WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
Proper dog show attire depends on several things. climate, whether it is indoors, outdoors, and what breed you are showing. Above all, dress tastefully. Your clothes must be LESS showy than your dog. Your clothes should complement your dog, not clash or be obtrusive in the show picture that you KNOW you are going to get! The dog will show off better if you wear colors that contrast with the dog. If you have a dog that is dark in color, you will want to wear a color that will not blend into the topline of the dog, above all, the judge must be able to see the dog.
Wear shoes that are comfortable and that you can move in. Many of the top showing handlers wearing just the most perfect suit ensembles wear tennis shoes or tie up leather shoes of a dark color. Practical is what counts when it comes to footwear, for you must be able to show your dog effectively and you cant do that when your feet hurt or when you can't run well. Knee high boots are simply great for wet or muddy days and are not "out of fashion" when it comes to showing dogs.
Wear clothes that have pockets. It is permissable in the Conformation ring to "bait" your dog, and pockets are great for holding the bait. (See the training pages for how to bait) Sometimes it is hard to find skirts with pockets so you can alays wear a little "bait bag" on a belt , this is rather like a fanny pack only usually it is cloth and easier to dip into. You will be wearing an armband and it is often more comfortable to wear something with sleeves so that you can slip the armband over your sleeve.
Wear clothes that are washable and packable. Slick nylon stuff that won't wrinkle is great. And be sure to pack at least one extra complete outfit, even if you are not staying overnight and traveling only to one show for the day. Nothing will help if someone jostles you and spills a whole strawberry shake on you as they walk by! It is best to pack all clothing as SEPARATE outfits inside of plastic bags, that way if there should be a total downpout things still remain dry, so that if you are at an outside show and living out of your van you can still get to the restroom and change without getting your show clothes soaked. (Most people do change in the restroom at a dog show and wear old clothes for grooming ahead of time.) There is often a huge jam in the restroom to get changed and ready so you will want to check that out for sure and make sure that you have plenty of time to get to ringside. You can change early and wear an apron for grooming. Just dont forget to take your apron off when you go in the ring! (I've seen this happen more than once!)
Yes, ladies can and do wear pants. More of them wear pants than not. Also LONG flowinig skirts are quite stylish in the ring, and if you are self-conscious about your knobby knees this looks great. Tight skirts, tight pants and mini skirts are a no no. The ONLY time short skirts are acceptable is when they are not so short as a mini..for example to just above the knee is fine but skirts that only reach down to mid thigh are absolutely unacceptable. The trouble comes when you have to bend over to stack your dog. There are some judges (yes, there are PERSONAL preferences, too when it comes to judges) who seem to put up people who wear red, or ladies who show leg...) and if you think it will help, do it. Just don't get too "showy" because this could detract from your dog. You need to be the one that "blends into the background" when you are showing, so that your dog will be shown to the best advantage, and not you. Wear clothes that will stay on! I have seen (more than once) women who run right out of their slips!
It is absolutely a NO NO to wear anything which even hints of your kennel name, kennel logo, your own name or your dog's name. Neither is it permissible to wear any article of clothing that bears a photo of YOUR dog. It's actually against AKC rules. You can however wear "generic" doggy items, for example, men can wear a necktie with a particular breed or a woman can wear a sweater with a particular breed, just no names and no personal photos.
Men can and do wear clothing other than a suit. Suits are fine, but men can also wear the newer styles of polos or long sleeved shirts , colorful clothing is great. Some male handlers are always known for their lavendar shirts or their red ties. That's fine. Men usually do wear a suit however, but many no longer wear a tie. Blue jeans usually are not the choice for in the ring under any circumstance whether you are a man or a woman.
Your behavior should match your clothing:
I can’t stress it enough, be polite, be friendly, put up with rudeness. If you are a nervous wreck it will transmit to your dog. Use a little drop of “Bach’s Rescue Remedy” ahead of the show, (you can even give this to your dog). Take breath mints before you go in the ring. Not only will your breath smell great but it will help the nerves from transmitting themselves to your dog, since it will help to mask the adrenaline smell of your saliva.
Don’t allow the other exhibitors to get on your nerves while in the ring. The top handlers know how to do it. If they get on your case, just think of it this way: they must think your dog is a threat to their win! So put your head up and envision yourself in the Winner’s Circle... It is a trick which often works!