SHOWING DOGS
I have decided for the first time to have a page on the website to tell everyone about showing dogs and how to go about it. The things you need to buy and take with you. This will help you learn all about what it is like having a show dog. I am also going to do other pages on other dog activities also.
Lots of people ask me about showing dogs, and yet do not go any further as they feel it's complicated. Its not really complicated, but its like anything else its daunting when you do not know whats involved.
Lots of people ask me about showing dogs, and yet do not go any further as they feel it's complicated. Its not really complicated, but its like anything else its daunting when you do not know whats involved.
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ITEMS YOU NEED TO PURCHASE
- Ring clip or arm band to show your exhibitor number.
- Show lead, in our breeds a slip lead. Made from leather.
- Crate for bench 36" With crate cover ( Not all champ shows are benched)
- Some tie their dogs to the bench with benching chain.
- Blanket for your dog to sleep on bench or inside crate.
- Water and water bowl.
- Summer time - cooling coat in hot weather.
- Winter time - Fleece coat to keep warm.
- Treat pouch and treats.
- Collar and lead to walk dog into show ground plus id tag on collar.
- Bag to put all your stuff.
- Your own food, although some shows sell food.
TRAINING
- Ring craft training classes. Find these on Facebook, or ask around locally.
No puppy will just walk into the ring and be ready for a show. It takes time and training. You can not walk into the ring with any puppy from any litter as you will set up to fail. Choose your puppy from a show breeder. One with good reputation for producing quality puppy's. Ideally they should choose for you to make sure you start off with the right one, as not all puppies in a litter should go into the ring, as some will be just pet dogs. Any breeder who sells all the puppies as show prospects is not doing their owners any justice what so ever. This knowledge comes from years of being in the show world. You will get seriously disappointed owners if you let all dogs go into the ring from one litter.
Once you have your puppy you need to practise opening the mouth and letting family look at teeth, try to stand puppy. Be in ring craft around 16 weeks of age. Trainers will get you to stand your dog, they will go over your dog and then tell you to run around in a triangle shape, and up and down in straight line, or they may just get you to go around the hall once. As it could be your first dog you should keep in training up until 6 months. Because the dog gets used to other dogs, people and noises and sounds.
Your puppy must be Kennel club registered to attend an Open show or championship show.
You can find shows to enter on www.fossedata.co.uk or www.highampress.co.uk
Try to enter a few open shows before you attempt a championship show. As this will give you lots of confidence and you will meet other show exhibitors in a less busy environment. Chatting and finding a friend makes showing more enjoyable. Even sharing rides to shows is helpful on fuel money and it makes it more enjoyable.
Before you actually go in the ring however go along and watch a few open shows, or even a champ show from the side lines and watch what the exhibitors are being asked to do. This gives you confidence.
If you are nervous and your breeder shows, maybe for the first show or two they would take the dog in the ring for you and you can watch from outside. Nearly all show breeders are enthusiastic to help new exhibitors showing their dogs.
Make it fun for the dog, do not just keep the dog benched all day. Take it off for a walk around the show ground,
Shows vary on start times, anything from 9am to 10am. Some open shows will have a judging order which you find in schedule. But with champ shows you need to look at the leaflets provided on fosse data or Higham press. Because a champ show you could be second in the ring or first in the ring and this makes a difference on time when you arrive. Open shows a judge may do multiple breeds so look at schedule for order. Then look at summary of entries and work out 2 mins per dog being judged and the time you need to arrive. I would suggest you arrive at least one hour before judging at an open show so the dog can settle down. With champ shows we have more difficulties because of travelling times. Championship shows are all across the UK but this means you could have a 3 hour drive minimum. Lots of us will even get a cheap hotel over night so we do not miss the show the following day.
If you have questions show secretaries can be found in the tents usually to ask questions. Or other exhibitors maybe able to help you.
If you are entering an open show book puppy class. Sometimes puppy classes are not available so you have to book junior. But you can still take a best puppy from junior class.
If you are entering a championship show you want to book first Minor puppy, then when dogs 9 months you can enter puppy class. If you want to book another class you can book Novice or special beginners if you have never won a CC before. Ask for advice from fellow exhibitors. Do not enter other classes however as you will be up against older experienced dogs, and we have seen people mistakenly book every single class. They then find themselves in a class with all the champions and get disillusioned. Start small and go along by breed age classes. You will soon get in the swing of it.
If you wish to show your puppy do not forget the ring craft. Remember untrained dogs are not going to do well. Each breed is shown in a slightly different way. Ring craft should help you with the breed you have. Table dogs are smaller dogs which are stood on a table, but of course a Vizsla you would not stand on a table to show it.
If you are thinking of having a show dog just know it's a lot of commitment and you have to do training.
