Welshies gaiting in the breed ring. In front is Ch. Glyndwr’s the Natural (“Robert”), handled by Lisa Hubler.

Is dog showing in your blood? Are you excited by the idea of gaiting your handsome Welsh Springer Spaniel around the ring to the thunderous applause of an enthusiastic audience? Are you certain that your beloved Welsh Springer Spaniel is flawless? You are not alone! Every loving owner thinks that his dog has no faults, or too few to mention. No matter how many times an owner reads the breed standard, he cannot find any faults in his aristocratic companion dog. If this sounds like you, and if you are considering entering your Welsh Springer Spaniel in a dog show, here are some basic questions to ask yourself:

• Did you purchase a “show-quality” puppy from the breeder?

• Is your puppy at least six months of age?

• Does the puppy exhibit correct show type for his breed?

• Does your puppy have any disqualifying faults?

• Is your Welsh Springer Spaniel registered with the American Kennel Club?

• How much time do you have to devote to training, grooming, conditioning and exhibiting your dog?

• Do you understand the rules and regulations of a dog show?

• Do you have time to learn how to show your dog properly?

• Do you have the financial resources to invest in showing your dog?

• Will you show the dog yourself or hire a professional handler?

• Do you have a vehicle that can accommodate your weekend trips to the dog shows?

Success in the show ring requires more than a pretty face, a waggy tail and a pocketful of liver. Even though dog shows can be exciting and enjoyable, the sport of conformation makes great demands on the exhibitors and the dogs. Winning exhibitors live for their dogs, devoting time and money to their dogs’ presentation, conditioning and training. Very few novices, even those with good dogs, will find themselves in the winners’ circle, though it does happen. Don’t be disheartened, though. Every exhibitor began as a novice and worked his way up to the Group ring. It’s the “working your way up” part that you must keep in mind.

Assuming that you have purchased a puppy of the correct type and quality for showing, let’s begin to examine the world of showing and what’s required to get started. Although the entry fee into a dog show is nominal, there are lots of other hidden costs involved with “finishing” your Welsh Springer Spaniel, that is, making him a champion. Things like equipment, travel, training and conditioning all cost money. A more serious campaign will include fees for a professional handler, boarding, cross-country travel and advertising. Top-winning show dogs can represent a very considerable investment—over $100,000 has been spent in campaigning some dogs. (The investment can be less, of course, for owners who don’t use professional handlers.)

BECOMING A CHAMPION

An official AKC championship of record requires that a dog accumulate 15 points under three different judges, including two “majors” under different judges. Points are awarded based on the number of dogs entered into competition, varying from breed to breed and place to place. A win of three, four or five points is considered a “major.” The AKC annually assigns a schedule of points to adjust for variations that accompany a breed’s popularity and the population of a given area.

Ch. Statesman’s Tennyson JH, WDX (“Daniel”) was breeder/owner/handled by Meghen Riese Bassel (pictured) to a Breed win at Westminster. Among his notable achievements is being the only Welsh Springer to win Best of Breed at Westminster and also gain an AKC hunting title.

Many owners, on the other hand, enter their “average” Welsh Springer Spaniels in dog shows for the fun and enjoyment of it. Dog showing makes an absorbing hobby, with many rewards for dogs and owners alike. If you’re having fun, meeting other people who share your interests and enjoying the overall experience, you likely will catch the “bug.” Once the dog-show bug bites, its effects can last a lifetime; it’s certainly much better than a deer tick! Soon you will be envisioning yourself in the center ring at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City, competing for the prestigious Best in Show cup. This magical dog show is televised annually from Madison Square Garden, and the victorious dog becomes a celebrity overnight.

U-CDX Ch. Rysan’s Whyrlwynd UD, Can./SKC CDX, CGC (“Owyn”) was the first second-generation Ch./UD and earned 11 titles with 4 different registries during his life. Owner/handled by Karen Lyle.

