Everyone is saying that your pet Akita could win any dog show competition just by the way it looks, and you are thinking, "Well, why not?"

Entering a dog competition is actually more than just a desire to show off your pet to the world. It's a fierce business, and you and your pet Akita will have to undergo hours upon hours of training beforehand. Or if you want, you can hire a trainer for your pet and then hire a dog handler for the competition, that is, if you take the competition seriously or have money invested in it.

The first thing you must find out is if your pet Akita is good for any type of competition at all. Some Akitas don't have the gumption for competition, and really, not all dogs do. There are a few dogs that stand out in the crowd, and if you have the competition bug, you will know which Akita is the winner. In order to know how to train your Akita to become a champion, you need to immerse yourself completely into the world of dog show competitions.

The term "champion", that is, Champion Akita or Champion Dog, often refers to a dog that has won the Champion title at a Conformation Dog Show. It can also be a term for any dog that has earned the highest possible accolade for various dog sports.

Here is a list of dog shows that you may be interested to enroll your Akita in:

Conformation Competition

This competition evaluates how well your dog, in this case, your Akita conforms or corresponds in form or character to its breed standards. Part of the competition involves judging fields like breed, obedience, field and herding.

Obedience Trial

This is a dog sport wherein your Akita must execute a predefined set of tasks under the direction of its handler. Obedience competitions like these rely on human and dog interaction, creating a solid and unbreakable team. Some of the trials set are highly stylized and precise. Points are deducted if the dog veers off from the agreed task.

Dog Agility Trial

Dog Agility Competition requires a handler to direct a dog through an obstacle course. It is a race against time and a battle for execution accuracy. Part of the rules of the competition is that your Akita must run off-leash without any food or toy rewards. Handlers must not make physical contact with their pets, and can only govern them through voice commands, hand movements and various body signals. This competition relies heavily on the dynamics between handler and the dog. Also, the dog needs to put absolute trust on the handler's directives. Any sign of apprehension on the part of the animal will result in the deduction of points.

Specialty Show

Specialty Shows follow the same principles as the Conformation Competition, except for one catch: it caters to only one specific breed during one event. Unlike conventional Conformation Competitions which are open to all dog breeds, specialty shows are limited to only one breed, that is, Akita Specialty Show, Golden Retriever Specialty Show, etc. Such competitions may be held on a regional or national level, and some may even attract international entries.