The Breeder Show

Volume 4, Issue 1

International Parti Poodle Gazette

January 2008

Ginette with her Poodles at The Breeder Show

THE BREEDER SHOW

Author: Ginette Girard
CANADA
http://partipoodlesvalsan.com/

From the responses I’ve received from those in the United States when I talk about a “breeder show”, I have concluded that this type of exhibition does not exist in the U.S.

So, what is a breeder show?

In 1987, Laval Provencher organized an exposition at a huge indoor shopping center to help educate Canadians about dog ownership and to present the best information possible about purebred dogs. Breeders, veterinarians, behaviorists, rescue organizations, nutritional specialists, groomers, and others were invited to set up booths where they could hand out information and answer questions from the public.

These two-day shows are now held each spring and fall at indoor shopping centers and are exclusive to the province of Quebec.

In the beginning, there were only eight booths. Now, the INFO CANIN BREEDERS SHOW has over 75 information/display booths, and the number keeps growing. At this huge in-door exposition, visitors can see different breeds of dogs and discuss all aspects of a breed with the breeder . . . which enables them to make wiser choices when acquiring a dog. They can learn about proper canine nutrition, have behavioral questions addressed, see grooming demonstrations, and learn about dog training from comportment specialists. Visitors have access to rescue organizations who can inform them about the problems involved in getting dogs from puppy mills, and canine associations who, among other things, educate children about how best to approach and behave around dogs.

For the past couple of years in Quebec, I have had a booth with my parti-colored Poodles at the largest indoor shopping center in North America. The main part of the exhibition is on the first floor, and a local agility group uses the second and third floors to present very entertaining agility demonstrations.

Breeders are not allowed to sell dogs at these exhibitions; however, since there are over 10,000 visitors per show, it is a good place to present our dogs to potential future customers. Some people attend these shows because they love dogs and enjoy being surrounded by all of the dog-related activities; others come hoping to determine which breed best suits their lifestyle.

All dogs at the exhibition must be registered with the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), and owners must present a health record which shows their dog’s vaccinations are up to date.

I really enjoy having a booth at these shows as it gives me the opportunity to educate large numbers of people about the parti-colored Poodle. Walking my partis at a park or on a downtown street would never give me the chance to reach so many people in a two-day period.

The first couple of years I had a booth, everyone thought my partis were mixed breeds. Although they admired my dogs, they did not know that the multi-colored patterns are historically correct for the Poodle.

I have given out a lot of business cards displaying my website address where people can go to see a variety of parti-colored Poodles and where they can learn more about the partis place in Poodle history. Now, at these expos, I rarely meet anyone who doesn’t know that the parti color is a justifiable color of the Poodle.

Here in Quebec, I usually operate a booth at both the spring and the fall shows. I have also attended a couple of shows in different towns, but it is a bit more complicated when it involves three days out of town and hiring a babysitter for the dogs who stay home.

Taking dogs to these exhibitions is a bit like showing at a conformation dog show. Right before the show, I groom all of the Poodles to look their very best before bringing them to the site; however, at a breeders show, it’s the public whose good opinion we are seeking.