AKC CONFORMATION-SHOWING BASICS

Visiting a dog show as a spectator is a great place to start. Pick up the show catalog to find out what time your breed is being shown, who is judging the breed and in which ring the classes will be held. To start, Welsh Springer Spaniels compete against other Welsh Springer Spaniels, and the winner is selected as Best of Breed by the judge. This is the procedure for each breed. At the Group level, all of the Best of Breed winners go on to compete for Group One (first place) in their respective groups. For example, all Best of Breed winners in a given group compete against each other; this is done for all seven groups. Finally, all seven group winners go head to head in the ring for the Best in Show award. The Welsh Springer Spaniel competes in the Sporting Group.

What most spectators don’t understand is the basic idea of conformation. A dog show is often referred as a “conformation” show. This means that the judge should decide how each dog stacks up (conforms) to the breed standard for his given breed: how well does this Welsh Springer Spaniel conform to the ideal representative detailed in the standard? Ideally, this is what happens. In reality, however, this ideal often gets slighted as the judge compares Welsh Springer Spaniel #1 to Welsh Springer Spaniel #2. Again, the ideal is that each dog is judged based on his merits in comparison to his breed standard, not in comparison to the other dogs in the ring. It is easier for judges to compare dogs of the same breed to decide which they think is the better specimen; in the Group and Best in Show ring, however, it is very difficult to compare one breed to another, like apples to oranges. Thus the dog’s conformation to the breed standard—not to mention advertising dollars and good handling—is essential to success in conformation shows. The dog described in the standard (the standard for each AKC breed is written and approved by the breed’s national parent club and then submitted to the AKC for approval) is the perfect dog of that breed, and breeders keep their eye on the standard when they choose which dogs to breed, hoping to get closer and closer to the ideal with each litter.

Shelley Traylor in the ring with Ch. Rolyart’s Still the One WD, CGC, one of the breed’s big winners and a dog who shows us that competition isn’t all work and no fun.

Ch. Trystyn’s Hula Popper, owned by Sandra Holmes and Meghen Bassel, has multiple Group placements and is one of the few bitches to win Best of Breed at the American Spaniel Club.

Another good first step for the novice is to join a dog club. You will be astonished by the many and different kinds of dog clubs in the country, with about 5,000 clubs holding events every year. Most clubs require that prospective new members present two letters of recommendation from existing members. Perhaps you’ve made some friends visiting a show held by a particular club and you would like to join that club. Dog clubs may specialize in a single breed, like a local or regional Welsh Springer Spaniel club, or in a specific pursuit, such as obedience, tracking or hunting tests. There are all-breed clubs for all dog enthusiasts; they sponsor special training days, seminars on topics like grooming or handling or lectures on breeding or canine genetics. There are also clubs that specialize in certain types of dogs, like herding dogs, hunting dogs, companion dogs, etc.

Best of Breed for Ch. Penri Tomas O’Killagay, (“Thomas”), owned by Connie Christie, Harry Holmes and Beth Holmes (pictured). Thomas was owner/handled for most of his impressive show career, which includes two American Spaniel Club Best of Breed wins, two Westminster Awards of Merit and two Group placements.

A parent club is the national organization, sanctioned by the AKC, which promotes and safeguards its breed in the country. The Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America was formed in 1961 and can be contacted on the Internet at www.wssca.com. The parent club holds an annual national specialty show, usually in a different city each year, in which many of the country’s top dogs, handlers and breeders gather to compete. At a specialty show, only members of a single breed are invited to participate. There are also group specialties, in which all members of a group are invited. For more information about dog clubs in your area, contact the AKC at www.akc.org on the Internet or write them at 5580 Centerview Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606.

OTHER TYPES OF COMPETITION

In addition to conformation shows, the AKC holds a variety of other competitive events. Obedience trials, agility trials and tracking tests are open to all breeds, while hunting tests, field trials, lure coursing, herding tests and trials, earthdog tests and coonhound events are limited to specific breeds or groups of breeds. The Junior Showmanship Program is offered to aspiring young handlers and their dogs, and the Canine Good Citizen^® Program is an all-around good-behavior test open to all dogs, pure-bred and mixed.

