Why Should You Show your Xolo?

The Xolo’s versatility makes it a natural for the show ring. More importantly, by showing your Xolo you are helping to educate the dog loving public about our wonderful multitalented breed.

Xolos are well suited for many dog sports, which can make it hard to pick just one. In addition to conformation shows, Xolos are eligible to compete for AKC titles in Agility, Obedience, Rally and Tracking. They are all fun but each has its own purpose. Competitive dog sports were designed to objectively evaluate various canine qualities. A dog’s temperament and structure are evaluated in the conformation ring. Obedience and Agility test mental skills and dexterity. Events like Tracking measure natural aptitude and canine instinct.

Quite possibly your Xolo will be good at more than one of these. However, keep in mind that they all require countless hours of practice. Stepping into the ring with your Xolo for a winning performance is merely the last step in a long arduous process.

Evaluating your Show Prospect

If you want to try showing the first step is choosing a promising show prospect. This is easier said than done. Almost every successful exhibitor started off with the wrong dog, usually because the dog was not chosen primarily as a show prospect. Selecting a show potential puppy is tricky in any breed, in rare breeds it can be a real challenge. If you are serious about showing this should be a primary consideration when selecting a Xolo puppy, not something to be considered after the fact. You may feel that your Xolo is the most intelligent and beautiful dog in the world. But that doesn’t guarantee that the world (or the judge) will agree.

Top quality Xolo puppies are always in high demand and short supply. Be prepared to do lots of looking and waiting to find a good one. While you are waiting, educate yourself by doing plenty of research. Join the XCA, and subscribe to our Xolo News chat list to meet breeders and ask questions.

Learning to “read between the lines” is crucial to successfully purchasing a good show dog. Don’t be too quick to fall for attractive websites, impressive ads or pushy salesmen. Look at a lot of dogs and talk to many breeders before making a decision. Impulse purchases can lead to heartbreaking and costly mistakes.

If you are hoping to purchase a show quality Xolo pup make this clear to each breeder that you talk to. Experienced breeders regularly compete in one or more dog sports. They are well acquainted with the qualities a winning Xolo must possess. They will not make vague or grandiose promises. Nor they do not want their kennel represented in the show ring by dogs that don’t belong there. If you purchase a puppy for competition, expect your breeder to provide you with a written guarantee stating this. The contract should contain a clause allowing you to return the puppy within 72 hours if it does not turn out to have the quality, health or temperament of a show puppy. Good breeders do not want their puppies ending up in unsuitable homes.

A show potential puppy must not only adhere to the points outlined in the breed standard. It must be an exceptional specimen, possessing robust health, mental and physical stamina and sound, sturdy structure. These qualities are equally necessary for Xolos competing in conformation and performance events. Show dogs are the ambassadors for our breed. 

Training Your Xolo for Competitive Events

Serious exhibitors begin training and socializing their puppies from a very young age. By three months of age, puppies should be thoroughly familiarized with the equipment, routine and the environment of their future career. A show puppy must also learn to be adaptable to traveling, eating and sleeping in a crate, adjusting to weather changes, receiving attention from strangers and accepting variations in its normal routine. It is difficult, sometimes impossible, to begin training an adult dog to accept these things. Your breeder will provide you with tips on training but here are a few general suggestions.

If you intend to show your Xolo, start training it to stand for examination and walk on a lead as soon as you get it. The puppy must become accustomed to having its mouth opened and teeth examined. Open the puppy’s mouth and run your finger along its teeth. This is something you should practice every day. Young puppies accept it readily. Training an older dog to accept this can be very difficult. Once it has completed its puppy vaccinations, it should be enrolled in a training class. This serves several functions. It will familiarize the puppy to the atmosphere of a dog show and encourage the habit of focused concentration despite distractions. Specialized instruction for Obedience, Agility or Conformation may not be advisable until your puppy is older. But these are essential. Serious competitors regularly attend classes to keep their dogs in top form. Ask your breeder for recommendations when choosing a class and a trainer for your Xolo.

In addition to classes, a show training routine training at home is equally important. Run through the basics for a few minutes each day. Don’t overdo it, keep it fun and always vary the routine just a bit. And always end every lesson on a positive note- even when things do not go so well. Xolos are a primitive breed and therefore have very strong instincts. These natural drives can interfere with a puppy’s ability to pay attention. Daily practice and plenty of positive reinforcement will teach the value of focusing on your directions. On the other hand, natural instinct also makes a Xolo pup especially sensitive to rewards. This breed is VERY motivated. Your Xolo puppy will never forget that a specific behavior earned a great reward. This is why Xolos respond readily to clicker training.

