog is a dog, it doesn’t know if it is a Champion and the epitome of the breed or a Heinz 57 crossbreed, it is only us as humans that put a value on them.
There is no 'perfect dog', it does not exist. They are an oasis. The 'perfect dog' is all that we strive for, yet know is impossible to achieve.
But it’s that slight possibility you are showing the dog that could be considered the 'perfect dog' in one person’s eyes (the judge), that makes so many people partake in this hobby.
To be seen as having the 'perfect dog', for just one day, at one show, by one person (other than you) is why people become addicted to showing.
The purpose of a show handler is to highlight the virtues of the dog they are showing, whilst downplaying any flaws.
Any dog can be shown, as long as they don’t have any attributes that are listed in their breed standard as undesirable or a disqualification. Typically these attributes are associated with manifesting health issues that are a bigger concern for the breeds future, even though they might not affect the particular dog being shown, so don’t take it too personally if that is the unlikely case.
There is a general misconception that show dogs are walking trophies, they aren’t. They are normal dogs that live normal lives, which just so happen to be shown by their owners. A dog is a dog, it doesn’t know if it is a Champion and the epitome of the breed or a Heinz 57 crossbreed, it is only us as humans that put a value on them.
There is no 'perfect dog', it does not exist. They are an oasis. The 'perfect dog' is all that we strive for, yet know is impossible to achieve.
But it’s that slight possibility you are showing the dog that could be considered the 'perfect dog' in one person’s eyes (the judge), that makes so many people partake in this hobby.
To be seen as having the 'perfect dog', for just one day, at one show, by one person (other than you) is why people become addicted to showing.
The purpose of a show handler is to highlight the virtues of the dog they are showing, whilst downplaying any flaws.
Any dog can be shown, as long as they don’t have any attributes that are listed in their breed standard as undesirable or a disqualification. Typically these attributes are associated with manifesting health issues that are a bigger concern for the breeds future, even though they might not affect the particular dog being shown, so don’t take it too personally if that is the unlikely case.
What are the benefits of showing?
For most of us, our dogs are our passion. Once you’ve decided you want a canine companion, your love for the idea just becomes more amplified until you complete the picture with your first dog.
For some owners, their dog is a gateway to a new hobby, whether that be canine sports like obedience, agility, flyball, sledging, canicross to name a few, or lower energy activities like grooming and exhibiting. Engaging in any of these sports not only ensures you both bond strongly, but will also introduce you to a whole new social circle and other like-minded people.
Showing and breeding in particular, focus owners on protecting the future of their breed, by learning and maintaining its original purpose or function. Breeds become rare, endangered and potentially lost if breeders aren’t proactive in ensuring their existence.
For a breed to exist it needs to be healthy and to set-type. That means it needs to be as close to its original function as possible, which is captured in a Breed Standard. The Breed Standard is the blueprint that breeders aim to breed too. This is vitally important for breeds with a long historical past to ensure it keeps to their original function, but also for newly founded breeds to ensure they are maintaining the criteria that define them as that particular breed.
Showing is a way for the collective breed to be judged against its breed standard. It is considered a yardstick for a breeder to identify how well their puppies are suited to their original purpose and breed standard, otherwise, why breed that particular dog?
Though it may seem from the outside that showing is about competing against each other, it’s actually about a nominated judge comparing your dog to the breed standard and placing it accordingly in the class. It’s not about ‘my dog is better than your dog’ mentality, it actually reflects a judge’s ability to interpret the breed standard and find the dog in the class with the most similar attributes.
When you consider showing with this viewpoint, you may appreciate the importance and relevance a little more, whilst also becoming addicted! It’s an ideal place for a breeder to showcase their breeding knowledge and ability by allowing their dogs to be graded against the highest expectations.
A reward for such an investment into your breeding program and striving to breed the best, is that typically, your kennel profile is raised, your puppies are in more demand and you can charge a price reflective of this effort and success.
For most of us, our dogs are our passion. Once you’ve decided you want a canine companion, your love for the idea just becomes more amplified until you complete the picture with your first dog.
For some owners, their dog is a gateway to a new hobby, whether that be canine sports like obedience, agility, flyball, sledging, canicross to name a few, or lower energy activities like grooming and exhibiting. Engaging in any of these sports not only ensures you both bond strongly, but will also introduce you to a whole new social circle and other like-minded people.
Showing and breeding in particular, focus owners on protecting the future of their breed, by learning and maintaining its original purpose or function. Breeds become rare, endangered and potentially lost if breeders aren’t proactive in ensuring their existence.
For a breed to exist it needs to be healthy and to set-type. That means it needs to be as close to its original function as possible, which is captured in a Breed Standard. The Breed Standard is the blueprint that breeders aim to breed too. This is vitally important for breeds with a long historical past to ensure it keeps to their original function, but also for newly founded breeds to ensure they are maintaining the criteria that define them as that particular breed.
Showing is a way for the collective breed to be judged against its breed standard. It is considered a yardstick for a breeder to identify how well their puppies are suited to their original purpose and breed standard, otherwise, why breed that particular dog?
Though it may seem from the outside that showing is about competing against each other, it’s actually about a nominated judge comparing your dog to the breed standard and placing it accordingly in the class. It’s not about ‘my dog is better than your dog’ mentality, it actually reflects a judge’s ability to interpret the breed standard and find the dog in the class with the most similar attributes.
When you consider showing with this viewpoint, you may appreciate the importance and relevance a little more, whilst also becoming addicted! It’s an ideal place for a breeder to showcase their breeding knowledge and ability by allowing their dogs to be graded against the highest expectations.
A reward for such an investment into your breeding program and striving to breed the best, is that typically, your kennel profile is raised, your puppies are in more demand and you can charge a price reflective of this effort and success.