FIVE CLASSES AT SHOWS

At most AKC all-breed shows, there are six regular classes offered: Puppy, 12–18 Months, Novice, Bred-by-Exhibitor, American-bred and Open. The Puppy Class is usually divided as 6 to 9 months of age and 9 to 12 months of age. When deciding in which class to enter your dog, whether male or female, you must carefully check the show schedule to make sure that you have selected the right class. Depending on the age of the dog, previous first-place wins and the sex of the dog, you must make the best choice. It is possible to enter a one-year-old dog who has not won sufficient first places in any of the non-Puppy Classes, though the competition is more intense the further you progress from the Puppy Class.

AMERICA’S ALTERNATIVE: THE UNITED KENNEL CLUB

The United Kennel Club (UKC) defines itself as follows: “With 300,000 registrations annually, the United Kennel Club is the world’s largest performance dog registry and second oldest all-breed registry in the United States. Founded in 1898, the UKC has supported the ‘Total Dog’ philosophy through its events and programs for over a century. As a departure from registries that place emphasis on a dog’s looks, UKC events are designed for dogs that look and perform equally well.” Professional handlers are not permitted in UKC shows, and the club goes on to state, “At UKC dog shows, the emphasis is on the dog, not the show.”

True to its aim of promoting the “Total Dog,” the UKC hosts conformation events as well as a multitude of performance events, including obedience trials; agility trials; field trials, water races, nite hunts and bench shows for coonhound breeds; hunting tests for retrieving breeds; Beagle events, including hunts and bench shows; squirrel and coon events and bench shows for Cur and Feist; weight pulling and more. There is a junior handling program to encourage the next generation of up-and-coming responsible owners and participants in the dog sport.

For more information, visit the UKC online at www.ukcdogs.com.

Pictured at the 1991 WSSCA national specialty are (from left to right): Mr. John Phillips, a judge from the UK; Mrs. Carol Krohn with Ch. Tydaky’s Wildfire; Mrs. Susan Riese, president of the WSSCA; and Mrs. Ria Hörter, breeder from the Netherlands. Mrs. Hörter was the breeder of Dutch and German Ch. Valentijn van Snellestein, a very influential import into the US and a top producer.

OBEDIENCE TRIALS

Mrs. Helen Whitehouse Walker, a Standard Poodle fancier, can be credited with introducing obedience trials to the United States. In the 1930s she designed a series of exercises based on those of the Associated Sheep, Police, Army Dog Society of Great Britain. These exercises were intended to evaluate the working relationship between dog and owner. Since those early days of the sport in the US, obedience trials have grown more and more popular, and now more than 2,000 trials each year attract over 100,000 dogs and their owners. Any dog registered with the AKC, regardless of neutering or other disqualifications that would preclude entry in conformation competition, can participate in obedience trials.

Ch. Holly House Sweet William, owned by Anne Legare, was the 2005 Founder’s Cup winner, which is an award presented to the Welsh Springer who defeats the most of his breed in conformation for the year.

There are three levels of difficulty in obedience competition. The first (and easiest) level is the Novice Class, in which dogs can earn the Companion Dog (CD) title. The intermediate level is the Open Class, in which the Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) title is awarded. The advanced level is the Utility Class, in which dogs compete for the Utility Dog (UD) title. Classes at each level are further divided into “A” and “B,” with “A” for beginners and “B” for those with more experience. In order to win a title at a given level, a dog must earn three “legs.” A “leg” is accomplished when a dog scores 170 or higher (200 is a perfect score). Available points for each exercise range between 20 and 40.

Once he’s earned the UD title, a dog can go on to win the prestigious title of Utility Dog Excellent (UDX) by winning “legs” in ten shows. Additionally, Utility Dogs who win “legs” in Open B and Utility B earn points toward the lofty title of Obedience Trial Champion (OTCh.). Established in 1977 by the AKC, this title requires a dog to earn 100 points as well as 3 first places in a combination of Open B and Utility B classes under 3 different judges. The “brass ring” of obedience competition is the AKC’s National Obedience Invitational. This is an exclusive competition for only the cream of the obedience crop. In order to qualify for the invitational, a dog must be ranked in either the top 25 all-breeds in obedience or in the top 3 for his breed in obedience. The title at stake here is that of National Obedience Champion (NOC).

