Showing your Cane Corso

My first experience in the dog show ring was not entirely a pleasant one. Years ago while trying to learn about this breed my wife and I started to attend various rare breed shows with our new Cane Corso "Jake." Prior to this I had never even attended a dog show, so you can imagine I never envisioned myself running around a show ring with a mouth full off microwave liver! With a bit of coaxing from some of the Cane Corso passionates of the day I entered Jake in the puppy 9-15 month class. Well, being the responsible dog owners that we were, Jake had a great deal of obedience training. So every time I tried to make him stand by pulling up on his collar, he promptly sat. Everytime the judge went to look in his mouth he sat. In addition to this little obstacle, Jake had been bitten in the face by an adult dog while we were socializing him at a dog run in Manhattan, so as he grew he became somewhat belligerent towards other dogs, particularly males. Now I’m in the ring with this dog that is eyeballing every dog he see’s when he is not sitting down and giving the judge his paw. Not surprisingly the judge (no nonsense Marjorie Tuft) tells me after the show quite sternly "you have a nice dog but you need to learn how to show him". Despite the results I kind of enjoyed the experience. We decided to take breed handling class’s and hit more and more shows, we actually got to the point were Jake earned an ARBA jr Championship and eventually an ARBA Championship. By no means was he a great show dog, for that matter he was let’s just say a flawed Cane Corso. I’m forever in his debt, because he was such a hard dog to show, I had to try that much harder and this really made me a better handler for it. When I started to show Diva, it was like a piece of cake, she practically handles herself.

The shows are a great place to meet fellow Cane Corso enthusiast from around the country, and to learn from the people who are for the most part the most involved with the breed. Be warned though, you will always have the person or persons there that will tell you wild tales and fantastic stories about the breed or their dogs. It is probably best to just digest what your told, maybe bounce it off others involved with the breed to see what they say about your newfound information, don’t take anything as gospel until you learn for yourself it is fact. Without question the shows are the best place to see different examples of the breed, that’s what drew us to them in the first place. For the most part the shows in New Jersey, Washington DC, Florida and to a lesser extent California have the largest Cane Corso entry. Washington DC is without question the best place to get acquainted with the Cane Corso community, it is the site of annually the largest Cane Corso show in the U.S. the ICCF National Specialty. If you are a breeder, and you have a dog that you feel is important to your breeding program, then that dog is in DC that spring. Legends in our breed have been made at this show; Grand Champion Bel Monte Nero was Best of Breed twice, as was Grand Champion Mulucchias Smokey. As for the Girls my own Diva is a two time Best of Opposite as is Di Guardia’s Francesca de Mar E Sol.

Now if you have decided to enter the wonderful world of dog shows, the best advice I can give you is #1 enroll in a breed handling class in your area. The best way to find one would be ask your veterinarian or obedience trainer. If you are not getting anywhere with them contact the AKC, I am sure that one of the local AKC all-breed clubs in your area can help you. The next piece of advice might not be so easy to swallow. I know everyone loves their dog, and everyone thinks that their dog is the greatest best dog in the world; this is natural, particularly to someone new to the breed or even new to owning a dog. Unfortunately many dogs sold as "Show Quality" simply are not show quality dogs. How can an entire litter of dogs be show quality? It is impossible. I have traveled thoughout this country attending rare breed dog shows, and a large percentage of the dogs being exhibited are not show quality dogs. It gets even better; a large number of the Champions are not show quality Cane Corso’s either! You can attribute this to a couple of factors first-most judges in this country would not know a correct Cane Corso if it bit them on the fanny. Second-many of these Champions have some of the best handlers in the dog world showing them. Lets face it, professional handlers get paid to make a dog look good, it’s what they do for a living. If they where not good at it then they would have a hard time earning a living. Thirdly-dog shows are subjective; therefore a little politics certainly can help matters, especially if a handler knows the judge from their old days in the AKC. I seem to have gotten of topic a little bit, but prior to selecting your show prospect (and that is what you are purchasing- a prospect) you should take the time to learn the standard, learn how to recognize correct type, get a general knowledge of canine anatomy and structure before making your selection. If you are looking exclusively for a show dog you don’t have to necessarily take a dog from a litter just because it is on the ground. I looked at almost 100 puppies before I took Diva home, and even then we took two dogs just to be sure. Also for those looking for a show dog exclusively, employing a little logic helps-if you want a show dog, you should choose a kennel that shows their dogs or specializes in show dogs. I can’t tell you how many people tell me that they bought a dog and it is show quality, they know this because their breeders told them it is show quality. Well, how would this breeder know this if he has never been to a dog show in his life? Conversely if you where looking for a Shutzhund dog, then you should concentrate on kennels that participate in that sport. I recommend if you have questions about whether your dog is a show quality dog, just ask someone who’s respected in the breed to evaluate the dog. But be forewarned if you ask, be prepared for the answer-no matter what it is. The next little tidbit of wisdom I would like to pass on to you is don’t be nervous in the ring-I know it’s easy for me to say, to tell the truth I still get the old butterfly’s from time to time. Just remember the judge is just person like you or me, and believe me they are foulable. If your nervous or uptight it will go right down the leash to the dog, which is probably a little put off by this crazy new thing that mommy and daddy are making him do

I hope I have not completely soured you on dog shows; they can be a great way to bond and spend quality time with your dog. If you’re a competitive person it will definitely appeal to that aspect of your personality, I know some of my fondest memories are of me and Diva or Angus winning Best in Shows or National Specialty’s. Especially considering that we are an owner-handler team. I stumbled upon a very interesting website written by Jane M. Johnson dedicated to the sport of dog shows, http://www.bluegrace.com/handling.html I think it should prove helpful to those looking for a more in-depth look at handling a dog in the show ring.

