Floddens first Rincraft class

Bosworth

Bosworth

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www.ballhillequestrian.co.uk
In case you don't remember Flodden is my bedlington pup. He is now 5 months old and yesterday he started his ringcraft classes. I am a total novice where dog showing is concerned. But I gave him a quick flick over with the brush, a bit ineffective as he had been helping me turn out my horses, and had charged around in the long grass and in the hay barn so rather a mucky pup :) He also is not show trimmed yet so he looks like a gorgeous scruffy mutt. We arrived at the training hall, about 25 people, all who had far far far more experience than me and Flods. We had the wrong lead :) well I had no idea what a show lead looked like. One very kind person lent me one and we were told how to stand up, what would be expected of Flodden and how to show him to his best on the table. Floddy thought it was great fun, let the chap have a really good look at his teeth and a really good feel all over his body. Then off for his trot up. I am lucky, for Floddy to show his paces the best i just need a brisk walk. No mincing, or legging it for us. And Floddy loved it. Trotted beautifully alongside me taking everything in and being a real show off with a lovely trot. So the initiall assessment was, he has what it takes to show, I just need to train him to stand in a show pose, and by the end of the evening we got it. off to my first show on Saturday, without Flodden as he is too young to show. But I am on a mission to find a show lead, that is workmanlike with no bling. And to collect a load of show schedules for him for when he is 6 months.

Next week I will be taking him for his first trim, I really am not wanting to trim him as I love him scruffy, but to show as a bedlington I have a lot to learn about trimming. I will post photos when he is trimmed up and be prepared for a new beastie, no longer the forever friends bear :( A very clever Flodden and a very proud me :)
 
Well done, sounds like he is a natural showman:D.

I must admit its very difficult to find a site which lists what show collar and leads to use for different breeds so if anyone out there knows please let me know.
 
Hessonite used to, what a shame they dont any more it was a good resource for people.
For the record both of you need show sets I believe.
 
Bosworth Im really sorry to have hijacked your post but apart from what Ive already said about him, on your earlier photos he is really a stunner and Im sure you will do well with him and have a lot of fun.
 
yes you can but you are best off sticking with something that doesnt stand out...ie black in your case, grey in floddens case.
 
thanks Vizlak, i was thinking black or grey:) and I need to wear dark clothes to show him against. Do thats dead easy.

can anyone tell me, as I meant to ask last night and forgot, when I do a straight show ie there and back do i turn with flodden on my inside or on my outside. I was watching everyone else and it seemed a 50/50 split. I know with horses you always keep the horse to the judge So in effect horse to the inside. Sorry probably doesn't make any sense. It would only be a question when on a there an back on a triangle its dead easy.

See told you I was a complete novice, and as for being a paragon, I was truly astounded by how he loved it. several of the other dogs were clearly unimpressed about being there, The chi just sat on the walkway and removed to move, a weimerana had its tail clamped down and several did not want the judge to touch them. Flodden just swaggered along with his jaunty little trot having a ball. Long may that continue. i think this could be a lot of fun for him, he adores going places and meeting new people. Mind you it may all change once he has had a trim and looks like a girl :)
 
you go around the outside of flodden on the turn, he should always be visible to the judge, having said this, I am awful at remembering this on the turn and tend to naturally turn the wrong way if not thinking hard enough!
 
Yes definately BUT put treats away on the move as you want him looking forward not at you, if he starts looking at you he will start crabbing when he moves. Same with vocal noises, best kept to a minimum as you want him straight, talk on turns and use a command for a turn (approaching a turn/corner) I also use a command to move off, mines a cheerful squeaky 'moving'. Talking in the stand is very good, you need to keep focus and attention on you and bait if needed, I always have bait in my pocket.
 
exactly correct DG. Obviously I do not adhere to this rule as my show dog is also a gundog so sitting is compulsory! But yes a lot of show dogs are never even taught a sit, everything is done to 'stand' command to avoid confusion! Ie around the house, the dog stands for its dinner not sit, stands for its toy etc etc...
 
if truth be known mine never gets asked to stand in the house, but it has a memory like an elephant and is a girly swot :p
 
Yup, no sitting, he is being taught 'stand and stay' now:) Already has a sit and stay so don't do that at all now. vizslak, are your dogs ok with the showing/shooting differences. Flodden is going to gundog training, has had one, but will be having more when he is a bit older, and obviously he has to recall to a sit.
 
Flora is yes but as I say has the memory of an elephant and is a total swot. Concentrate on one for a minute (even I did this we show trained and then gundog trained when show training was ingrained) I still taught sit though :o But you shouldnt really! I try to keep all commands different. So I dont use stay when showing, if you feel you need to use it then do but the stand command should be enough alone.
 
This is also why I use the 'moving' command because its very different to 'walk to heel' which I would use when moving off from a wait. I do not want her in the ring with her nose glued to my thigh!
 
I've never gone with the whole "don't teach show dogs to sit" thing. If a dog can learn to sit it can learn to stand, they are just two different commands, and many breeds should be "fit for purpose" and be capable of doing the job they are bred for, gundogs and GSDs to name but two, and they have plenty of other commands to learn too. I always taught my dogs sit, stand, down etc and they never got confused in the show ring. People also used to say you shouldn't teach GSDs to walk to heel as they had to go on at the end of a long lead when gaiting, again people just use two different commands.
A lot of people choose to place their dogs in sit whilst waiting at the side of the ring whilst other dogs are doing their individuals. It saves the judge glancing across and seeing your dog standing looking all wrong. If you watch the group judging at Crufts on tv you will see a lot of people have their dogs in a sit or even a down while they wait, the ones who keep them in show stance are often fiddling with the poor dogs the whole time which much be very annoying.
 
Well you are a girl after my own heart then MM. I couldnt imagine a dog that doesnt sit and therefore personally take no notice of that particular advice! As you say its all just different commands. I can see with some breeds it may be an issue but with anything with a good capacity to learn then not really. Just have to keep commands different. As you say moving should be the same in that case, Flora doesnt run with her nose glued to my thigh, again different scenerio, different command. In a breed with half a brain (ie most of them :p) then its not so hard really.
 
LOL well similar to mine and Floras partnership then, I'm always greatful she knows what shes doing as my handling is awful! :p
 
With regards as to whether you should turn your dog around you or inside you when you do your up and down it depends on the class and your dog.

Handling classes you should always have the dog between you and the judge. Here it is your handling ability that is being assessed more than the dog you are handling.

Breed classes you do whatever shows your dog off to its best advantage. I used to turn inside me - habit from horses - but was advised at ringcraft to turn her around me as she then keeps moving and flowing better. She is a border collie though so I have to run with her and she needs more room to turn and keep moving.

I would ask at your ringcraft next time you go and get them to watch both and see what they think shows your dog off best and then stick with it.
 
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