Pro's and cons any one ?

If it is one of the breeds whose coats are negatively affected by spaying, then you could ruin your chances, on the other hand in some breeds coat is fuller, and lost less often, so becomes an advantage.

The top show dog all breeds one year was a Sheltie called Ch Myriehew Roasa Bleu, who sadly had a Pyometra after first season, and had to be spayed.

Hi Zoe
Pro's........
You don't have to worry about not being able to show twice a year (I know there is no ruling about showing in season bitches but it is common curtesy not to do it IMHO) :)
Con's........
You have to apply to the Kennel Club for permission to show and can carry a copy of the KC permission with you to prove you have permission if anyone at a show asks. :)
Some breeds are affected by a change in coat after spaying, don't know about your breed.
Nicky

I thought you have to have a valid reason for spaying a bitch to obtain permission to show after, correct me if I am wrong.

The reason the KC consider valid is that you wish to used it as a birth control method.
Ja:)kie

But does the KC say the bitch must have at least one litter?

NO they changed that about 10 years ago.
Ja:)kie

If you look in a show schedule Rules for preparation of dogs for exhibition F (Annex B)

"Rule 3 (d)

No act or operation which alters the natural conformation of a dog or any part thereof may be performed, except:

(d) operations to prevent breeding provided that such operations are notified to the kennel club before neutered dogs are shown."

Note there is no mention about having to carry letters in the ring.

No, don't think you HAVE to carry your letter, but my friend shows her spayed Sibe bitch and she carries a copy of her letter just in case somebody questions her right to show. She's never had that happen, but I suppose it could happen. :)
Nicky

Why would want to show a spayed bitch? It was always impressed on me that the ultimate reason for showing a dog is to improve the breed. A neutered animal cannot improve the breed. This is why the American Kennel Club does not allow neutered animals to be shown in confirmation, eg, breed show.

I know why I would want to show a neutered animal. I enjoy dog shows. I like being in the company of dog people. However, as my experience in dog showing was in the U.S., perhaps I have been unfairly brainwashed with respect to the above.

From my understanding showing in the US has no relation to showing in the UK. Most people here show for fun and for the social aspect, and if you only have & can only have one dog and wish to show, but that dog is spayed what do you do have it PTS and go and buy a new one, or give up your hobby. There are those who show and are interested in improving the stock but most people do not breed and have no wish to.
Ja:)kie

I got the impression from another post that showing spayed bitches was something of a rarity. Can neutered males be shown as well? Not sure how a judge would compare a dog against the standard, since most seem to specify two descended testicles.
I do not want to breed, so being able to show a neutered bitch is a definite plus for U.K. showing versus U.S. I am in awe of (responsible) breeders, the care and commitment they put into it is absolutely astounding to me.

It's not entirely true that showing in the US has no relation to showing in the UK. There are differences, overall it is definitely a more relaxed sport here than it is in the U.S. Less competitive, since missing to earn a championship title here is not the end of the world for a dog. And it is certainly easier in the U.S. to earn a championship title. The plus for me in the US was that there are more opporunities to show. The dog clubs - both general and breed-specific -- seem to be more active in the US than in my area here in Surrey. But that impression may be because I haven't had the chance to explore dog clubs here fully, I hope it is.

The big negative for me in U.S. showing is the importance given to professional handlers. In some breeds you can forget about ever finishing a dog unless you have a professional handler at the other end of the lead. Which I suppose says something about the judges.

Stacey

Welcome to the forum Stacey :-)
What breed(s) do you have and yes, neutered males can be shown in the UK.

Hi Leigh,

Thanks for the welcome, I am thrilled to have found this "place" quite by accident.

At the moment I am dogless. I moved to the U.K. in 1996 and brought my companion dog, a Yorkie, with me. She died in August at nearly 13 years of age. Quite suddenly and quite horribly over a period of two weeks. I am totally heartbroken about it and always will be, she was one of those creatures that, if you are lucky, comes along once in a lifetime. She was an unending source of joy. Not that every pooch isn't special in its own way, of course.

I dabbled in showing in the U.S., a German Shepherd and a Cairn, and was very involved in dog club stuff. My Cairn earned her championship title. I have had to travel so much for my job that showing has been impossible since I've moved here. Now, the travel has slowed down a lot, but the workload hasn't, unfortunately.

In any event, I pick up a Cairn puppy on 7 December. My intention is to try some obedience (don't laugh!) with her and perhaps agility. And to get more involved again with dogs, which is something I've dearly missed.

Regards,

Stacey

It is unfortunate that a castrated male, unless a veteran is unlikely to do well, but lots of spayed bitches are shown, as they do not physically differ obviously from their spayed sisters in a lot of breeds.

I've been showing a neutered male labrador over the last 18 months or so (he's now 3 1/2)

He's not shown a lot - I'm very choosy who I put him under!
At open shows he's had BOBs and a group placing.
To date he's been to about 8 champ shows and only been unplaced once.
He has won his way out of Maiden, Novice and Undergraduate. He's been in 1 Grad class at darlington this year, which he won. And at LKA I decided to see if I could push it that bit further and put him in Post Grad - he came second and has therefore qualified for next year's Crufts!!!!! (He was actually there last yr, but not in the breed ring - he got a VHC on the 'pickers up' class in the gamekeepers ring)

I do carry my letter of permission to all the shows with me - it doesn't get shown to the judge as Storm's name is on it, but I nearly always show it to the steward and just ask them to inform the judge that they have seen the proof that I have permission to show him (just to be sure that the judge realises that he's allowed to be there)

I enjoy every second I spend in the ring with him - of my 4 labs that i show, he's by far the easiest - all i have to do is smile at him, and he comes up on his toes, stands foursquare, and will gently swish that tail till the cows come home!

He'll see you all at Crufts!

He sounds a real smasher
Anne

It would seem he would have been a real asset to his breed what a shame he is castrated. Jackie

Hopefully though he has a good brother or sire available to those who admire him, and would have liked to use him :D

By showing a spayed bitch, or ones that are never going to be bred you are still helping to uphold the quality of the breed. These exhibits are there as examples of that breeders stock, and also provide competition! they are the proof of the pudding so to speak, and prove what their parents are worth as breeding stock, and brothers and sisters may go on to be bred from.

TYhe top show dog all breeds one year was a spayed Sheltie bitch. she would have encouraged breeders to breed her sort of quality in order to beat her! Also she was a shining example of a great one of her breed. How tragic it would have been if her breeder following her spaying after her first season, would not have been allowed to show her. she probably won many admirers to the breed.

Many people will never breed, nor should they be made to feel they should.

It would be interesting to see how few dogs would be entered at a show if only breeding stock was eligible?

So, you can show a bitch that has been spayed say at crufts? even if the bitch was spayed on the owners preference as to a medical reason?
Ive never shown before so excuse the questions ( may be black and white to some!!!) Do you declare this in your entry forms or tell them after? again only ever entered local dog fun shows, but always thought a spayed bitch could not be shown at top shows because there is no point as to cant breed to improve etc. please tell me if you can show any breed at crufts as to weather spayed or not . thanks

About 10 years ago the regulations were changed. You do have to inform the KC that your bitch is spayed befoire entering any shows. Previously they could only be shown if they had offspring registered.

You can only enter Crufts if your dog has qualified by winning certain awards at Championship shows in the preceding year.