In my years at dog shows, I have seen some pretty terrible outfits. Really terrible outfits. Putting aside style and fit for now, I’ve outlined what I see as the worst things to wear in the ring. My belief is that we go into the ring as a representative of our dog. Thus, it is important to not upstage your dog, or for your outfit to detract from the larger presentation.
Open toed shoes or heels: if you can manage to run in them, you can easily injure dogs and yourself.Sandals also tend to flap, which can make your dog’s movement look sloppy.   |
| Anything that flaps or flows: lots of fabric is distracting! Especially at outdoor shows, the flowing fabric on long skirts and dresses interferes with your dog, and the judge’s ability to judge. Men- this includes you, too.
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| Anything that restricts movement: if you cannot move, how can you expect your dog to? While some toy-dog owners can get away with these tight skirts, most dog showers need to be able to stretch their legs without fear of ripping their skirt.
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| Skirts with slits: enough said? Skirts with slits look… cheap. Very cheap.
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| The same color as your dog: (Unless you’re trying to hide something.) While simple black or white pants may be perfect for many dog showers, you run the risk of confusing the judge’s eyes if you wear a shade similar to your dog’s color. This is simply a fact of human vision- check out the difference between the silhouettes below.
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| Reflective fabric: another optical illusion. The shine of certain fabrics can detract from your dog substantially on the move, and plus- it is harder for the judge to look at your dog without noticing you.
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| Anything “au natural” – women, two words: support garments. There is perhaps nothing more painful to watch than a large-breasted woman running around the ring in an everyday bra. I usually wear a sports bra on top of a “normal” bra. It’s not the most comfortable, but it keeps me from looking like this:
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| Casual Clothes: I was the steward for judge Charles Trotter, when he made me promise never to enter a ring looking like “that lady.” The lady in question was wearing khakis, sketchers, and a cotton T-shirt. He explained that he was there to judge the dog, but people like that show no respect for the sport, or their own animals. He added that if two dogs were equal, he’d choose the better dressed person.
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November 30, 2014 at 9:25 pm
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April 14, 2015 at 3:29 pm
I saw this on a fb friend’s page. It is absolutely hilarious. But on the other hand sad. Why? We as humans at one time or another lack all commonsence!
April 19, 2015 at 6:09 am
Lots of great information and I loved photos.Thank you!
December 13, 2015 at 12:13 am
What is your opinion of pant suits on ladies in the ring? I’ve noticed that most ladies tend to prefer skirt suits in the larger shows, but I’m not sure about the appropriateness of tailored pants in other venues. I’m a size 16 and I’d really prefer not to have my thighs rub together while I’m gaiting my dog.
December 14, 2015 at 4:33 pm
I think pant suits are a great optio n! Just make sure to wear a color that contrasts with your dog. 🙂
May 15, 2016 at 1:54 am
So if I’m showing my white dog what is recommended to wear? Its my first show, and I am only 13. But I do want to impress the judges as best I can with how both of us look.
May 17, 2016 at 3:27 pm
Hi Alec! I’d reccomend a nice pair of slacks with dress shoes, a dark button-up shirt, and a tie. You’ll look great with a white dog.
July 18, 2018 at 11:34 am
Jillette discussed his weight loss in more detail in episode 158 of his podcast, Penn’s Sunday School. He said that he found himself in the hospital on Halloween 2014 (October 31), because of various complications of being fat. You might remember Season 5, Episode 1 of Penn & Teller’s television show Bullshit!, “Obesity,” in which we learned that the obesity epidemic was “bullshit.” But apparently Jillette has…
July 21, 2018 at 2:22 pm
Lots of great information and I loved photos.Thank you!
September 13, 2022 at 3:14 pm
Any recommendations for a men’s attire for a Vallhund for a regional show? I’m assuming not Khaki pants but grey/black? As a new handler I don’t necessarily want to come off like a pro but want to give my dog all the advantages possible.