Winning one of the major dog shows has to be the aim of a good percentage of all of the owners of pure breeds out there, and it is no wonder when you consider that your dog has the potential to be crowned the best by a group of highly knowledgeable judges at the dog shows you enter together. There is a lot of preparation involved though and you should start it at least a year in advance. The trick is knowing what to do and when.

The first thing you need to do after deciding that you want to enter dog shows, whether local or national, is enrol your dog in a few classes that are taught by professionals. Handling and obedience classes are a must if you want to do well in dog shows. Obedience training will allow you to work in perfect harmony and let your dog know exactly what is expected of him or her. Make sure that the trainer is accredited and has several qualifications that you can check!

You can also join a local kennel club at the same time. Good kennel clubs can be found throughout the country and can be found in the local telephone listings or by a quick Internet search. You will need to be a member of the American Kennel Club in order to be able to compete in dog shows. Another advantage of this particular step is the fact that local kennel clubs often hold dog shows throughout the year and you can hone your skills and your partnership!

The above two points are great places to start when it comes to dog shows. You and your dog will learn many skills that you can use further down the line, and this will bring you a greater measure of success in dog shows than you ever dreamed possible!