A Glimpse Behind The Scenes Of The National Dog Show

Have you ever wondered how the dogs manage to look so elegant when strutting around the floor? Well, dog handlers and trainers set up little treadmills made specifically for pooches in order to teach them the perfect stride. The treadmill helps them maintain the right pace that will have them padding to perfection in the winner's circle come showtime.

The stance of each canine is crucial in shows. In the past, trainers would teach the dogs to stand on soup cans a certain length apart. The idea is simple — just set the cans the required distance apart, and get your pup to step on up. That second part may be trickier to achieve, but the payoff is one sharp stance. Nowadays, many use wooden blocks or other markers to teach them where to stand.

The grooming stations are essential to the backstage area at any dog show. Many groomers use weird hacks to keep the puppies' coats fresh, like using dryer sheets or even chalk to maintain smooth fur. According to the experts at the American Kennel Club, it's essential that white dogs' fur is handled with care. Apparently, West Highland White Terrier's fur is especially susceptible to colored shampoos. Yup, go for a clear product if you want to avoid them coming out of their wash stained purple!

It may surprise you to learn that the winner of Best in Show doesn't actually win any money. The prize is pride, and pride alone. For those in the dog show world, the idea of being a champion is more than enough — no massive paycheck is necessary.

There are times when the dogs are forced to be indoors for many hours at a time, unable to go outside and do their business. In these cases, makeshift puppy porta-potties are set up for the participants. As you may have guessed, we're not talking about a plastic cubicle like we two-legged creatures would use. Instead, fenced-off areas are set up with absorbent material to catch any spills.

During showtime, the dogs basically get whatever they want. When the spotlight is on them, simple dog treats just won't do. One handler even said she provides filet mignon for her dogs during the show. But let's be honest, any dog would transform into a show pooch if there was steak on the treat menu!

Many handlers have commented on the unnatural nature of dog shows. Naturally, if you stuck a bunch of dogs in a ring, there'd be chaos to contend with. The only reason these animals are so sophisticated and trotting in circles under hot light is because of extensive training. Handlers aim to make it fun for the dog, hence the filet mignon.

The intimidating dog show judges are extremely analytical. They objectively assess every breed from head to toe, but at the end of the day, Best in Show often has an intangible quality. Judges have cited a certain "je ne sais quoi" as part of the judging system. So even if your dog's claws are filed to perfection, if they don't got it, they don't got it. Too bad!

Since these dogs are basically celebrities, they never show up inconspicuously. Dog entourages are very much a thing and can consist of up to 12 people, each responsible for something different. Groomers, handlers, and owners all play a specific role in the event's proceedings. And quite frankly, it sounds like it would be exhausting.

What you don't see on camera are the dogs waiting around under the hot lights for their time to shine, sometimes for seriously long periods of time. Dogs are well-known for not being able to regulate their temperatures very well, and so the intensity can make them overheat. To combat this, handlers usually have spray bottles of water on hand to keep them cool.

If you're watching the dog show from home, you can't hear the hype music that plays for each group, but it's there. Much like athletes before a game, each category of dog gets its own entrance music — from Elvis to Post Malone, these dogs know how to get pumped up before a performance.

"Benched" shows are actually a dream come true for the dog-adoring public. Every dog is required to be at their assigned "bench" for the entire day, during which the public can buy a ticket to come and interact with the different pups before actual show time! You don't need to ask us twice. Which way to the dachshund bench?

It's not puppy yoga to thank for a hall of tranquil pups. All the dogs participating in the show receive rigorous training to be able to keep their cool behind the scenes. That's what makes the benched shows so successful: these dogs can interact with the public like seasoned politicians. From a young age, they desensitize the dogs to loud noises and distractions.

Handlers can only be handlers if their vehicle passes a rigorous inspection first. In case of emergency, they are required to have a generator, A/C, water, and in-date fire extinguishers onboard. This is so that in the event of a disaster, they would be able to keep their dog safe. Pooch safety is clearly a top priority, and we're glad to hear it!

It may seem obvious, but there is one thing that will get any dog disqualified from participation no matter their star power. If a dog bites another dog or any human, then their show days are over. And no, muzzles are not an option — can you imagine what that would look like on the floor?!

The outfits you see handlers wearing are no accident. They make strategic choices, never wanting to overshadow the dog they're showing. And of course, practical footwear is a must if you want to maintain the perfect trot during the show. In fact, there are a few rules of thumb the handlers should follow: never wear the same color as your dog's coat, avoid dangly jewelry, and make sure your hem and necklines pass the 'bend down' test.

Dog handlers can be superstitious when it comes to their routines and accessories. Some handlers are known to use the same leash every year because they see it as "lucky" or conversely, they never use the same leash twice because it's bad luck. If plans change without warning, tensions, as you might expect, can run high.

The circuit isn't easy on the handler, either. Many career dog handlers complain of hip and knee problems due to the grueling schedule and physical demands during the show season. With non-stop parading and hours of practice, it's no wonder they're complaining about such issues. Luckily, most of them claim it's 100% worth it, though.

