Dog Show = Sporting Event?????

[canvasbck]

My wife and I started showing our dogs this year and I've been carrying under the assumption that it is NOT a sporting event. Many dogs are handled by professional handlers, so if it is a sporting event, then adding the word professional isn't a stretch.

Since we will be in Art Acevedo's playground for the Houston Dog Show, I wanted to get some opinions on the matter. I don't want to break any laws, but I hate being in Houston unarmed.

[Scott Farkus]

Hmmm... I never thought of it that way. I don't know what the legal definition of "sporting event" is, but I suppose an argument can be made that a dog show is a competition, but it's not what I'd normally consider a "sport". And as you say the winners get money and handlers get paid, so it could easily be considered "professional".

Sorry I don't have an answer for you, but if a dog show is a sporting event then so is a beauty pageant. Another reason we need to just get rid of all these idiotic statutory off-limit laws and be done with it.

[canvasbck]

It gets even more convoluted when you consider everything that will be going on inside the building at NRG center.

Confirmation show - Professional handlers involved (about 20% of the handlers are pros getting paid)
Obedience - Probably going to be a few professional handlers
Rally - May be professional handlers, but most likely amateur handlers
Don't know the name of it, but dancing with a dog to music - unknown if any professional handlers
Frisby competition - likely no professional handlers
Flyball - No professional handlers

Flyball could easily be considered a sport, but there are no pros participating (unless you count the dogs getting treats for performance). The events that have pros involved don't seem (to me) to be sports, but there are events that would be considered a sport.

[RPBrown]

For lack of a better answer, I looked it up. No definitive answer but most sites say yes it is a sport.
Seeing that it will be in Art Acevedos back yard, and at the NRG (I assume that is the show you are referring to) they will probably have metal detectors and claim it to be a professional sporting event anyway. I would probably leave it locked in the car or hotel at least for the 1st day.

[jason812]

If the outcome is decided by a judge it is a contest or pageant. Sports have definite outcomes either by time or scoring points.

At least that's my thoughts.

[cheezit]

Slightly off topic, sorry.
Do you know of any shows comming up in the ft worth area.
I've thought about showing my airedale.

[JustSomeOldGuy]

For it to be a "professional sporting event", wouldn't the dogs have to get paid?