Into the show ring
- all about the breed
Why dog shows matter
For us, showing is not simply about ribbons or winning.
A dog show gives breeders the opportunity to have their dogs evaluated by an independent, qualified judge against the official breed standard. The judge looks at the complete picture: overall breed type, proportions, structure, movement, coat, head and expression, bite, temperament and presentation.
Of course, one judge’s opinion on one particular day is never the whole story. But showing can be another valuable piece of information when evaluating the dogs in a breeding program.
And besides all of that? It is also a wonderful way to celebrate the breed we love, meet other breeders and poodle enthusiasts, and learn.
So, with Lupin being almost 7 months old, we decided it was time to experience it for ourselves.
55th International Dog Show Maastricht
Our first adventure took us to the 55th International Dog Show Maastricht in the Netherlands on September 26th, 2026.
This is an international CAC/CACIB show, with dogs of many different FCI-recognised breeds being judged according to their respective breed standards.
At almost 7 months old, she entered the Puppy Class, which is for dogs from 6 to 9 months of age.
And because this was our very first show, everything was new: from special grooming sessions and learning about the different classes to understanding what all the resuls and awards actually mean.
How does the Puppy Class work?
The Puppy Class works a little differently from the adult classes.
Puppies between six and nine months are still developing, so they are not judged using the same qualification system as older dogs.
In the Netherlands, puppies can receive:
Very Promising (VP) — Veelbelovend (VB)
Promising (P) — Belovend (B)
Less Promising — Weinig Belovend (WB)
Very Promising is the highest possible qualification a puppy can receive.
Once a dog reaches nine months of age, the qualification system changes. Older dogs can receive ratings such as Excellent, Very Good, Good and so on.
This means that when you see an adult show dog with an “Excellent” result, and a puppy with “Very Promising”, the puppy has not received a lower version of the same grade.
They belong to different age-specific qualification systems.
VP = Very Promising
This is the quality rating given by the judge.
1 = First place
This tells you where the puppy was placed within its class.
Put together, VP1 — or 1 VP — means that the puppy received the highest puppy qualification, Very Promising, and was placed first in its class.
And that is exactly what Lupin received at her very first show.
The experience
Lupin was beautifully prepared and handled by Dorothy from Trimsalon Next Level.
During a show examination, the judge doesn’t simply look at the dog standing still. Lupin was examined on the table, her teeth and bite were checked, her overall construction and breed type were assessed, and she was asked to move around the ring so the judge could evaluate her movement.
For such a young dog, there is another important part of the picture too: how she handles the experience.
A show hall is a completely new environment. There are hundreds of dogs, unfamiliar people, noises, grooming tables and activity everywhere. The puppy then has to allow a stranger to examine her and happily move around the ring with her handler.
The result: VP1 & Best Puppy
Lanas Legacy Chilli Hot Pepper “Lupin”
🐩 Puppy Class, 6–9 months
🥇 VP1 — Very Promising, 1st place
🏆 Best Puppy
Receiving Very Promising meant Lupin had received the highest qualification available to her age group.
After being placed first in her Puppy Class, she was also awarded Best Puppy.
For a six-month-old puppy at her very first show, we couldn’t have wished for a sweeter beginning to her show journey.