Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the National Dog Show

Planning on watching the National Dog Show for the first time this Thanksgiving Day on NBC? You might wind up with more questions than answers. Dog shows have their own quirky sets of rules, manners and habits. We spoke to Wayne Ferguson, longtime announcer at the National Dog Show, to help answer some questions about how the whole thing works.

What is a "benched" dog show?
A benched dog show is one in which spectators are allowed backstage, where the dogs must be kept throughout the show to be available for public viewing. The exhibitors cannot pack up and leave early even if their dogs bow out of the competition.

Why is the National Dog Show one of only five benched shows left in the U.S.?
"Basically, they're very expensive for us to put on," Ferguson explains. "They take a lot of manpower and man hours, and they're not popular with the exhibitors, because they don't like sitting there all day with their dog. They'd rather be able to take their dog outside, go out for lunch, hang out in their motor homes, or just go home." Benched shows are, however, very popular with spectators, because no matter what time of day you arrive at the show, you're guaranteed to get to see your favorite breeds even if you miss them in the ring. It's a good opportunity for those who are thinking about getting a new pup to meet with breeders, too, since many of them show dogs.


Why do show dogs have a full name and nickname?
"In order to register your dog [with a registry like the one run by the American Kennel Club], it cannot have the same name of any other dog that's ever registered," Ferguson says. So most show dogs have a three- or four-word official name. The dog's owner can choose any name he or she wants -- there's no last-name lineage when breeding dogs -- but many throw in the names of their kennels for a little free publicity. The nickname is for obvious reasons, says Ferguson: "It's easier for people in the dog world to call you Rose if your name is Roseland Demarco Atroopa."

Why do some dogs' full names have a "Ch" in front of them?
"Ch" stands for champion, a title that the dog must earn by accumulating 12 points from its dog-show winnings. The most points a dog can earn at a single dog show is three; if it earns less, that's because it won against a field of fewer dogs. "Best In Breed with 16 dogs competing against you, you may get two points," Ferguson explains. "If the dog's only competing against five other dogs, it may only earn one point.

What does it mean when someone says that a dog is "the No. 1 dog in the country"?
It means that the dog has accumulated more "points" than any other dog. Over the course of his showing career, a dog is awarded points for winning Best In Breed, Best In Group and/or Best In Show at various dog-show competitions. For a dog to be ranked number one, "that means it had to have already been named number one in its breed and then number one in its group," Ferguson says.

Are handlers' leashes in the ring the same as the leashes people use for their pets at home? How do they keep their leashes so taut?
A handler's leash always appears to be in a straight line "because the handlers have to have total control of the dog," Ferguson says. (Don't worry; they're not hurting the dog, Ferguson assures.) And yes, a show leash is different from an everyday leash. It's usually made out of leather, though occasionally a fabric material is used, and it's all one piece, as opposed to typical leashes where the lead snaps into a ring on the collar. One piece offers "a lot better handling," Ferguson explains.

What are the handlers doing with their mouths when they're showing dogs?
Handlers keep edible treats on hand in the ring to "bait" the dog into looking one way or another so that it strikes a good pose for the judge. "They're breaking it open with their mouths because it exposes a lot more flavor and smell," explains Ferguson. "It gets a fresh smell, plus it puts some of the handler's odor on it. It becomes a very attractive treat to the dog because he thinks, 'I'm eating what my handler's eating.'"

Tags: dog shows, DogShows, national dog show, wayne ferguson