Outings to dog shows are another essential aspect of show training, even if your Xolo puppy is not old enough to compete. Don’t be in a hurry to enter your Xolo puppy in competition. A good show prospect can be ruined by pushing too hard or too fast. This is a slow maturing breed, mentally and physically and young puppies may not be ready for serious competition.

Match shows are a great way to prepare your show prospect for the demands of competition. Some rare breed and match shows offer classes for puppies beginning at three months of age. Dogs must be a t least six months old to enter a regular conformation shows and one year old to compete in AKC Agility events. Xolos can also qualify for XCA championship points towards a club championship at many rare breed shows.

Conformation Shows

Watching from ringside often gives a false impression of what dog shows are all about. Judging may seem like a capricious process and handling may seem no more challenging than taking your dog for a walk. But there is a lot more to it.

The evaluation process of conformation shows is based on comparing each dog to the description in the official “standard of perfection”. Regardless of how beautiful your Xolo may be, no dog will ever exist to match this description. As the competition progresses, dogs are gradually eliminated based on how well they conform to the standard. This elimination process is utilized at every kind of conformation show. There are three types of conformation dog shows, involving different amounts of competition against other breeds. Even when different breeds compete against each other every dog is evaluated on how well it compares to its own breed standard.

Specialty shows are open to only to one breed. Xolo specialties attract much larger entries of Xolos than you would find at other types of shows. This is the best place to see the “cream of the crop”.  They also provide many special classes and awards not normally offered at other shows. Group shows are restricted to the breeds in that specific group, such as the Non-Sporting group. The best representative of each Non-Sporting breed goes on to compete for four group placements. The group winner is designated as the best dog in show. All breed shows are open to every recognized breed. At all breed shows, the process of elimination continues to the next level when each group winner challenges for the ultimate prize of Best in Show. Large shows may involve defeating more than 10,000 dogs to achieve this honor.

Every show provides different classes such as puppy, novice, bred by exhibitor, open. Your Xolo should be entered in one of these depending on his age and experience. Each class is divided by sex and males are judged first. The judge examines each dog individually to evaluate details like head, teeth, coat and structure. Then the dog is moved around the ring to show his gait. The class entries are placed one through four. The first place winners of each class return to the ring to compete against one another for Winners. One dog is selected as winner and the runner up is designated as reserve winner. Hairless and coated are judged together although some shows will offer separate open classes for them.

One to five championship points are awarded for each win. To become an XCA champion, a dog must accumulate 15 points, including two wins worth at least 3 points from two different judges, which are known as “major” wins. XCA champions receive an official certificate of championship and are listed as a champion of record on the XCA website. XCA champions can continue to compete for breed rankings based on the number of dogs they defeat in breed and all breed competition.

Junior Showmanship

Children of any age may show dogs in regular conformation classes. There is no age limit. But Junior Showmanship allows them to compete against children of their own age. Classes are open to children age 10-18, divided into Novice and Open divisions according to age and experience. Competitors that have already won three first prizes must compete in Open class. Junior Showmanship provides an opportunity to develop confidence and ability before venturing into the more competitive conformation ring. Rather than judging the dogs, JS entrants are evaluated on professionalism, skill and ability to follow judges’ instructions.

Obedience

Since 1936 AKC has offered formal competitions to objectively evaluate and officially reward training skills. Dogs are assessed solely on performance aptitude. Obedience is often regarded as the most stressful, exacting and demanding dog sport for both handlers and dogs.  Xolos became eligible to compete in AKC Obedience competitions starting Jan. 1, 2007. Xolos must first apply for an AKC ILP or FSS registration number. Obedience trials are offered at specialty and all-breed shows, and competition is open to all registered dogs over six months old

Obedience competition is made up of group and individual exercises that dogs and handlers perform according to the judge’s direction. Just like conformation judging, obedience competition operates as a process of elimination. Rather than comparing each dog to the breed standard, the judge compares each dog/handler team to an ideal presentation of each exercise. Entrants begin with 200 points and deductions are made for errors in each exercise. To earn an AKC title, a dog must finish up with a minimum of 170 points. Every qualifying dog/handler team receives a green ribbon and first through fourth placements are awarded in each regular class.

There are three increasingly difficult levels of Obedience competition Novice, Open and Utility.

At the Novice level, dogs compete for a Companion Dog (CD) title. Novice dog competition includes six basic exercises.

