Prize pooches push popularity of dog shows

Business opportunities

The greater recognition of pedigree dogs and the quest to breed and own show champions has prompted the emergence of businesses related to breeding. Dogs that qualify to enter shows are about 10 times more expensive than regular canines.

In October 2017, Wang Bing, director of the Crape Myrtle Kennel in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, told Chengdu Economic Daily that customers prefer to buy the offspring of show dogs because of their superior bloodlines and excellent health.

The more awards a dog wins, the higher the price of its puppies. Wang Bing said most of the 20-plus dogs he owned were show dogs and their puppies could cost tens of thousands of yuan or sometimes more than 100,000 yuan ($14,200).

The whopping prices didn't deter customers, but attracted them because many scammers offered dogs in poor health at low prices.

Wang Bing said it took a great deal of effort and money to produce show dogs and high-quality purebreds. As a result, by October 2017, he had only bred 62 dogs in the previous nine years, selling 48.

"The puppies are available via presale, so customers are required to reserve them at least six months in advance," he said.

Lam Gin-dik, a 44-year-old from Hong Kong, is a trainer and handler at dog shows. He runs his own kennel in Beijing, where he breeds Bernese Mountain Dogs.

"It takes about a month for me to train a dog to get it ready for a show. The dog must be a purebred, with good looks and health," he said. "The owner usually pays the handler about 3,000 yuan to train the dog and provides a bonus if the dog wins a prize at a show."

He said it costs at least 10,000 yuan a year to train each dog and enter it for shows in China: "The expenses cover food, grooming and a training course. The cost rises if the owner wants to enter their dog in a show overseas."

Wang Zhuang, the kennel owner in Shenyang, said that even though dog shows have received greater recognition in China in the past decade, it remains a niche activity that needs more promotion to help regulate training and breeding, which would bring a positive influence to bear on the market.

"From my perspective, breeding or selling show dogs is not just about money; it is a platform to find friends with the same desire to produce quality animals," he said.

"Some irresponsible kennels are eager to make a profit, so they buy stud dogs simply for reproduction, but the puppies they sell are mainly in poor health. I hope that these shows will ensure that more dogs-pets or show breeds-will be valued and respected by people."

Zeng Jiru contributed to the story.