Can Dog Show Ads Win the Westminster Kennel Club Show?

Can glamorous dog show ads win owners and handlers high profile dog shows like the Westminster Kennel Club Show? While the short answer is "No", a new article on The Daily Beast by "Show Dog" author Josh Dean raises eyebrows about the influences that dog show vanity ads can actually have.

While it's probably a surprise to most, Dean points out that advertising, as with movie studios and celebrities around Oscar season, plays a major role in dog shows. Show-dog owners take out vanity ads in a variety of dog show rooted publications that look to glorify their competitors. The aim? To give the show-goers and the AKC judges who may be judging the show a preview, so to speak, of the pooch they'll be showing off.

By touting their achievements early on, show-dog owners hope to gain a bit of a competitive advantage before they even get to the show they'll be entering. But does it actually work?

Those who have studied the matter are mixed in their answers. While it's certain that buying an ad for a bad dog won't elevate its status much, buying an ad for a quality show-dog can only raise its stock.

"I think advertising is overrated in the sense of you can't advertise your dog to the top," says Billy Wheeler, the man behind what many consider to be the most influential dog show blog, Dog Show Poop. "On the other hand, it may be true that you can't get to the top without advertising."

One point that the advertising debate solidifies is that those involved in the dog show world are incredibly competitive and incredibly devoted to their craft, willing to do what it takes to earn victories. As Dean points out in his piece, some owners shell out upwards of thousands of dollars in ads to ensure their dog is displayed prominently in a positive light.

What do you think about the potential influence of vanity ads on dog shows like the Westminster Kennel Club Show? Share your thoughts in a comment.