We have had all sorts of people come to us. I have had people who wanted a pet, and got a pet then they wanted to show later. Although the dogs have done well, they would have been better suited with a different dog. So try to know if you want a show dog first. Because some dogs in the litter although are lovely and will be your fabulous pet are not champion material. We have to be sensible.
We also get people saying they want to do it and do not really. They just think they want a show dog. We are aware that people think we will give them the best dog then. But now we charge for this to try and stop this pattern. You must know what you want. We may have two people who come to us, and really one has no intentions, yet the other does, but we do not know how honest you are being with us. So to be fair to everyone, be honest in what you want.
I have had litters where we have had at least 4 show dogs sitting there in quality. I remember having one litter and only 1 dog in the whole litter had potential. Be prepared if you want a show dog that we may say wait for another litter if we do not feel they have the quality. Out crossings although desirable by pet owners as they think its healthier. Line bred dogs are better show dogs as you get the same size, looks and type. Trust your breeder.
Once you have your puppy you need to practise opening the mouth and letting family look at teeth, try to stand puppy. Be in ring craft around 16 weeks of age. Trainers will get you to stand your dog, they will go over your dog and then tell you to run around in a triangle shape, and up and down in straight line, or they may just get you to go around the hall once. As it could be your first dog you should keep in training up until 6 months. Because the dog gets used to other dogs, people and noises and sounds.
Your puppy must be Kennel club registered to attend an Open show or championship show.
You can find shows to enter on www.fossedata.co.uk or www.highampress.co.uk
Try to enter a few open shows before you attempt a championship show. As this will give you lots of confidence and you will meet other show exhibitors in a less busy environment. Chatting and finding a friend makes showing more enjoyable. Even sharing rides to shows is helpful on fuel money and it makes it more enjoyable.
Before you actually go in the ring however go along and watch a few open shows, or even a champ show from the side lines and watch what the exhibitors are being asked to do. This gives you confidence.
If you are nervous and your breeder shows, maybe for the first show or two they would take the dog in the ring for you and you can watch from outside. Nearly all show breeders are enthusiastic to help new exhibitors showing their dogs.
Make it fun for the dog, do not just keep the dog benched all day. Take it off for a walk around the show ground,
Shows vary on start times, anything from 9am to 10am. Some open shows will have a judging order which you find in schedule. But with champ shows you need to look at the leaflets provided on fosse data or Higham press. Because a champ show you could be second in the ring or first in the ring and this makes a difference on time when you arrive. Open shows a judge may do multiple breeds so look at schedule for order. Then look at summary of entries and work out 2 mins per dog being judged and the time you need to arrive. I would suggest you arrive at least one hour before judging at an open show so the dog can settle down. With champ shows we have more difficulties because of travelling times. Championship shows are all across the UK but this means you could have a 3 hour drive minimum. Lots of us will even get a cheap hotel over night so we do not miss the show the following day.
If you have questions show secretaries can be found in the tents usually to ask questions. Or other exhibitors maybe able to help you.
If you are entering an open show book puppy class. Sometimes puppy classes are not available so you have to book junior. But you can still take a best puppy from junior class.
If you are entering a championship show you want to book first Minor puppy, then when dogs 9 months you can enter puppy class. If you want to book another class you can book Novice or special beginners if you have never won a CC before. Ask for advice from fellow exhibitors. Do not enter other classes however as you will be up against older experienced dogs, and we have seen people mistakenly book every single class. They then find themselves in a class with all the champions and get disillusioned. Start small and go along by breed age classes. You will soon get in the swing of it.
If you wish to show your puppy do not forget the ring craft. Remember untrained dogs are not going to do well. Each breed is shown in a slightly different way. Ring craft should help you with the breed you have. Table dogs are smaller dogs which are stood on a table, but of course a Vizsla you would not stand on a table to show it.
If you are thinking of having a show dog just know it's a lot of commitment and you have to do training.
We have had all sorts of people come to us. I have had people who wanted a pet, and got a pet then they wanted to show later. Although the dogs have done well, they would have been better suited with a different dog. So try to know if you want a show dog first. Because some dogs in the litter although are lovely and will be your fabulous pet are not champion material. We have to be sensible.
We also get people saying they want to do it and do not really. They just think they want a show dog. We are aware that people think we will give them the best dog then. But now we charge for this to try and stop this pattern. You must know what you want. We may have two people who come to us, and really one has no intentions, yet the other does, but we do not know how honest you are being with us. So to be fair to everyone, be honest in what you want.
I have had litters where we have had at least 4 show dogs sitting there in quality. I remember having one litter and only 1 dog in the whole litter had potential. Be prepared if you want a show dog that we may say wait for another litter if we do not feel they have the quality. Out crossings although desirable by pet owners as they think its healthier. Line bred dogs are better show dogs as you get the same size, looks and type. Trust your breeder.