Godiva Show Calendar

JANUARY 12-13, ARBA/California 19-20, ARBA/Florida 25-26, FOPC/Penns Creek PA 17-20, FCI/Mexico City	FEBUARY 2-3, IABCA/ Austin Texas 3, RH/ Medina Ohio 9-10, CKC/ Webster Florida 16-17, ARBA/Arizona 22-23, FOPC/Penns Creek PA	MARCH 9-10, RARITIES/Rhode Island 9-10, ARBA/ San Diego 16-17, CKC/ Webster Florida 16-17, ARBA/ Hollywood Florida 16-17, Paw Abilities/ Harrisburg PA 29-30, FCI/Argentina (Tucuman)
APRIL 5-6, ARBA/ Hutto TX 13-14, ARBA/Scottsdale Arizona 25-28, FCI/ Cuba (La Habana) 28, RARE HEIRS/Medina Ohio 18-21, FCI/ Venezuela (Caracas) 20-21, FCI/ Argentina Buenos Aires 20-21, CKC/ Webster Florida 20-21, RARITIES/ Lumberton NJ 20-21, SWORB/ Petrolia	MAY 4-5, IABCA/ Orlando Florida 11-12, ARBA/Washington DC 11-12, FCI/ Argentina (Necochea) 11-12, CKC/ Webster Florida 18-19, FCI/ San Salvadore 18-19, IABCA/ Kentucky 18-19, RARITIES/Seattle/Vancouver 18-19, SWORB/ Kitchener 23-26, FCI/ Venezuela (Caracas) 25-26, ARBA/Claremont California	JUNE 1-2, ARBA/ New Jersey 1-2, FCI/ Argentina (Santa Fe 1-2, SWORB/ Caledonia 2-5, FCI/ Puerto Rico (San Juan) 8-9, RARITIES/ Pennsylvania 9, RARE HEIRS/Medina Ohio 15-16 FCI/ Argentina (Bahia Blanca) 15-16, CKC/ Webster Florida 15-16, ARBA/ Indianapolis Indiana 22-23, ARBA/ Hayward California 22-23 IABCA/ Purina Farms 29-30 FCI/ Argentina (Corrientes) 29-30 IABCA/ Austin Texas 29-30, RARITIES/MT. Holly NJ
JULY 4-7,WORLD SHOW/Amsterdam 6-7 ARBA/ Virginia Beach Virginia 6-7, ARBA/ Philadelphia PA 13-14, CKC/ Webster Florida 13-14, SWORB/ Woodstock 20-21 IABCA/ Palmer AK 27-28, ARBA/ Tukwilla Washington 7-28, RARITIES/ Texas	AUGUST 2-4, FCI/ Argentina (Buenos Aires) 3-4, ARBA/ Topsfield Ma 10-11, ARBA/ Surprise location 10-11, CKC/ Webster Florida 10-11, SWORB/ Bradford 11, RARE HEIRS/ Medina Ohio 17-18 FCI/ Ecuador (Quito) 17-18, ARBA/ Louisville Ky 24-25, ARBA/ Manalapan, N.J .31/1 RARITIES/ Lumberton NJ	SEPTEMBER 7-8, CKC/ Webster Florida 7-8, ARBA/ Berea, Ohio 7-8, SWORB/Milton 14-15, ARBA/ Denver Colorado 14-15, SWORB Brampton 28-29, ARBA/ Haddam Conn 28-29, FCI/ Ecuador (Guayaquil)
OCTOBER 5-6, FCI/ Chile (Concepcion) 5-6, ARBA/ Seattle Washington 6-7, FCI/ Argentina (Rosario)12-13, ARBA/ St. Charles Illinois 13, RARE HEIRS/ Medina Ohio 19-20, ARBA/ Raleigh NC 19-20, SWORB/ Markham 19-20, RARITIES/ Boston Mass 24-27 FCI/ Cuba (La Habana) 26-27, ARBA/ Carrolton GA 26-27 IABCA/ Orlando FL 26-27, CKC/ Webster Florida	NOVEMBER 2-3, CKC/ Webster Florida 2-3 IABCA/ Purina Farms 2-3, FCI/ Argentina (Santa Rosa) 2-3, FCI/ Venezuela (Caracas) 9-10, ARBA/ Surprise location 9-10, RARITIES/ Hartford Conn .16-17, ARBA/ Claremont California 23-24, FCI/ Argentina Buenos Aires	DECEMBER ARBA/Invitational Tournament of Champions Nov 30-1, SWORB/ Toronto 13-14-15, ARBA/Carrolton GA

 

Contact information

American Rare Breed Association (ARBA)

Rarities

Rare Heirs (RH)

International All Breed Canine Association (IABCA)

Friends of Penns Creek (FOPC)

Paw Abilities

Canine Kennel Club (CKC)

Federacion Canofilo International (FCI)

Dog Show Terms