I do not plan on showing my dog or any dog in the future but I just wanted to know a few things....

1) Why do show dogs have to be Spayed/Neutered? (expecially spayed because you can't tell by looking at the dog)

2) Why would Brindle be seen as a disqualifying trait?

I have an adorable Boston Terrier (in my opinion) but he has some Brindle in him. I have heard that is not acceptable for a show dog and I wanted to know why.

Thanks!
Sorry, I meant to say why CAN'T they be Spayed/Neutered

they also have to be debarked

The point of showing dogs is for conformation of potential breeding stock. So if your dog is spayed or neutered, that sort of defies the purpose.

Brindle is not a standard color per the established AKC breed standard for a Boston and may indicate that your dog may be a mixed breed - either that or he has a disqualifying color. Since dogs are shown against the breed standard, he would not suceed at showing.

1) just the opposite - they cannot be spayed or neutered. They have to be "whole" dogs. The judge checks males to see if their testicles are in place.

2) Review the standard, brindle coloring is an undesirable trait, particularly in dogs that should be a solid color, like a Boston Terrier.

Show dogs can NOT be spayed or neutered. They must be intact in order to show.

Brindle in certain breeds is perfectly acceptable. Your Boston Terrier CAN have brindle (www.akc.org) but there are restrictions to it.

1) Show dogs are not altered because, theoretically, shows are for evaluating breeding stock.

2) Brindle is NOT a disqualifying fault in Bostons, in fact it is the PREFERRED color. Read your standard.

http://www.bostonterrierclubofamerica.org/BostonTerrierBreedStandard.html

Color and Markings - Brindle, seal, or black with white markings. Brindle is prefered ONLY if all other qualities are equal. (Note: SEAL DEFINED. Seal appears black except it has a red cast when viewed in sun or bright light.) Disqualify: Solid black, solid brindle or solid seal without required white markings. Gray or liver colors.
Required markings: White muzzle band, white blaze between eyes, white forechest. Desired markings: White muzzle band, even white blaze between the eyes and over the head, white collar, white forechest, white on part or whole of foreleg and hind legs below the hock. (Note: A representative specimen should not be penalized for not possessing "Desired Markings".) A dog with a preponderance of white on the head or body must posess suffivient merit otherwise to counteract its deficiencies.

i don't think they are spayed/neutered. they are picked because they exemplify the breed standard. they would make desirable breeding stock. each breed has a standard, any undesirable traits are unacceptable.

First, I'm assuming that in question 1 you meant *not* be spayed or neutered- the reason is that the show ring was created as a way to "prove" your breeding stock. If the dog is fixed, there is no reason to show it.

As for the brindle being a disqualifying, this isn't the same for all breeds. There are brindle boxers, pits, danes, etc. All are acceptable to their breed standard. As for your Boston, you might check the breed standard at www.akc.org, or find a breed club and find out.

The color of a dog can sometimes be linked to other major faults, however. Just like white Great Danes and Boxers, I believe, tend to be deaf. So, white is not a great color there. Other dogs, like poodles, are not allowed to be anything but solid. Not sure what the reasoning is there, but according to the AKC breed standard, the dog must be a solid color. This, however, is not linked to any structural flaw.

First, show dogs CANNOT be spayed or neutered. The whole purpose of showing dogs is to select the best examples of every breed as they are the only dogs that should be bred.

Second, brindle is not a disqualifying color UNLESS you have a breed that isn't supposed to have brindle dogs. Many, many breeds do have brindles, boston terriers have a distinctive black and white pattern and that's the only acceptable color for them.