Dog show competitions are popular with dog owners all over the world.  The dog shows are a great way to show off one's prized pet.  The training for show dog competitions calls for  a combination of obedience training, and also preparing your dog for being presenting your dog to the judge-where it will be prodded and probed as it is examined by the judge. While the judge examines your dog he must remain relaxed and keep the correct pose throughout the examination.

The show dogs are divided into different competitive categories. The various categories are  based on the variety of breeds within them  and what kinds of activities those breeds are best skilled at. The seven different categories include sporting, non-sporting, hound, terrier, working, herding and toy. In addition to having perfect confirmations, the dogs must also impress the judges with their abilities and obedience skills. Dogs will have to show off their stuff, whether it is a working dog running an obstacle course, or a herding dog working some livestock. For sporting dogs, the test will check out their abilities as field dogs. You can find dog show competitions for many different types of dogs and their associated skills.

Here is a list of the various show dog categories-check out which one best fits your dog.

Sporting Dogs - Dogs in the sporting class were bred to aid hunters and to retrieve game birds either from land or from the water. Breeds in this group include dogs such as Retrievers, Spaniels, Pointers and Setters.

Hound Dogs - The hound class specializes in hunting through either sight or scent.  Among the various hound breeds are beagles, dachshunds, greyhounds and bassets, to name a few.

Working Dogs - These dogs were bred to be able to work with their masters, doing jobs such as pulling carts, search and rescue and guard dog work. Dogs included in the working group are Akitas, Doberman Pinschers, Boxers, and St. Bernards.

Terrier Dogs-Terrier breeds were developed to specialize in eliminating vermin from farms. The Terrier group includes dogs such as the Airedale, Cairn Terrier and Scottish Terrier, Jack Russell Terriers and many more.

Toy Breeds - The toy breeds were selectively bred to become the little household pets they now are. Dog breeds included in the Toy group include Poodles, Pomeranians, Pugs, Pekinese, and Maltese.

Non-Sporting Dogs - In the non-sporting group there is a pretty diverse group of breeds, that mainly have become companion dogs, and includes dogs like Standard Poodles, Chows, Dalmatians and Bulldogs.

Herding Dogs - Herding dogs were bred to help control livestock, and include breeds like German shepherd dogs, Collies, and various kinds of Sheepdogs.

Depending on the breed of dog you have, after you have thoroughly trained your dog you can enter him in a dog show in the proper category. Check in with a local kennel club to learn more about upcoming dog show competitions, and see what you would need to do to prepare your pet for the show. A Kennel Club is a great place to meet other dog enthusiasts and also for enrolling in a dog obedience training class.

For example, if your dog is a working dog, you can talk with an owner who also has a dog in the same group as your dog, and find out what you'll need to learn to prepare your dog for the competition. By learning from a more experienced dog handler, you will learn what you need to know much more quickly.

Before you consider show dog competitions, be sure you have already given your dog his obedience training. So, in case your dog isn't fully obedience trained, you need to pay attention to doing a great job with that before considering entering a competition in a dog show.

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