When it comes to picking your next pooch, benched shows can be an awesome resource. Getting to interact with so many different breeds and experts can be a real help when trying to figure out which dog has the right set of traits to match up with your lifestyle.

Although there are over 300 dog breeds around the world, but the American Kennel Club only recognizes 199 of them at the time of writing. In 2019, for example, the AKC added the regal West African Azawakh to their list. Their site states that the long-legged canines are independent, loyal, and deeply affectionate. Not all dogs are made equal, however, and some are certainly smarter than others. In fact, there are 20 breeds who've made the cut...

Dr. Coren identified three areas of canine cleverness in The Intelligence of Dogs: “adaptive,” “instinctive” and “working and obedience intelligence.” It was this latter category in which the dogs were ranked. The friendly Cocker Spaniel, then, was labeled an “excellent working dog.”

There were 131 dog breeds ranked by Dr. Coren in total, and all those from 26 to 11 were known as outstanding working dogs. The Brittany Spaniel is, of course, one of these, and this lively breed was first seen in the north of France.

Standard Schnauzers are renowned for their protective natures, and for this reason they have recently been utilized to sniff out explosives. It’s little surprise, then, that they would rank so highly in Dr. Coren’s poll. The English Cocker Spaniel and Flat-Coated Retriever also ranked in 18th position.

One of the metrics by which a dog breed’s intelligence was ranked was by its ability to comprehend new instructions after only an average of ten repetitions. The powerful German Shorthaired Pointer can evidently achieve this, and it is also regarded as energetic and overexcitable.

The other consideration for excellent working dogs’ cleverness was that they would follow an initial instruction at least 85 percent of the time. Collie dogs were first reared for herding in the 1800s, so they should be used to following commands by now. The Keeshond tied at 16th place too.

The Groenendael is part of the Belgian Sheepdog breed, which was first recognized in 1901. As you may have guessed, this means the Groenendael is excellent at herding and is a diligent companion. Interestingly, the Schipperke was thought to be as intelligent as the Groenendael.

The Tervuren is also often seen as part of the Belgian Sheepdog family, though sometimes it is considered a distinct breed. In addition to being a herding dog, the Tervuren is often used in search and rescue operations.

The English Springer Spaniel became a unique breed in 1902, and it was traditionally a good hunting ally. Perhaps it is for this reason that an English Springer Spaniel will tend to bond strongly to one specific human.

The American Kennel Club website describes the Miniature Schnauzer in three simple words: “friendly, smart, obedient.” All those attributes are perfectly in line with Dr. Coren’s ranking of them as the 12th smartest dog breed in the world.

It’s thought that the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is so open to being taught new commands because it wants nothing more than to make its humans happy. It’s no wonder that the Queen of England loves them.

The dog breeds ranked from numbers ten to one in Dr. Coren’s list are known as the “brightest dogs.” The Australian Cattle Dog is the first of these, and this could be because it has a history of being a working dog with freedom of thought.

As these dogs are smarter than the previous tier of canines, the brightest dogs should be able to comprehend new instructions with less than five repetitions. The Rottweiler, then, is unsurprisingly ranked highly, as it is used in many protection and police work roles.

The brightest dogs should also follow an initial instruction almost always – no less than 95 percent of the time, according to Dr. Coren. And, indeed, the Papillon is renowned for picking up new skills easily in addition to being a loving companion.

The Labrador Retriever is the American Kennel Club’s most popular breed of dog, and it is described as being “friendly and outgoing.” It’s also celebrated as being an excellent guide dog, and its good nature even makes it ideal for animal therapy.

The Shetland Sheepdog is a bit like a small Collie, in that it was bred as a herding dog. It has a high level of energy and excitability, and it can learn and obey commands incredibly fast.

The American Kennel Club’s description of the Doberman Pinscher as “alert, fearless, loyal, and highly trainable” should give you a good idea of why it is ranked so highly on this list. It’s also a powerfully built dog that is fast and can keep going for a long time.

The Golden Retriever may be slightly less popular than the Labrador, but it is similarly suitable to work with the blind and in hunting. The American Kennel Club also notes that it is “friendly,” “intelligent,” and “devoted.”

The American Kennel Club calls the German Shepherd “a true dog lover’s dog,” and it is indeed the second most popular dog in the U.S. The German Shepherd’s intelligence and obedience makes it excellent at all kinds of work, from performing to law enforcement.

It might just be the hair, but the Poodle almost seems to be the supermodel of the dog world, looking down its perfectly proportioned nose at all the other dog breeds. Nevertheless, it is naturally extremely clever and exceedingly susceptible to training.

Taking the number one spot on Dr. Coren’s list is the Border Collie. The American Kennel Club notes that these dogs are “remarkably smart workaholics,” though they are also affectionate and extremely athletic. Sometimes, though, it’s a dog’s intelligence that can make it aggressive. At the end of the day, though, it doesn't matter if you have a show dog or a rescue; all they really want is for you to give them the very best of care.