Question 1

What is SHOWS.dog?

Accepted Answer

SHOWS.dog is a modern, all-in-one platform for dog show management and registration across Europe. It connects kennel clubs, exhibitors, judges, and ring assistants — streamlining everything from show creation and online registration to catalog generation, results publishing, and financial reporting.

Question 2

Who is SHOWS.dog for?

Accepted Answer

The platform serves four main audiences: kennel clubs and show organizers who create and manage events; dog owners and exhibitors who register their dogs for shows; judges who receive assignments and manage their schedules; and ring assistants who support judges during events.

Question 3

Which countries does SHOWS.dog support?

Accepted Answer

SHOWS.dog supports dog shows across Europe, including but not limited to Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, and many more.

Question 4

Is SHOWS.dog compliant with FCI standards?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The platform follows FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) standards for class definitions, breed groups, show types, and result reporting. All standard FCI classes are built into the system, and generated reports are FCI-compliant.

Question 5

What languages does the platform support?

Accepted Answer

SHOWS.dog currently supports English, French, and Lithuanian, with more languages being added. The platform is designed for international events, so exhibitors and clubs can operate in the language most comfortable for them.

Question 6

How do I register my dog for a show?

Accepted Answer

First, create an account and add your dog's profile (including breed, pedigree, and microchip details). Then browse the Show Calendar, select an event with open registration, choose your dog, pick the appropriate class, and add it to your cart. Complete the checkout to finalize your registration.

Question 7

What documents do I need to upload for my dog?

Accepted Answer

A pedigree document is required for all registrations. Depending on the class you enter, you may also need to upload a Champion Certificate, Working Certificate, C.I.B. Certificate, or Club Membership card. You can manage all documents from your dog's profile page at any time.

Question 8

How is my dog's class and age group determined?

Accepted Answer

The system automatically calculates your dog's age group based on their birth date relative to the show date — not their current age. When selecting a class during registration, the platform will recommend the most appropriate class. Standard FCI classes include Baby, Puppy, Junior, Intermediate, Open, Working, Champion, Veteran, Club Champion, and Breeding.

Question 9

Can I register multiple dogs for the same show?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can register as many dogs as you like. After completing the registration for one dog, you can choose to register another for the same show. All registrations are added to your cart, and you can check out once you are finished.

Question 10

What if my dog has a docked tail or cropped ears?

Accepted Answer

During registration, you will be asked about tail docking. If your dog's tail is naturally short (natural bobtail), registration can proceed normally. However, surgically docked tails are not permitted. Dogs with cropped ears cannot be registered for shows on this platform, in line with current European regulations.

Question 11

How do pricing tiers and deadlines work?

Accepted Answer

Show organizers can set multiple pricing tiers with different deadlines. Registering earlier typically means a lower fee. The show detail page clearly displays all tiers, their prices, and the deadline for each. The current active tier is highlighted so you always know what you will pay.

Question 12

Can I assign a professional handler to my dog?

Accepted Answer

Yes. From the My Shows section, you can assign a professional handler to any of your registered dogs. Search for the handler by name or email, and they will receive the assignment in their Handled Dogs dashboard with all relevant information including ring number and schedule.

Question 13

What is a co-owner, and what can they do?

Accepted Answer

A co-owner is someone who shares ownership of a dog on the platform. Co-owners can view the dog's profile and registration history, but only the primary owner can edit dog details, upload documents, and register the dog for shows.

Question 14

Can I view show statistics before registering?

Accepted Answer

Some shows have a Statistics tab that displays the total number of entries, male/female breakdown, and a detailed breakdown by FCI group, breed, and class. This is enabled at the organizer's discretion and can help you gauge competition before entering.

Question 15

How do I register my club on SHOWS.dog?

Accepted Answer

Visit the Register Your Club page from our homepage. You will fill out a two-step form with your organization details (name, country, registration number, contact information) and create an administrator account. Once submitted, your club dashboard is ready to use immediately.

Question 16

What is the difference between a Show and an Event?

Accepted Answer

A Show is a single judging day. An Event is a container that can hold one or more shows — for example, a weekend event with shows on Saturday and Sunday. Events allow you to manage shared pricing tiers, settings, and logistics across multiple shows at once.

