How to Prepare a Dog for a Show: Main Steps and Service Costs

If you have purchased a purebred puppy with the right temperament, pedigree, and excellent appearance, your pet can take part in dog shows. Highbred dog owners consider it as an opportunity to get some titles because it increases the cost of the puppies in the future. But this is not the only advantage.

Participation in shows can become a good experience for your pet. It strengthens the connection between dog and owner, hones obedience skills, and provides the dog with the necessary activity. However, it is not as simple as it seems at the first sign. Visiting shows is associated with certain expenses. You have to invest first in order to get the benefits later.

As already noted, the first and the most important one is buying the right dog. It doesn’t matter what breed you are going to choose. In some cases, a show-quality dog with some training will cost you between $4,000 and $7,000 upfront.

Grooming is the next major expense. Participation in shows requires your dog to have a certain appearance. Each breed has its own criteria. Maintaining the required look will cost you about $50 per week. So we get about $2,500 per year.

Participation in shows also has some entry fees. As a rule, the entrance costs about $30 per show. Figure that your dog can enter about 15 shows per month. As a result, you will give over $5,000 just for the opportunity to participate in the shows.

The next important thing is the handler fees. A handler is a person who can teach your dog the right behavior during the event. Handler fees can range from $100 to $700 depending on how often your dog wins. The more your pet wins, the higher the fees will be.

You should also promote a winning dog in the trade magazines. The annual cost of advertisement can reach up to $12,000 per year. In addition, you will need pet insurance. Its cost is about $1,000 per year.

You may also face some extra expenses if you’re going to enter international shows. You will have to think about the transportation and accommodation of your dog.

So, if you want your dog to win, get ready to spend $50,000 per year minimum.