Saturday, February 6, 2010
4:00pm - 11:00pm
Auto-City Concept Hall
Introduction to the world of Dog Show
A considerable number of dog competitions are organized annually in Malaysia by the Malaysian kennel Association (MKA). Canine sports are extremely popular around the globe, with hundreds of thousands of people entering each year. More than a thousand dogs a year enter for competitions organized by the MKA. There are two main categories of competition-conformation shows and obedience trials. Dogs that compete in these areas must demonstrate different skill and capacities.Conformation stresses the physical breed standard. Dogs are judged on how well they match the standard set for the breed. The criteria include temperament, biological qualities and overall good health. All types of dogs are able to compete in obedience trials.Any purebred dog can enter a MKA conformation show, provided it meets several criteria. Dogs must be at least six months old the date of competition (except of minor puppy classes which are for dogs from 3 to 6 months old), registered with the MKA and be physically compete. Dogs cannot be sterilized and must be "sexually intact".All dogs, whether purebred or otherwise are allowed competing in MKA obedience trails. Unlike conformation show, dogs, which are not complete or have been sterilized, are also allowed.Getting involved in dog competition requires time and money, plus the patience to educate yourself and complete necessary paperwork. The very large number of people who continue to show dogs in competition indicate how satisfying and enjoyable the sport can be.Conformation shows have become synonymous with 'dog shows'. Some refer to conformation show as the Beauty Contests for dogs. These are shows, which involve conformation, or judging the dog on how well its physical characteristics and temperament meet the breed standard. Every breed has a written standard, which describes how the head, body, forequarters, tail placement, etc. of that particular breed should look like. In other words, the breed standard describes what a perfect specimen of a breed should look like, from head to tail.
The areas of judging include:
1) General Appearance
2) Size and Proportion
3) Head
4) Neck, Top line and Body
5) Forequarters
6) Hindquarters
7) Coat
8) Colour
9) Gait
10)Temperament
These areas are evaluated, not necessarily in the above order, by judges who examine and observe the dogs. Dogs are expected to stand for physical review and to run in a ring.
