A guid to showing your Alaskan Malamute
by Miss S Towers
The world of showing is rewarding and fascinating but can also be bewildering. Showing is hard work for the dog and the handler. Showing your Alaskan malamute requires a lot of training, grooming and proper care in order to compete. Showing your malamute can change your life and become an enjoyable obsession! I have been showing now since 2003 and love it weather they get placed or not you could say I am hooked !
find out how your mallie would be shown. Every breed is shown a
little differently. The best way to find out how to
show your breed is to:
talk to your breeder (any reputable breeder will only be too happy to show you)
also Study pictures of your breed.But most importantly
go to shows and watch your breed in the ring. Look at how your breed’s feet are placed and how the head and tail are held, watch carefully the class, take note to how fast the dogs are moved as you will need to gait your dog at a speed that makes your dog move its best.Watch how the handler holds the lead and communicates with their dog.
You will need your malamute’s pedigree kennel clubs registration papers which should be given to you when you buy your pup from the breeder. You send off the papers to the kennel club of change of ownership. You can only show if you have these papers!
The Kennel Club divides its dogs into seven groups
Toy
Utility
Pastoral
Terrier
Hounds
Gundogs
Working (the Alaskan malamute comes under this group)
Classes
Minor Puppy
For dogs of six and not exceeding nine calendar months of age on the first day of the show.
Puppy
For dogs of six and not exceeding twelve calendar months of age on the first day of the show.
Junior
For dogs of six and not exceeding eighteen calendar months of age on the first day of the show.
Special Yearling
For dogs of six and not exceeding twenty four months of age on the first day of the show.
Maiden
For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or a first prize at an Open or Championship Show (Minor puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy classes excepted, whether restricted or not).
Novice
For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or three or more first prizes at Open and Championship Shows (Minor puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy classes excepted, whether restricted or not).
Undergraduate
For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or three or more first prizes at Championship Shows (Minor puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy classes excepted, whether restricted or not).
Graduate
For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or four or more first prizes at Championship Shows in Graduate, Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit and Open Classes, whether restricted or not.
Post Graduate
For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or five or more first prizes at Championship Shows in Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit and Open Classes, whether restricted or not.
Mid Limit
For dogs which have not won three Challenge Certificates or five or more first prizes in all at Championship Shows in Mid Limit, Limit and open classes, confined to the breed, whether restricted or not, at shows where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed.
Limit
For dogs which have not won three Challenge Certificates under three different judges or seven or more first prizes in all, at Championship Shows in Limit and Open classes, confined to the breed, whether restricted or not, at shows where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed.
Open
For all dogs of the breed for which the class is provided and eligible for entry at the show.
Veteran
For dogs of seven years of age and over on the first day of the show. Any Variety Not Separately Classified (AVNSC) For breeds of dogs for which no separate classes are scheduled
Imported Register
Where an Interim Breed Standard has been approved by the Kennel Club, breeds whose registration is confined to the Imported Register may be exhibited in this class only and are ineligible for any other competition whatsoever.
Breed Clubs
It is a good idea to join the breed club (The Alaskan Malamute of United Kingdom)
The club will hold there own club show twice a year and you will meet friendly helpful people.
Ringcraft Classes
The classes are held once a week and they are taught by experience dog people on showing your dog. Remember the classes are not just to teach dogs but the handlers as well. It is necessary to also train at home what you have learned at ringcraft.
Most people who attend treat it as an enjoyable social club to meet friendly faces and train there dogs. It is very advisable that you attend the classes with your malamute from a very early age. The training plays an important part in the puppy’s socializing and how to behave in the ring. At the end of the month they will stage a match night to prepare you and your dog for a real show.
The membership and classes fees are very reasonable!
shows
Limit Shows, Open shows and Championships shows are all held under Kennel Club rules and regulations that are always printed on the entry schedule,or can be obtained directly from the Kennel Club.
companion shows
companion shows tend to be small with a wide variety of dog breeds hosted in a local school or community hall. These types of shows are probably the best place to start your showing career as you will be given a lot of help and advice without the pressures of the larger, more competitive show s.. These shows are mainly run as charity events or local fundraiser's .most companion shows are Run under Kennel Club Rules but do check that they are .these shows are open to all registered and unregistered dogs, including show dogs and crossbreeds.
Open shows
Open shows are generally less competitive and are frequently used as practice shows.
These are open to all kennel club registered dogs. If a particular breed is not classified ‘any variety’ classes will be offered and dogs of any breed. There are hundreds of open shows each year to go along to enter or watch.
Limit shows
Limit shows are smaller, less competitive shows, which are good to attend to gain experience and knowledge before competing in the larger shows.
Limit shows are run by individual dog clubs, and are restricted to the members of that club. These are ideal to boost confidence and to get a taste of showing in a ring. The classes at these shows are quite small making it an ideal place to start.
