The First-Time Exhibitor Experience: Are We Welcoming or Intimidating?
By Kathy Musto
Every experienced exhibitor remembers that first dog show. The excitement. The nerves. The uncertainty of where to park, where to groom, when to go to the ring, and whether they were about to embarrass themselves in front of seasoned competitors.
For many, that first experience determined whether they would become lifelong participants in the sport—or never return. As exhibitors, breeders, handlers, judges, and club members, we often talk about declining entries and the need to attract younger people. Yet one of the most important questions we rarely ask ourselves is this:
What is it actually like to be a first-time exhibitor today?
Let’s take a moment and look through fresh eyes. Walk into any large dog show as someone who has never been there before. The environment can feel overwhelming. Rows of grooming setups. Fast-moving schedules. Unwritten etiquette. Conversations filled with terminology that makes little sense to newcomers. Most exhibitors are focused on preparing their dogs. They’re not intentionally unfriendly—they’re simply busy. But to someone attending their first show, busy can easily feel unapproachable. A newcomer may hesitate to ask a question because they fear looking inexperienced. If they do ask, the response they receive may determine whether they ever come back.
Every Conversation Matters
One encouraging conversation can change everything.
The breeder who introduces a novice to neighboring exhibitors.
The steward who calmly explains ring procedure.
The experienced handler who offers a reassuring smile before entering the ring.
The club member who simply says, “Welcome. Let me know if you need anything.”
These small gestures cost nothing, yet they create confidence that lasts for years!!
Many of today’s top breeders and professional handlers can recall someone who took a few minutes to help them when they were new. That kindness often became the foundation of a lifelong passion.
We Cannot Assume New Exhibitors Know the Rules! Dog shows operate with traditions that experienced exhibitors take for granted.
-How to check armband numbers?
-Where to find ring changes?
-Proper ring etiquette?
-When to stack?
-When to gait?
-What the judge is looking for?
None of these things are obvious to someone attending their very first show. Instead of expecting newcomers to “figure it out,” clubs can provide simple welcome packets, exhibitor ambassadors, educational signage, or designated mentors throughout the weekend.
Programs like Meet the Breeds successfully introduce the public to purebred dogs. But the next step is helping interested visitors become confident exhibitors.
Education should not end when someone submits their first entry. Every first-time exhibitor represents something much larger than a single entry. They may become a future preservation breeder, a club volunteer, a committee member. Or simply an enthusiastic ambassador for purebred dogs.
The future of our sport depends on people who today know very little about it. The question is whether we make them feel they belong. Winning ribbons is rewarding, but building relationships is what sustains the sport. When newcomers feel welcomed, they return. These same new exhibitors one day may become the next generation responsible for preserving our breeds and our traditions.
Perhaps the most important championship earned at any dog show isn’t awarded in the Best in Show ring. It’s earned quietly, through patience, encouragement, and kindness shown to someone attending their very first event.
If we truly want to preserve the future of purebred dogs, every exhibitor should ask themselves one simple question before leaving the show each weekend:
Did I help someone’s first dog show become a reason to come back?
Because the answer to that question may determine the future of our sport more than any ribbon ever will.