As you prepare for the week in Orlando and the AKC National Championship show, understand there is hidden magic that lies within this single week of the year. It is the revelation that reveals how far you’ve come since last year. In this ongoing conversation about the gap and the gain, here we apply it to the pinnacle of the dog show year. It’s about the gap you’ve closed between then and now that reveals the gain you’ve managed to attain and where you’re headed next.
If you intend to reduce the gap between last December and this December, you must look backward before stepping forward: Where were you twelve months ago? Where are you now? How far do you still need to go?
By the time you read this, the week will already be in full swing—final trims, last-minute runs, the culmination of months of preparation. In most breeds, the real work didn’t start last week—it started last year after the third quarter.
That’s when the quality handlers start to get their specials ready for the end-of-year push to No. 1, or get their new specials ready for the next year. Ninety days is the minimum time for Orlando preparation or for the New Year. Coat prep is either eight to twelve weeks prior to (or continuous preparation towards) the big event. That extensive preparation is part of closing the gap. This makes the Orlando week feel like a high-performance summit, not just a destination.
We like to say it’s just about the dogs, but it really isn’t. Your role as exhibitor, breeder, and mentor matters too, and in Orlando, more than ever. Breed mentors aren’t just prepping their own dogs, they’re mobilizing their teams: puppy buyers, co-owners, handlers. Breed mentors share information, but more critically, they share knowledge. That difference is the heart of reducing the gap.
In the Orlando stretch, the breed mentor or private mentor becomes something closer to a performance architect. They know when to push and when to back off. They can look at your dog and see what’s in store in the days to come. It’s essential to have someone at your elbow who can see what you and your dog need to perform your best. They know what kind of training can deflate a dog mentally or build it up. The final 48 hours are about polish, not pressure. This is the part no one talks about, but benefits everyone.
Even the dogs that seem destined for the top don’t always win. I’ve seen pedigrees worth millions walk away with nothing when “everyone” thought the outcome was certain. That boardslapping shock is a reminder: progress isn’t measured only by ribbons—it’s measured by the distance you’ve traveled. Your gain.
A true mentor has only your interests at heart. The only “skin in the game” that they have is to make sure you’re at your best, to perform your best and are ready to win.
Here’s what a great mentor does:
In breeds with heavy grooming or drop coats, the grooming may have already begun months ago. Some local groups meet weekly or biweekly to stack, groom, and polish. That shared effort doesn’t just maintain coat—it shrinks the gap between where the dog was and where it must be this week.
Orlando week is intense and filled with possibility. The energy in the great hall vibrates with emotion, frustration, and hope. The overarching vibe is the joy of real competition, not just beating your own kennel for the sake of a few points. Rather, it is competition that, when overcome, is the reward of having your dog be the best representative, best presented, and in the best condition.
This is when you want to win; you have worked for it, learned for it, and now understand that, win or lose, you get out there and lust for it like at no other show. There will be many dogs present that are deserving. Like it or not, this is when the chips are down and you have to make every moment in the ring count. There are no excuses in this arena. No do-overs.
And here’s a truth from the judge’s perspective: Orlando changes our calibration, too. When you see breed after breed at the highest level, your eye sharpens fast. Minor details you might overlook on an average weekend suddenly ring louder. Presentation becomes a differentiator that is a requirement for the win. Consistency becomes non-negotiable. Exhibitors often wonder what judges “really see” during Orlando—the answer is: everything. The bar rises on both sides of the ring.
You won’t leave Orlando with just ribbons. You’ll leave with:
Leverage what you observe: Which dogs impressed you? Which handlers were precise? What setups worked? Use your discoveries to fuel next year’s plan.
Use Orlando as your checkpoint. Know that every year at this time you will be finalizing some elements of your dog show growth. When the New Year comes, you’ll have a new goal to work towards with a strong knowledge base supporting you.
Support comes in many ways. Reach out to whatever support team you have, whether it’s a mentor, a friend, or a community like Dog Show Mentor. However you look to the future, know that there is always a way to learn and grow if you simply ask. You just need to know the right place and the right questions. Then you will look back at the gain you have supporting you, and the gap ahead that you can look forward to closing. And when the ribbons are handed out, remember, it is not the finish line, it is the starting line for the next gap you will close. Make it count.
