Dog Shows
Looking for something fun to do with your dog? You might want to try a canine sport. There are many to choose from, and many people participate in more than one. Christens Miniature Schnauzers are exceptionally good at Conformation, Agility, and Barnhunt. To watch a Christens schnauzer in action, check out our calendar.
Canine Sports:
Think your dog is a perfect example of their breed? Try Conformation.
Is your dog energetic? Do they enjoy running and responding to instruction? If so, Agility could be a great fit.
Has your dog mastered basic commands such as sit, stay, and heel — and seems eager to learn more? Try Obedience.
Are you interested in obedience, but it seems a bit intimidating? Rally is a great place to start.
Can your dog find their food or toys by smell alone? Maybe Scent Work is your cup of tea.
Does your dog have the instinct to chase? Is he speedy? Try Lure Coursing or Fast CAT.
Will your dog follow a scent no matter where it may lead? Tracking can be a lot of fun.
Does the sight of squirrels and birds give your dog unending joy? Then welcome to Barn Hunt.
Conformation
All of the breeding dogs at Christens are Conformation Champions.
The official term for dog shows is conformation — as in, the act of conforming or producing conformity. While a dog show may look like a beauty pageant, it's not. Dogs are not being compared to each other; they're being measured by how closely they conform to the standard of their particular breed. As one of the most popular AKC events, conformation events range from large all-breed shows, with over 3,000 dogs entered, to small local specialty club shows that feature only one breed. - AKC.org Conformation
Finn handled by Jill
Finn handled by Rebecka
To be a conformation champion, the AKC requires a dog/bitch to earn a total of 15 points with at least two "major" wins. A major win is worth three points or more. Each show is worth one to five points depending on the number of dogs and bitches competing; more dogs = more points.
Points are awarded to the dog and bitch who win Winner's Dog and Winner's Bitch. If you are interested in learning more about Conformation, call Jill, she'll happily explain all the nuances.
Nyx, handled by Rebecka at Nationals
Agility is an AKC "Companion" event open to all dogs.
Dogs race against a clock as they navigate an obstacle course under the guidance of their handler. Courses typically have between 14-20 obstacles. Dogs run through tunnels, jump over hurdles, zip through weave poles, race over contact obstacles, etc. It is exciting to watch and even more fun to do.
Cassi handled by Rebecka
While the goal of agility is to have fun with your dog, all competitors secretly (or quite openly) want to earn an agility championship. Agility Championships generally take several years to earn.
The championship requires 20 Double Q's and 750 Speed Points.
Double Q - agility has several different types of courses. The two courses required for a championship are standard and jumpers. The standard course is comprised of all the obstacles, jumps, tunnels, weave poles, a-frame, teeter, etc. The jumpers course is comprised of jumps, tunnels, and weave poles. When a team (dog & handler) successfully completes a course they earn a qualifying score or Q. Completing both the standard and jumper course on the same day earns the team a Double Q or QQ.
Speed Points - each course is measured to determine how many yards the average dog needs to travel to complete the course. The yardage determines the maximum number of seconds allowed to complete the course. A dog is award 1 speed point for each full second under course time. Example: if a standard course were 178 yards long, Cassi would be allowed a maximum of 76 seconds to complete the course. If she did it in 60.18 seconds, she would be 15.82 seconds under course time and would earn 15 speed points.
Cassi, handled by Rebecka
Boris, handled by Suzanna
Barn Hunt is based on the traditional roles of many breeds in ridding farms, barns, and homes of destructive vermin. Some breeds, like miniature schnauzers, were specifically created to fill this role. Barn Hunt is also open to any dog of any breed who wishes to play the game. Barn Hunt has titles, levels of increasing difficulty, and championships. Barn Hunt is an independent sport, but titles are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) -barnhunt.com
In Barn Hunt, dogs earn Q's (qualifying scores) by finding a set number of rats hidden among bales of straw. Don't worry, the rats are safely encased in a sturdy PVC tube.
We know, it sounds dumb and boring. However, come out and watch a Barn Hunt trial. It is surprisingly fun to watch and do. Even more exciting, the local trials are held in Wayne and Jill's backyard.
Nyx inspecting the rat tubes.