Are slightly larger than an Open show. Currently only a few Breed Societies have the license to host a Premier show.
Championship shows
At championship shows a dog can earn challenge certificates, and thereby become a show champion or a champion. 2006 Alaskan malamute will be entered in for CCs.The dogs that win each class compete for Challenge Certificates (C. C.’s), dogs and bitches separately. Once you have three C.C.’s from three separate judges your dog is made up to a Champion. After the CC’s have been awarded the Best of Breed winners from each group (gundogs, working, hounds etc) are judged to find Best of Group. These are then judged for Best in Show. The dog declared the Best in Show has competed and is unbeaten by any other dog exhibited at the same show.
There are five wins in the classes but only 1st, 2nd, 3rd will qualify for the worlds greatest dog show Crufts !
Things you will need to take to a show
Passes for your dogs /self
Plenty of fresh drinking water plus bowls
poo bags
Benching chain/crate
Show collar and lead
your pin holder
Treats
Grooming brushes/nail clippers
A pack lunch as food there is pricey!
Entry forms
To enter a show an entry form has to be filled in giving details of the dog being entered and for which class; the forms can be obtained from your local ringcraft classes, dog shows or directly from the show secretary. The forms have to be filled in and sent off with the entry fee some time before the actual show date. The form will have a closing date on it and any entries received after the closing date will not be allowed. Once the secretary has received the entries, a catalogue of all the dogs entered is compiled. This is made available to everyone on the show day.
The results of all these shows are usually available on the day from the show secretary; they are also published in the dog papers such as Dog world and Our Dogs.
Getting your Malamute ready for a show
From this |
to this |
 |
 |
Get your Malamute used to being bathed, blasted, groomed,teeth cleaned,ears cleaned and nails clipped at puppy hood always give the pup lots of praise. Most dogs, when introduced to it properly and positively, learn to enjoy being bathed and groomed!
Bath time
Before you show your dog, they must be bathed and groomed, you can check with your breeder or you can get good advice at shows to find out what shampoo is best for your dog.I use a quality shampoo from Groomers salon seaweed & cucumber for the body as it is a coarse coat shampoo and malamutes must have a harsh coat.This is a concentrated shampoo so it must be watered down, I also use a white shampoo on the chest,stomach,tail,feet,and legs
If you are going to bath you malamute in doors be ready for some Major post-bath cleanup and that you will probable be wetter than the dog! when bathing in the tub always put a non-skid rubber mat in the tub to prevent slipping over.
When bathing my dogs I take my time I find each dog can take me upto 4 hours to get ready for a show . I find it very important to start off by Brushing them first as this removes any mats or dead hair this will make it easy for when the time comes to dry and brush .I use a soft slicker brush and I use the comb or rake to remove undercoat or to tease apart tangles or mats. I lightly mist the coat with water then brush in direction of hair growth, from head to tail, Then brush and comb in the opposite direction, layer by layer, a small portion at the time. Divide the hair with one hand, hold and brush then comb down to the skin. When entire body has been brushed you are ready to bath.
You must be careful to not get the water or shampoo in the eyes or ears so this does not happen you can cover eyes with your hand,put Cotton balls in the ears or fold the ears down when you rinse the dog's face. I use a wash cloth to wash the dog’s face.
You must Soak your dog to the skin in warm water Remember they are a double coated breed so work the water in well.
Apply the white shampoo first to all the white bits on the dog working it into the skin with your fingers untill you get a good lather. Be warned they will shake so I find I have to re-soak the coat.
Then apply the coarse shampoo, I always do the head last so starting with a ring around the neck and work it into the skin with your fingers from the neck, all the way back to the end of the tail making sure it is worked in well with a good lather.
Rinse your dog well with warm water don't forget as they are a double coated breed you must be sure to remove every bit of soap, every bubble from the dog’s skin and hair. Rinse from the top of the neck and back and work your way down to the legs and feet. Then rinse, rinse, rinse again. When you no longer see soap or bubbles falling from the dog, After the final rinse, stand back and allow your dog to shake, this is usually best done out side you can encourage shaking by just softly blowing near the ear, I also use a towel to help sock up as much water as possible.Any Shampoo left on the dog will dry and look like dandruff and will course the dog to itch.
Drying and grooming next
My next step is to dry and groom I recomend investing in a grooming table as this will help not only your back but you will find the dog is at eye level too.As malamutes are a double coated breed they can be prone to hot spots so its is very important to make sure they are 100% dry.To dry your dog quickly and to make the coat fluffier, I use a Tornado 93 dryer and blaster.As I blast the coat I start at the top working my way down the back to the tail then each side of the body is done followed with the under belly, legs and feet try to create a circular motion as you blast I then Use a low heat setting following the same rote but drying the fur in the opposite direction whilst brushing.Do not hold the dryer too close! Then I finish the dogs off with line combing again the fur is combed in the opposite direction all over the body to give that fullness look.