1.      Heel on lead and figure eight

2.      stand for examination

3.      heel free

4.      recall

5.      long sit (one minute)

6.      long down (three minutes)

Open competition is made up of seven exercises, including more off lead work, jumping and retrieving. Dogs earning three qualifying scores at this level are awarded the Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) title.

1.      heel off lead and figure eight

2.      drop on recall

3.      retrieve on the flat

4.      retrieve over a high jump

5.      broad jump

6.      long sit (three minutes with handler out of sight)

7.      long down (five minutes with handler out of sight)

Utility Dog is the highest level of obedience competition. These exercises are designed to test a dog’s ability to discriminate scents and respond to hand signals.

1. Signal exercise

2. Scent discrimination article 1

3. Scent discrimination article 2

4. Directed retrieve

5. Stand and examination

6. Directed jump

Since 1994, UD titled dogs earning qualifying scores at ten shows can earn the Utility Dog Excellent (UDX) title. UD titlists placing first and second can also earn points towards an Obedience Trial Championship (OTCh). AKC recently added another level of competition, National Obedience Champion (NOC). This is an invitation competition open to the top 25 obedience titled dogs in AKC.

Rally Obedience

Rally was added to AKC’s official companion events in 2005. Originally, intended as an intermediate step towards Obedience competition, it has quickly become one of the most popular events at dog shows. In contrast to Obedience, handlers are allowed to encourage their dogs. Teamwork and communication are evaluated along with skill and precision.

A Rally course consists of 10-20 “stations”, which are designated stops where handlers direct their dogs to perform specific exercises. Each team begins with 100 points which are deducted for errors. To earn a title the dog must earn three qualifying scores of at least 70 from two different judges.

AKC offers three levels of awards in Rally Obedience and Xolos can compete for all of them!

Novice consists of 10-15 exercises performed on lead. Dogs earn a Rally Novice (RN) title after earning three qualifying scores.

Rally Advanced course consists of 12-17 stations. Dogs earning three qualify scores in Rally Advanced earn the RA title.

In Rally Excellent competition, 15-20 stations must be completed off lead. Dogs earning three qualifying scores attain the Rally Excellent (RE) title.

Titled dogs may also compete for Advanced Excellent (RAE) titles by qualifying in both Advanced B and Excellent B classes at ten different trials

Agility

Agility is another challenging sport perfect for agile, energetic athletic dogs. Xolos are perfectly suited to Agility because of their mental versatility and natural dexterity. Unlike breeds that have been developed for a specific purpose like hunting or herding, Xolos can quickly revise their strategy.  Primitive breeds, for survival reasons, needed to retain all canine talents. AND the ability to quickly adapt to changing situations. Their lightening reflexes provide another definite advantage for Xolos in this competitive venue.

Not only that, the mental and physical challenges posed by different Agility exercises often appeals to Xolos that don’t care for the predictable nature of Obedience.

Agility courses vary but usually include16-20 obstacles of tables, tunnels, chutes, hurdles, A-frames, and weave poles. Certain features of the course, such as the height of hurdles are modified according to height. Competitions are divided into five size divisions and three levels Novice, Open, and Agility Excellent.

To earn an Agility title dogs are required to earn three scores within the time and fault limit. A qualifying score is a minimum of 85 out of a possible 100 points.

AKC Agility titles

Novice Agility (NA)

Open Agility (OA)

Agility Excellent (AX)

Higher titles,

Master Agility Excellent (MX), Master Agility Excellent Preferred (MXP) Master Agility Jumper (MXJ) and Master Excellent Jumper Preferred (MJP) require earning ten qualifying scores.

Dogs can also compete for higher titles

Preferred Agility Excellent (PAX)

Master Agility Champion (MACH)

Tracking

Tracking open to all recognized breeds and Xolos became eligible to compete starting Jan 1, 2007. Dogs are evaluated solely on their natural ability to find and follow a scent trail. And Xolos are great at this! Before entering an official Tracking Dog Test your Xolo must be certified as eligible. If your Xolo qualifies you will receive four certification forms allowing you to enter your to enter four tracking tests within a one year period.

To earn a Tracking Dog (TD) title a Xolo must follow a scent trail of 500 yards over an open field to locate a specific item. This trail is laid out 30 minutes to 2 hours prior to testing including three to five turns.

For Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX) titles the requirements are more challenging. The dog must locate four items in this test and the trail longer, older and contains diversions.

To earn a Variable Surface Tracking (VST) a Xolo must locate four articles by following a scent trail 3-5 hours old over different terrains. 600-800 yards long with four to eight turns.

A dog earning all three titles becomes a Champion Tracker.