Question 17

How do I set up pricing for my shows?

Accepted Answer

When creating an Event, Step 3 allows you to configure pricing tiers with deadlines. For each tier, you can set prices for the first dog, additional dogs (at a discounted rate), reduced-price classes, and competition entries. You can add multiple tiers to incentivize early registration.

Question 18

How does catalog generation work?

Accepted Answer

From the Generate section of your dashboard, select a show, and click Generate Catalog. The system organizes all registrations by breed and class. You can then assign ring numbers to judges, set judging start times and time-per-dog estimates, assign participant numbers, and export the catalog as PDF or CSV.

Question 19

Can I manage my registrations and change a dog's class?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In the Registrations section, you can view, filter, and search all registrations by status (Pending, Confirmed, Paid, Rejected). You can also change a dog's class — for example, if an exhibitor requests a transfer — with the option to provide a reason and notify the owner by email.

Question 20

How do I manage judges and assistants?

Accepted Answer

The Judges and Assistants sections of your dashboard let you add team members with their qualifications, specializations, and contact details. You can then assign them to specific shows. Judges can be assigned breed group specializations, and assistants can be paired with specific judges.

Question 21

What is the Staff / Gate Access feature?

Accepted Answer

For shows where you enable Dog Checker, Tickets, or Parking, you can create staff accounts from the Staff section. These accounts have limited access and are used by gate personnel to scan entries, validate tickets, or manage parking on the day of the show.

Question 22

Does SHOWS.dog cost anything for clubs?

Accepted Answer

Club and speciality shows are always free. National and international shows cost €0.60 per entered dog, and your first one is free. The price applies per show: at a multi-day event every day is a separate show, so a dog is counted for each day it takes part. Every feature is included in both — there are no premium tiers, setup fees or contracts. Equipment rental and integrations with kennel club systems you already use are priced separately; see the Pricing section for details.

Question 23

How do I get invited to judge a show?

Accepted Answer

Kennel clubs add judges to their system and assign them to specific shows. You will receive an invitation through the platform which you can accept or decline. Once accepted, you will have access to your assignments, ring details, and schedules.

Question 24

What qualifications can I list on my profile?

Accepted Answer

You can specify your FCI breed group specializations, years of experience, languages spoken, and country of origin. Clubs use this information when searching for judges with the right expertise for their shows.

Question 25

Will I receive ring and schedule information?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Once the organizer generates the catalog and assigns ring numbers and timing, this information becomes available to you. You will see your assigned ring number, start time, and estimated schedule for the day.

Question 26

How do I pay for my registration?

Accepted Answer

After adding your registrations to the cart, proceed to checkout. The platform supports online payment processing. Your registration status will update to Paid once the transaction is complete.

Question 27

Can I add visitor tickets and parking to my order?

Accepted Answer

Yes. During checkout, if the show organizer has enabled tickets and parking, you can add visitor tickets and parking passes to your order. You can adjust quantities as needed before completing payment.

Question 28

Where can I find my invoices?

Accepted Answer

As an exhibitor, your invoices are available in the My Shows section under past registrations. Club organizers can view and manage all invoices from the Invoices section of their dashboard, with the ability to filter by event and date range.

Question 29

Are there different prices for members and non-members?

Accepted Answer

Some show organizers offer different pricing for club members and non-members. If applicable, the pricing tiers on the show detail page will clearly indicate both member and non-member rates.

Question 30

How do I create an account?

Accepted Answer

Click Sign Up on the homepage. You will need to provide your email, create a password, and fill in your location details (country, city, address, phone). If you are a professional handler, you can enable that option during registration.

Question 31

I forgot my password. How do I reset it?

Accepted Answer

On the login page, click the Forgot Password link. Enter your registered email address, and you will receive instructions to reset your password.

Question 32

Can I use SHOWS.dog on my phone?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The platform is fully responsive and works on smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers. All features — including show browsing, registration, and dog management — are accessible from any device with a modern web browser.

Question 33

How do I contact support?

Accepted Answer

If you need help, you can reach our support team through the contact information provided in your dashboard, or by emailing us directly. Club organizers also have access to in-platform messaging for operational questions.