Not only is a a dog show great place to meet other Great Dane owners, but it also serves as a learning tool to gain more knowledge about the breed.
If you are new to showing, the information below will be a great help in understanding what's going on as you watch the show or learn what's needed to begin showing your dane.
If you're looking for dog shows in your area, visit this page and check each dog show superintendent for show listings. Each site will have a search panel to be able to look for the shows closest to you.
Most of the information below will pertain to dog shows in the USA sanctioned by AKC. If you're in a different country, check with the local national kennel club or your local Great Dane club for show schedules and information. The Kennel Club in the UK is here, the Canadian Kennel Club is here, The Australia Kennel Club is here. For other countries, visit this page.

Looking for some conformation training tips ?, Check out our Conformation Training Tips for the basics

There are actually many different types of competitive dog events - these range from events in which the dogs are competing in obedience, hunting ability, agility, herding, and several others. However, the type of event usually meant when the term `dog show' is used is a conformation event. In the conformation event, dogs are evaluated in terms of how closely they 'match' or 'conform' to the ideal specimen of their breed based upon the standard set by the breed club. A few of the breed standards are listed on the main page of Danetalkers. While each country slightly describes the standard a little differently, they are all very similar in type and structure of the dane

The actual purpose of a conformation show is to evaluate the participating dogs against each other for worthiness as breeding stock in hope of improving the breed as a whole. In other words - participating dogs are being evaluated on merits in hope of of producing a litter that will possibly become the best breed example. As such, only unaltered dogs are allowed to compete.

 Types of Conformation Events 

In the USA, there are 3 types of conformation events approved by AKC;

• All Breed Show
  All breeds which are recognized by the AKC may compete. The all-breed show is a collection of group shows where there is an additional competition among the winners of the group shows.
• The Group Shows
  Only dogs whose breed belongs to one of the seven AKC groups compete. We might describe the group show as a collection of several specialty shows where there is an additional competition among the winners of each specialty show
• The Specialty Show
  Only dogs of one specific breed are eligible to compete and they compete against each other in classes

 'Showing' your dog 

Each dog is handled by the dog's 'handler'. The handlers job and objective is to present their dog in the best possible manner to be judged. To do this, the handler will need to position their dog in the correct stance when the dog is stationary before the judge (in other words, re-arranging the dogs legs, head, etc. into an optimal position while the dog is standing). The handler must also guide the dog around the ring in a manner designed to highlight the positive traits of the dog's movement. Most handlers will dress in a suit or other respectable attire in order to present a positive image of themselves (as well as the dog) to the judge.
Often, a handler for the dog is chosen for physical features that they might possess which compliment the dog - for example, if the dog being shown is on the short or small side, a short handler might be used in order to make the dog look bigger. The handler may be the dog's owner or the dog might be handled in the ring by the breeder. In other cases, the owner of the dog may want to hire a paid, professional handler.

 Judging of the Dogs 

Generally each breed at a dog show is judged by a different judge. The judge for the breed is usually very experienced with the breed and may be a former breeder of this type of dog.
As previously mentioned, the judge evaluates each dog for conformity to the ideal specimen or 'standard' of each breed, as defined by the published standard for that breed. This involves inspecting the dog's teeth and eyes, watching the dogs movement, such as, watching the dog as they walk, trot, or run around the show ring. The exact aspect that the judge will be looking for in each dog depends upon the breed being judged (as the standard for each breed is different, as are the aspects defined in each of the breed standards as being the most important). In addition, a requirement common to all breeds is that male dogs must have two fully descended testicles. The judge unique and interesting duty of feeling each male dog to ensure that he does not have an undescended testicle. Male dogs who do not have two fully descended testicles will be disqualified. The dog may possess a physical trait that is defined in the breed standard as grounds for disqualification, or the dog may display aggression towards the judge or the other dogs in the competition. When a dog is disqualified three times for the same fault, they are permanently disqualified from all conformation shows and no longer eligible to compete.

 Becoming a 'Champion' (CH) in the USA 

In order for a dog to obtain champion status in the USA, the dog must accumulate 15 points. The number of points awarded to the Winners Dog and the Winners Bitch at a dog show is determined by the AKC's schedule of points, with a maximum of 5 points allowed for any given show. The schedule of points breaks the United States down into 13 geographical divisions. For each division, the schedule of points determines how many points will be awarded to the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch, based on how many dogs of that breed and of that gender are entered in the show.

The schedule of points is re-compiled each year based on the number of entries for each breed at the shows held within each region during the past year. The schedule is formulated so that within each region, 1, 2, and 3 point shows are more commonplace where 4 and 5 point shows are more infrequent. Due to the fact that more populated areas of the country tend to have more entries in each show, the schedule of points is somewhat based on the population of each division, as well as the popularity of each breed.

The number of points that Winners Dog or Winners Bitch receives at a given show may change under several circumstances. If the Winners Bitch receives two points based on the number of bitches in her breed at the show, the Winners Dog receives 3 points based on the number of dogs in his breed at the show, but the Winners Bitch is named Best of Winners, then she receives 3 points as well, by virtue of the fact that she has defeated the winners dog who won 3 points that day. The Winners Dog and Winners Bitch points can also change by other means.

In addition to accumulating 15 points, a dog must also be awarded championship points at two major events (Majors). The points at the two major events must be awarded by two separate judges :: if a dog wins two major events judged by the same judge, the dog still receives the championship points but will not be recognized as a champion until they win another major event under a different judge. If a dog has accumulated 15 championship points but has not met the requirement for winning two different major events under two different judges, the dog must first meet the major event requirement before the AKC will recognize the dog as a champion. A major event is one at which the winning dog receives 3-5 championship points. In addition to winning two major events under two different judges, the dog must win at least one other event (major or minor) under a third judge. The purpose of these rules are two fold: 1. A dog should not become a champion unless judged to be superior by multiple judges which would eliminate possible bias and/or personal preference and 2. A dog should not become a champion unless it can demonstrate an ability to be the winner from a vast field of competitors as found at the major events instead of simply winning over one or two other dogs several times over.

Danetalkers promotes responsible dog ownership and ethical breeding

    100 points to become a Responsible Dog Owner | What is 'Ethical Breeding' ?