Showing your Kuvasz

There was a time not so long ago that owners and breeders thought Kuvasz not well suited to the rigors of showing in conformation.  The inherent temperament of the Kuvasz not being a trusting dog of strangers was thought to be counterproductive to allowing a stranger examine them in a show ring.  Judges that can still remember the 60's and 70's and to a degree the 80's, can recall  questionable temperaments on an entire class of dogs at any given show.  To this day there are still some older judges that remain somewhat cautious or fearful of our breed.

The breed has come a long way!!  Owners and breeders have stopped making excuses for their dogs temperament and understand that through training and extensive socialization their dogs can and do allow examination by a complete stranger.  Looking to the standard of the breed where it states "Polite to accepted strangers, but rather suspicious and very discriminating in making new friends." Note that to bring a Kuvasz into a conformation ring for a 2 minute examination by a judge is nothing more than being "polite to accepted strangers".

To start with, you need a puppy that has been bred by a breeder that selects stock for temperament, and a breeder who took the time to socialize the puppies and accustom them to frequent and thorough handling.  Without this foundation for good temperament, you will have an uphill battle on your hand, and one that your Kuvasz is likely to win (did I mention they were head strong?).  Once your well bred and cared for puppy comes home to you at 8 weeks or so, it is now your turn to continue with the socialization and training for quite some time.

Socialization:  Bring your puppy everywhere that he is accepted.  Bring him to a busy store and stand outside, just count the number of people that are more than willing to stop and play with that most adorable puppy.  Bring him to Pet Smart and other pet stores that allow your pet.  Take him for walks in your neighborhood.  By bringing your puppy to places like this, once a week, you will have a well socialized puppy that is used to meeting strangers of all different sizes, colors, and looks.  He should see people with walkers, canes, crutches, and wheelchairs.  He should see people on bikes and motorcycles, and kids in wagons.  He should see large people, small people - especially children, people with hats, people with glasses, people with dangling and jingling jewelry.  The idea is allow your puppy to see it all so that he will not shy away from something different that is presented to him.

Another part of socialization is getting your puppy accustomed to different surfaces that he may be asked to walk on, particularly grass, cement, and linear floor mats.  Walk your puppy on dirt, sand, cement (slippery cement that has a smooth finish - as are found inside large convention centers), metal grates, grass, etc.  Should an unfamiliar surface be presented to your puppy inside the ring, or outside the ring in the judges view, and your puppy balks, the judge may look unfavorably at your puppy in the ring.  It is also necessary that your puppy be accustomed to seeing other dogs in the immediate vicinity without paying too much attention to them as yours will not be the only the dog at the show!

Training:  There is really not a lot to training a puppy for conformation.  Basically your puppy should be trained to do and allow the following things:  run at a proper gait in a straight line, stand and not sit, set himself up squarely when stopped, and stand for examination by a stranger without moving.  The last is the most important as if the dog cannot be examined, he will be excused (or disqualified!) by the judge.  For first time exhibitors just starting to learn how to show it is important to go to training classes.  The classes will not only teach you how to handle a dog, but will help to socialize the puppy to a lot of circumstances that will come up at a show.

Some people bitten by the show bug, will choose to "campaign" their dog - which is to continue to show beyond earning his Championship title in the hopes of winning group placements and the ultimate Best In Show.  To exhibit at this level will require a great deal more training to fine tune the dog to show to his absolute best.  At this level you cannot expect to win if your dog merely shows up and goes through the motions - he has to SHINE.  Every step, every look, and every stop and stand must be done to perfection.  Watch the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in mid-February and watch the contenders in action.  To compete at this level, owners typically hire a top notch professional handler, but it's not necessary to do so.

Above all ... remember this and you can't go wrong no matter what happens.  HAVE FUN!!  Look at dog shows as an opportunity to meet up with friends that you see only occasionally, and as an opportunity to see their dogs.  The original purpose of showing dogs was to determine their worthiness as breeding specimens.  In my opinion this original purpose is no longer a matter of fact as I have seen MANY dogs earn championship titles that barely resemble their breed.  In this game, if one plays long enough and knows how and when to show, they can easily earn a championship title inside of a year - especially if they are showing a male.  I show dogs because I ENJOY showing dogs.  I don't necessarily hold a great deal of credence in the decision of one judge on one day - and if I lose - so what!!  I never enter a show with any expectations beyond having fun, and performing to the best of my ability.  To worry about the opinion of a judge who in all likelihood is FAR LESS educated in the finer points of my breed than I am, is to do myself a great disservice.  I know my breed, I know that the dog that I bring into the ring on any given day is a GOOD or GREAT example of the breed (I will NOT show an animal that I myself consider to be inferior - it is counterproductive and only "trains" judges to believe that this inferior example is a "good" example).  Tomorrow is another day and another judge.  So do yourself a favor and enjoy the game first and foremost.  And always remember that at the end of the day no matter what happened, YOU bring home the best prize possible.  Your dog.