Ch. MACH U-CDX Briallu Love Her Madly CDX, RE, Can. CD, ASCA CD, CGC (“Maddie”), owned by Linda S. Brennan, has had a string of accomplishments in conformation, obedience, agility and rally, among them being the first Welsh Springer to earn the Master Agility Champion title.

AGILITY TRIALS

Agility trials became sanctioned by the AKC in August 1994, when the first licensed agility trials were held. Since that time, agility certainly has grown in popularity by leaps and bounds, literally! The AKC allows all registered breeds (including Miscellaneous Class breeds) to participate, providing the dog is 12 months of age or older. Agility is designed so that the handler demonstrates how well the dog can work at his side. The handler directs his dog through, over, under and around an obstacle course that includes jumps, tires, the dog walk, weave poles, pipe tunnels, collapsed tunnels and more. While working his way through the course, the dog must keep one eye and ear on the handler and the rest of his body on the course. The handler runs along with the dog, giving verbal and hand signals to guide the dog through the course.

The first organization to promote agility trials in the US was the United States Dog Agility Association, Inc. (USDAA). Established in 1986, the USDAA sparked the formation of many member clubs around the country. To participate in USDAA trials, dogs must be at least 18 months of age. The USDAA and AKC both offer titles to winning dogs, although the exercises and requirements of the two organizations differ.

U-CD Ch. Tydaky’s Wyndfall UD, NA, NAJ, RA, SKC CD (“Wyll”) is the only third-generation Ch./UD dog and was owner/handled by Karen Lyle. Among his conformation achievements is a Group One win.

Agility trials are a great way to keep your dog active, and they will keep you running, too! You should join a local agility club to learn more about the sport. These clubs offer sessions in which you can introduce your dog to the various obstacles as well as training classes to prepare him for competition. In no time, your dog will be climbing A-frames, crossing the dog walk and flying over hurdles, all with you right beside him. Your heart will leap every time your dog jumps through the hoop—and you’ll be having just as much (if not more) fun!

FIELD TRIALS

Field trials are offered to the retrievers, pointers and spaniel breeds of the Sporting Group as well as to the Beagles, Dachshunds and Bassets of the Hound Group. The purpose of field trials is to demonstrate a dog’s ability to perform his breed’s original purpose in the field. The events vary depending on the type of dog, but in all trials dogs compete against one another for placement and for points toward their Field Champion (FC) titles. Dogs that earn their FC titles plus their championship in the conformation ring are known as Dual Champions; this is extremely prestigious, as it shows that the dog is the ideal blend of form and function, excelling in both areas.

Retriever field trials, designed to simulate “an ordinary day’s shoot,” are popular and likely the most demanding of these trials. Dogs must “mark” the location of downed feathered game and then return the birds to the shooter. Successful dogs are able to “mark” the downed game by remembering where the bird fell as well as by correct use of the wind and terrain. Dogs are tested both on land and in water.

AKC GROUPS

For conformation showing purposes, the American Kennel Club divides its recognized breeds into seven groups: Sporting Dogs, Hounds, Working Dogs, Terriers, Toys, Non-Sporting Dogs and Herding Dogs.

Difficulty levels are based on the number of birds downed as well as the number of “blind retrieves” (where a bird is placed away from the view of the dog and the handler directs the dog by the use of hand signals and verbal commands). The term “Non-Slip” retriever, often applied to these trials, refers to a dog that is steady at the handler’s side until commanded to go. Every field trial includes four stakes of increasing levels of difficulty. Each stake is judged by a team of two judges who look for many natural abilities, including steadiness, courage, style, control and training.

Ch. Bentcroft’s Southern Comfort SH (“Wilson,” pictured), owned by Jody and Dennis Stegall, and his father Ch. Statesman’s Easy Largo (“Lars”) are the first father/son Ch./SH combination. This photo was taken at Wilson’s first hunt test.

