Show vs Pet quality

tranquility · 06-07-2008, 02:00 PM

I suppose that this is a thread more for breeders rather than being on the general forum but all answers are welcome.

While browsing various breeder's websites, they invariably state that their dogs are either 'Show quality' or 'Pet quality'. What exactly does that mean? I'm guessing that Show is always of better quality than Pet? When you want a Pet, I guess there is a contract to have them neutered/spayed eventually vs if you want a Show, what happens there? Assuming my above is correct, what if I want the 'best' quality out there, get a 'Show quality' and get him neutered, is that a no-no (since his excellent genes won't be used to better the breed)?

I guess my concern is if I get a 'Pet quality' pup, does it really mean it's just a 2nd-tier quality Dobe? Thanks.

**juliabustard** · 06-07-2008, 02:24 PM

I'm not a breeder but this is what I've gathered

Show quality: They're dogs that are closest to the standard in terms of looks. They would be the dogs most likely to be titled if they were to enter in conformation competitions.

Pet Quality: They are STILL quality dogs (if they're from a good breeder) but they may have some kind of disqualifying fault, which may be even something so small the average wouldn't notice. I'm not sure of all the faults but they can be seen on the akc.org website. I think some are like under bite/overbite (even very very slight), lighter eyes, white patches, and a lot more. Like I said, I'm no expert.

I assume, however, that even the most attractive puppies may end up being just "okay" looking adults.

You're not getting ripped off or anything when you get a pet quality but I think the breeders want to see their babies do well in the show ring so the dogs that are most likely to title are the ones they will only sell to 'show' potential homes. I'm pretty sure these minute faults don't affect temperament or health if you get them from the right breeder.

Of course, I'm sure there's something more I missed.

-JB.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranquility

I suppose that this is a thread more for breeders rather than being on the general forum but all answers are welcome.

While browsing various breeder's websites, they invariably state that their dogs are either 'Show quality' or 'Pet quality'. What exactly does that mean? I'm guessing that Show is always of better quality than Pet? When you want a Pet, I guess there is a contract to have them neutered/spayed eventually vs if you want a Show, what happens there? Assuming my above is correct, what if I want the 'best' quality out there, get a 'Show quality' and get him neutered, is that a no-no (since his excellent genes won't be used to better the breed)?

I guess my concern is if I get a 'Pet quality' pup, does it really mean it's just a 2nd-tier quality Dobe? Thanks.

**Kratty** · 06-07-2008, 02:26 PM

I really do not think so. Take for example, my Alexis. comes from a good breeder, where both parents had their championships. It was a large litter of 11. After evaluating. not every puppy in the litter can be show quality. Some while have more qualities than other, which makes them better prospects. Out of the 11 puppies, I think 4 or 5 were sold as Show quality and the rest as pet quality. Still the same parents and genetics behind them. I think any breeder will confirm that evaluating puppies is difficult because at a young age, they are always morphing in unusual ways and one day one will look like Show and a few days later, maybe not. Getting a pet quality from a show breeder does not lessen the fact of getting a quality puppy.

**juliabustard** · 06-07-2008, 02:38 PM

I agree with you Kratty. I just think evaluating at such a primitive young stage can be tricky. I think breeders go with their gut (to the best of their knowledge) on deciding which dogs will have the best potential to become show dogs. Like I said, I don't think you're settling for second best.

-JB.

jdd · 06-07-2008, 02:41 PM

Most people can not tell the difference from a "pet" quality or a "show" quality from the same litter. Alot of times the ones sold as pets, really could finish their championship very easily. But there are only so many show homes out there and the most important thing is a good home.
Take for example my litter that Alwayshadpets (Tamora) came from. The one I kept, grew to be too tall. Tamora is perfect size and could easily have finished. The male we let go as a pet could have finished and we knew that both as puppies looked very nice. But we had these great pet homes waiting and we only had a limited number of show homes. So my "show" puppy did not turn out and is now in a WONDERFUL home and the ones I sold as pets could easily finish if they weren't spayed and neutered. Sometimes they don't turn out like you think they will.
Holli's first litter....All 5 looked fabulous as puppies. I had a wonderful pet home who had been waiting and I would not tell them they couldn't get a puppy. They only wanted a pet, the day the boy left I was a bit tearful because this gorgeous puppy would not be shown. But it was such a great home I was thrilled for him and for them. When he was 4 months, they came to shows I was at. They thought that looked like fun, well actually the lady had been in a very bad horse riding accident and she was bored cause she couldn't ride. The boy was gorgeous! They let my friend (a handler) who lived near them do a little training at a local class (3 classes). Then they entered him. He finished in 8 shows, two back to back 5 pt majors and a couple of Best of Breed wins. The whole litter actually finished.
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, the pets in good litters will look just as good as the show dogs to most everyone who see's them and sometimes the pets are show quality after all!!
What makes a puppy a "pet" is usually not something that the untrained eye can see.

**juliabustard** · 06-07-2008, 02:56 PM

JDD, that is really neat of you to have let the boy go to a 'pet' home. You sound so sweet and caring for doing that.

-JB.

Dobemom2b · 06-07-2008, 03:15 PM

Some breeders will re-evaluate the pup as they get older. Some will amend the pet contract to a show contract if they feel the pup has the qualities to finish and the buyer is willing abide by the stipluations in a show contract.

Dobermans have very few outright disqualifications, however not everyone has a spare $5,000 to $10,000 to show a dog to akc ch. (not special just ch.) This is exactly what keeps me from signing a show contract.

**Burns** · 06-07-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranquility

I guess my concern is if I get a 'Pet quality' pup, does it really mean it's just a 2nd-tier quality Dobe? Thanks.

No, I don't think so. For example, my pup came from a show quality litter but he was the only pet-quality one out of the bunch, for the sole reason that he was monorchid (only one testicle descended) - which is a disqualifying fault for showing. Other than that, he's as just as good quality as the rest of the litter. Of course a few may have better conformation (hence the "show picks", etc), but that doesn't mean my pup is a 2nd-tier quality Doberman.

Murreydobe · 06-07-2008, 03:37 PM

Pet quality puppies from well bred litters are generally beautiful dogs. As JDD said, it frequently takes a trained eye to be able to tell the difference between them and a littermate considered a show prospect. And sometimes CLOSE inspection would be needed-it could be something like a missing tooth.

They've got the same top quality pedigree as the show prospects. They're raised with the same care, and placed just as carefully.

Nothing second-tier about them.

tranquility · 06-07-2008, 03:42 PM

If this is the case, why do breeders bother to classify them as either 'Show' or 'Pet' given that it seems like a crap shoot?

EDIT: what are the typical conditions of a 'Show' and a 'Pet' contract? Thanks.