I have been showing a beautiful Male Min Pin (black and tan).  He moves like a dream, looks amazing!  Something most min pin people would die for, movement like that.  Has a nice body, and lots of muscle.  He should be beating everything out there!  (and I am not just saying that, he should be!)  He is one of the few min pins that are within standard height as well (12inches) but still looks small, since most males, if you put the sticks on them and measure, are over the height allowance for the breed.  He is a natural shower, showing on a loose lead and collar.  One word to him (straighten up) and his stack is amazing.  Honestly, I would die to bring that dog home and keep him!  (I have his full littermate sister) 

But, every time I go out, with him in the ring, he is getting beat by inferior dogs.  Dogs that dont move like a min pin should, that are over the height, that move like they are drunk!  But these are dogs that always seem to win, the ones that have heavy hitter handlers!  Now, I dont mind loosing to a good dog, and there are a couple, but to loose to dogs that shouldnt even be shown, and are getting group placements and best in shows! 

I think the dog I am handling has everything I could ask for.  I am not kennel blind, I know what his faults are, but the other things he has going for him, definately make the faults less noticable.  But only one point has been got on him, and he has been showing for almost a year. 

Every time I leave the ring with this dog, people say "You were robbed!".  People in the min pin breed!!!  They also say its his colour that is holding him back, if he was a red, he would have been finished long ago, winning groups and best in shows! 

How do I stay strong, and not give up.  Especially when I have new comers to the ring in a few months.
Thats why show entries are down, all the handlers.  I know they need to make a living, and they are good at what they do, but many good dogs are getting beat because of the big name handlers!!! 

Hi Crespin!
I read your post with interest. The dog you describe sounds like a handler's dream. Doesn't he?! And in one way of course he is. But in my experience, dogs that exceed their peers in breed specific traits, often don't get the winns they deserve. At least not when shown under all-roundres. This type of dog often sticks out too much, and the details we soo admire, like movement to die for, just looks odd and different to non breed judges. The mainstream dogs, with no bigger faults, but no greater details either, do much better in the ring.
In my experience, your type of dog stands a better chance if shown under breed specialist judges. Preferably breeders of your breed themselves.  If I were you, I'd comfort myself with the knowledge of my dog's great quality, and the appreciation from breeders around the ring that see what you have at the other end of the lead. And probably envy you :-)
By those who don't go looking for stud dogs amongst the top winners, but look out for the qualities they want for their bitch, I'm sure he'll be a sought after stud dog. He might well prove himself in his progeny instead.
Good luck, hang in there with him!
Karen

He is a handlers dream.  Would make a career out of someone (if all breed judges new what they were supposed to be looking for).  It just gets so frustrating, when I look at Cher (who has done a lot of winning) and then her littermate, is being looked over.  Both have the same movement, both are to die for!  But Cher is a red.  She looks more normal in the min pin ring because of her colour (Black and tans arent that popular, so it is harder to finish one).  But the B/T brother that I am showing, is getting dumped. 

His kids are set to come out in September (if they ever get a brain LOL) so hopefully they will prove that the dog I am handling right now, is of superior quality, and produces great pups. 

There is a Min Pin specialty in August, that I will probably have him, and Cher entered.  Hopefully Sonny can do some winning, and get some points.  He deserves them. 

> Black and tans arent that popular, so it is harder to finish one

Interesting that you say that - I may be wrong but I think there are more b/t than red in the ring here in the UK.

I noticed that when I watched Crufts online.  Its interesting when you see that happen.  I looked at the UK standard for the min pin, and it does talk about Black and Tans first.  Going into great detail about markings, and then it says "Reds of various shades".  Our standard talks about the Red like yours does the black and tans (like whats a clear red, whats a stag red, whats a mahogany red, etc), and then goes into some detail about markings for the black and tans.  But not as much as the reds get in coat colour standard.