HUNTING TESTS

Hunting tests are not competitive like field trials, and participating dogs are judged against a standard, as in a conformation show. The first hunting tests were devised by the North American Hunting Retriever Association (NAHRA) as an alternative to field trials for retriever owners to appreciate their dogs’ natural innate ability in the field without the expense and pressure of a formal field trial. The intent of hunting tests is the same as that of field trials: to test the dog’s ability in a simulated hunting scenario.

A rewarding day in the field for (front row, left to right) Chris Wheeler with Ch. Ky-Bryn’s Krush on You, Peggy Ruble with Ch. Ky-Bryn’s Radiance, Anne Legare with Ch. Holly House Empres Josephine, Sue Willingham with Ch. Statesman’s Easy Largo JH and Ivywild’s Mazie Morning Dew and Jody Stegall with Ch. Bentcroft’s Southern Comfort. In the back row are judges Pluis Davern and Venée Gardnér.

The AKC instituted its hunting tests in June 1985; since then, their popularity has grown tremendously. The AKC offers three titles at hunting tests, Junior Hunter (JH), Senior Hunter (SH) and Master Hunter (MH). Each title requires that the dog earn qualifying “legs” at the tests: the JH requiring four; the SH, five; and the MH, six. In addition to the AKC, the United Kennel Club also offers hunting tests for all gundog breeds through its affiliate club, the Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. (HRC), which began the tests in 1984.

THE VERSATILE WELSHIE

The first Welsh to win an AKC Versatility Award was Ch. Saga’s Making the Grade UD, TDX, NA, VCD1. “Grady” was bred by Sandra Ilmanen and is owner/handled by Lisa Sinke.

RALLY OBEDIENCE

In 2005 the AKC began a new program called rally obedience, and soon this exciting obedience spin-off began sweeping the US. This is a less formal activity yet titles are still awarded. There are four levels of competition, Novice, Advanced, Excellent and Advanced/Excellent. The dog and handler go through a series of exercises designed by the judge and are timed. Signs are set up around the ring to indicate which exercise (or combination of exercises) is required. Working closely around the course, the team heels from one sign to the next, performing the various exercises. There are 50 exercises to choose from, varying in complexity and difficulty.

TRACKING

Tracking tests are exciting ways to test your Welsh Springer Spaniel’s instinctive scenting ability on a competitive level. All dogs have a nose, and all breeds are welcome in tracking tests. The first AKC-licensed tracking test took place in 1937 as part of the Utility level at an obedience trial, and thus competitive tracking was officially begun. The first title, Tracking Dog (TD), was offered in 1947, ten years after the first official tracking test. It was not until 1980 that the AKC added the title Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX), which was followed by the title Variable Surface Tracking (VST) in 1995. Champion Tracker (CT) is awarded to a dog who has earned all three of those titles.

The TD level is the first and most basic level in tracking, progressing in difficulty to the TDX and then the VST. A dog must follow a track laid by a human 30 to 120 minutes prior in order to earn the TD title. The track is about 500 yards long and contains up to 5 directional changes. At the next level, the TDX, the dog must follow a 3- to 5-hour-old track over a course that is up to 1,000 yards long and has up to 7 directional changes. In the most difficult level, the VST, the track is up to 5 hours old and located in an urban setting.

The handlers are encouraged to talk to their dogs as they work through the course. The judge evaluates each team on how well it executes one continuous performance over the whole course. The team works on its own as soon as the judge gives the order to begin. Handlers develop their own style in working with their dogs, using a combination of body language and hand signals as well as verbal commands. Faster and more accurate performances are desirable, though each team must work at its own pace.

The dogs love this sport and it shows by their animation and energy. Many of the dogs who participate in obedience or agility also do well in rally. While most of the first rally titles have gone to seasoned obedience dogs, it’s encouraging that some newcomers have also earned awards. Rally is a good way for a beginner to start out in obedience. We hope that it will become a stepping stone to the obedience world and we will see many more dogs and owners coming into the ring.