Hopefully you will find that all that time and effort has paid off as once a malamute has been properly bathed and groomed they look very impressive !
Teeth
Your dog must have clean teeth and a complete scissor bite, Your dog must not have any tartar on the teeth. Tartar is the yellow substance you often see on teeth. The best way to keep your dog’s teeth clean is to prevent tartar buildup in the first place. Cleaning the teeth will help to keep your dog from having bad breath too. You can brush your dog’s teeth with dog toothpaste.I give mine a postman's leg as this helps to keep teeth clean.
Nail
I always at puppy hood get my dogs used to having their nails clipped .Having long nails is not a good look for a show dog and toenails left unclipped will cause the dog’s foot to spread.If you clip your dog’s toenails regularly, the quick will recede and you will be able to cut the nails shorter. The quick is the place where the blood vessel ends in the toenail. If you cut beyond that point, the nail will bleed this will also hurt the dog and cause him to be shy of the clippers the next time. If your dog has white toenails, you can see the quick. If your dog has black toenails, it is more difficult.Trim small portions at a time. As you near the quick, the trimmed part will begin to bulge out and look more alive. Usually the quick is about where the toenail begins to curve.You can buy electric nail files if you are not confident with using clippers or you can get the vet to do it but it will cost you !
Always make sure the ears are clean
Malamutes are presented to the judge in a natural pose on the floor. The handler stands in front of the dog with a tasty treat in one hand to attract the dogs attention. Your dog is moved on a lead on the left hand side of their handler as pictured below.
Nero standing for the judge |
Nero moving round the ring |
Enter the ring with a positive attitude,leading your dog smartly.whilst in the ring you goal is to present your dog to her best advantage.You want to say to the judge, “Look at
this dog! she is beautifully groomed and I am very proud of her!”
While the dog is in a standing pose, check on her frequently to be sure she has not stepped into a less attractive stand. If she is maintaining the correct pose, don't fuss with her, nervous fussing can result in spoiling the picture for the judge.
This is a line up befor the judge will see each dog Me and Nikita are 2nd from the right.
The Judge will firstly get all the dogs moving round the ring together then one by one the judge will call each dog up.The Judge will fill all over the dogs body and will check the teeth ,coat paws and structure of the breed, they will ask you how old the dog is ,then the judge will get you to move the dog normally in a triangle and then up and down, then round to joine the rest.Listen carefully to the judge's instructions and,if necessary ask them to repeat themselves.if your dog does not move correctly don't panic just stop walk back and start again, at the end of the day you have paid your money to show how good your dog is!
Nikita standing for the Judge
Always keep at least one eye on the judge. Judges will sometimes give hand signals instead of voice commands. If you are not looking, you will miss these signals.
Be confident when showing your dog as bad vibes can be transmitted through the lead ,this can affect the dog's performance. but most importantly enjoy your self.
Make showing fun
when showing your dog you must be careful that he/she does not get bored.Always reward your dog with kind soft words reassure your dog,particularly if something bad happens in the ring,such as an unusually loud bang. Reward with tasty treats, liver cake works really well. your dog can easily get fed up with the hole thing and may not even bother to try to please you.If it is a very large class, don't pose your dog until the judge is just two or three dogs away from yours. standing a dog when the judge has 30 in front of you to look at, can end up with Your dog getting tired and bored of it all when the judge gets to him. A happy dog is more noticed than a miserable dog with there ears down and tail drooping. Showing your dog is a team effort between you,the handler,and your dog.
Looking smart!
It is an idea to take into consideration to what you will wear in the show ring for champion shows!
You want to look the part too as you have put so much effort into preparing your malamute for the show. Were comfortable shoes and it is advisable not to wear the same colour suit as your dog. -A white dog will disappear if she is standing in front of a handler who is wearing a white suit! If you are using bait with your dog, make sure
your outfit has pockets or you can use a bait pouch(bun bag).
show leads and collars
There are several different kinds of show Leads and collars. When showing my mallies I use a black slip collar. It is usually
Made of nylon, you can get ones mad from a very fine chain
Leads come in different lengths and are made of nylon or
a very thin leather. Your lead should not be bulky and should be easy to gather into your hand, I find it better to go for a short lead so this does not happen.
Exercise
A fit and healthy dog is a happy dog and it will show in the dog's presence and confidence in the ring. we walk our dogs twice a day but we also work them to maintain the dogs naturally instincts and interests for what they originally were breed for, this keeps the dogs in a physical good condition and shape for showing.
If your malamute becomes ill before the day of the show you should be a responsible owner and NOT take the dog to the show. It would be unfair on your dog plus other peoples !
