MollyMoomin
Well-Known Member
:hugegrin:
Otto (7.5month old weimaraner) went to his (our) very first ever show today. We started ringcraft 3 weeks ago - at the first he refused to stand & squirmed whenever the 'judge' touched him and then gallop/bounced rather than trotted prettily. The second he was better at standing but still had the paw/floor ratio out and the third he stood, wagged while he was gone over and then trotted prettily so went to his show today a little more confident.
My fears were: I'd fall over, I'd be sick, he'd pull me over, he'd bounce rather than run, he'd start playing in the line up, he'd back out of his show lead and cause havoc and he'd give the judge a kiss rather than stand nicely.
The signs were not great when we got there - EVERY DOG was there to play with him, he acted as if he'd never been on a lead before in his life and greeted everyone on his back legs (he KNOWS he isn't allowed but once he's up, he gives gentle kisses and so no one tells him off apart from me!). Watched 5 classes before us, then the mind wandered and all of a sudden I was being shoved to the ring - we'd nearly missed it and we were stood right in front of the damned ring!! So we got in, I didn't realise he had to stand as part of the group so I'm afraid the first view the judge had of him was me manhandling him into position. Oops. We then watched everyone else go round (I was last in ring of 6) which was fine, gave me time to calm a bit & chill the f- out. Otto was SO GOOD, just stood & took it all in until the tannoy went off 2 dogs before him and he ***** himself. Almost literally - he farted - and barked a bit but settled before it was his turn.
I stood him, but fiddled too much while the judge was trying to see him :idiot: He was very polite with the judge and then she sent us off round for the trot - out & back then once round the ring. We've never done round the ring. He was lovely
Bit strong on the run round but had at least one paw on the floor at any one point and didn't run ahead. I then forgot to stand him for the final look - again the judge only saw me manhandling him again :sigh: But still, she liked him enough to place him fourth.
I'm SO proud of him - especially as it was both of our first ever show and he helped me out. The ringcraft tutor we see was there & he waited to see me class & he congratulated us as we came out which meant a lot - he doesn't do praise - and then said I'd cost him at least a place by covering him too much while being stood & him just moving at the wrong second, but I DON'T CARE. So pleased with him!
And I really enjoyed it. I thought it might be a bit cliquey but it wasn't at all, everyone was really friendly and I had a nice little chat with the lady next to us in the class. I'm now looking on Fosse Data for more shows!
Otto (7.5month old weimaraner) went to his (our) very first ever show today. We started ringcraft 3 weeks ago - at the first he refused to stand & squirmed whenever the 'judge' touched him and then gallop/bounced rather than trotted prettily. The second he was better at standing but still had the paw/floor ratio out and the third he stood, wagged while he was gone over and then trotted prettily so went to his show today a little more confident.
My fears were: I'd fall over, I'd be sick, he'd pull me over, he'd bounce rather than run, he'd start playing in the line up, he'd back out of his show lead and cause havoc and he'd give the judge a kiss rather than stand nicely.
The signs were not great when we got there - EVERY DOG was there to play with him, he acted as if he'd never been on a lead before in his life and greeted everyone on his back legs (he KNOWS he isn't allowed but once he's up, he gives gentle kisses and so no one tells him off apart from me!). Watched 5 classes before us, then the mind wandered and all of a sudden I was being shoved to the ring - we'd nearly missed it and we were stood right in front of the damned ring!! So we got in, I didn't realise he had to stand as part of the group so I'm afraid the first view the judge had of him was me manhandling him into position. Oops. We then watched everyone else go round (I was last in ring of 6) which was fine, gave me time to calm a bit & chill the f- out. Otto was SO GOOD, just stood & took it all in until the tannoy went off 2 dogs before him and he ***** himself. Almost literally - he farted - and barked a bit but settled before it was his turn.
I stood him, but fiddled too much while the judge was trying to see him :idiot: He was very polite with the judge and then she sent us off round for the trot - out & back then once round the ring. We've never done round the ring. He was lovely
Bit strong on the run round but had at least one paw on the floor at any one point and didn't run ahead. I then forgot to stand him for the final look - again the judge only saw me manhandling him again :sigh: But still, she liked him enough to place him fourth. I'm SO proud of him - especially as it was both of our first ever show and he helped me out. The ringcraft tutor we see was there & he waited to see me class & he congratulated us as we came out which meant a lot - he doesn't do praise - and then said I'd cost him at least a place by covering him too much while being stood & him just moving at the wrong second, but I DON'T CARE. So pleased with him!
And I really enjoyed it. I thought it might be a bit cliquey but it wasn't at all, everyone was really friendly and I had a nice little chat with the lady next to us in the class. I'm now looking on Fosse Data for more shows!
