The showing thread

[Patterdale]

It might be just me, but if not does anyone fancy a showing thread??
We’re going to our first show back tomorrow after darling puppy broke her pelvis. The chase for the Junior Warrant is back on!!

Anyone else out and about this weekend?

 

[blackcob]

Best special beginner in breed and special beginner group 3 at British Utility Breeds Association today. If anyone is coming to Stafford for LKA next week, it is COLD.

 

[Patterdale]

Best special beginner in breed and special beginner group 3 at British Utility Breeds Association today. If anyone is coming to Stafford for LKA next week, it is COLD.

Well done!! What breed do you have?

Yes we’ll be at LKA…..thanks for the heads up

 

[satinbaze]

Should have been at Coventry gundog today but decided to stay at home and take dogs to play in the snow in the park

 

[blackcob]

Well done!! What breed do you have?

Yes we’ll be at LKA…..thanks for the heads up

He's a schipperke

The forecast says it'll be back up in single figures by Thursday so hopefully won't be nearly as bad but I was huddled ringside in puffa coat and gloves yesterday.

 

[Baroque]

I've not shown in many years but enjoyed it immensely. I shall live vicariously through you all on this thread. The last time I travelled to LKA the (unexpected) snow fall was terrible and we were stuck on the motorway for 7 hours. In the end someone unbolted the central barrier and we all made our slippery escape. We never did get to LKA.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I've not shown in many years but enjoyed it immensely. I shall live vicariously through you all on this thread. The last time I travelled to LKA the (unexpected) snow fall was terrible and we were stuck on the motorway for 7 hours. In the end someone unbolted the central barrier and we all made our slippery escape. We never did get to LKA.

Those who did get to LKA that year were stranded there as I recall. We turned back before we got to the M6.

 

[Baroque]

As should we have done. But it was a judge who'd liked ours as a puppy and we were young and foolhardy back then!

 

[druid]

Ours is having a break until Crufts. Might bring him to an open show in February just as a ring reminder and to babysit the pups.

The working Springer pups will do a limit or open show a few times as pups for life experience and future Crufts Gamekeeper's class practice.

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Ours is having a break until Crufts. Might bring him to an open show in February just as a ring reminder and to babysit the pups.

The working Springer pups will do a limit or open show a few times as pups for life experience and future Crufts Gamekeeper's class practice.

A bit of a side question but do your working springers have full tails to show at crufts?

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

I’ve done a few ring craft classes with my goldie pup as I’d like to show him in the working dog classes at crufts (once he’s actually done some work ) but I really enjoy it! He is a working type goldie but the practice judge said he might be worth putting in some local type shows. I also wanted to do the ring craft as my lab is a pita with unknown people going over him (vets) so figured it’s good practice for that too

 

[blackcob]

Not much to report from LKA (3rd limit, VHC stakes) except that it is really muddy, they were parking as many as possible along the roadways with two wheels on the tarmac but there were still a few being towed out when we left.

 

[Annette4]

Nothing to add besides being very excited to be able to join in once the chaos wombat turns 6 months. He's starting to get what we're asking for at Ringcraft, although settling needs more work

 

[druid]

A bit of a side question but do your working springers have full tails to show at crufts?

Yes, I have some undocked that we show. Most of mine are docked and I prefer them that way but for various reasons these 2 weren't done (one was a covid litter and owner couldn't get a vet to do them as "essential" in the time frame needed, the other was from a litter where the majority were for export to a country where docking is banned so all were undocked). Of the 9 dogs here now only 2 are natural tailed.

There's so few undocked spaniels the classes have poor support which is shame given they are the very origin of Crufts.

 

[satinbaze]

A great day at LKA for Suri. 3rd In minor puppy out of 7 and 4th in puppy out of 13. Also Suri’s sister got VHC in minor puppy so a great day for Satinbaze

 

[Patterdale]

Not a great week for us - pup was very upset by the judge at a show last week and actually snapped, which is v out of character. Last minute judge change who wasn’t a usual judge for her group. I wasn’t keen on how he was handling the breed before ours so shouldn’t have taken her in really. Lesson learned!
So we sadly didn’t make the trip to LKA, not enough time to settle her.
Glad others had a good show!

 

[druid]

Try her with some valerian for a show or two to settle the nerves. And yes, some judges just seem to think they can grab and pull at a dog

 

[blackcob]

We had a judge this year who uncurled (tightly curled) tails in order to grasp them in a fist at the root and use it to push the dogs forward. I can only think they were trying to assess what the dogs would look like docked… not only completely irrelevant in this country but also quite likely to get you snapped at.

 

[MurphysMinder]

As someone who used to show GSDs, who breed specialists barely touch when judging, it amazes me how some judges prod and poke.
I remember years ago one of mine going into the group and the judge grabbed her muzzle and gazed intently into her eyes, bounced their hands on her back then pulled her tail out. The dog turned and looked at the judge and you could almost see the "WTF" in her expression.

 

[satinbaze]

At LKA we had a very experienced and respected all rounder judge. She was lovely with the puppies, older dogs and handlers too. She is one of the judges I would always try to enter under whether she placed my dogs or not.
I have two mental lists a “always enter” judge and a “wouldn’t let them touch a hair on my dogs head” judge

 

[druid]

I have a similar list to Satinbaze. My favourite judge this year actually took a ring break directly before my rare breed in order to go over the breed standard again (his first appointment for the breed). I was delighted to see it!

 

[Annette4]

First show entered.....best get back to ringcraft in the new year, suddenly very nervous and worrying about what to wear

 

[blackcob]

Special beginner group two at Manchester. His third G2 - we are cursed not to get the win

 

[Annette4]

It feels like a daft question but I also can't find an answer online.

Obviously it will depend on the weather but provided it is safe to do so, could we leave our other dogs in the van if our dog care falls through? I know they can't be in the show hall without being entered (and I wouldn't want them to be anyway as 2 are reactive) but there's a slight risk our dog care may fall through this weekend They are very used to and comfortable in the van, I doubt anyone would know they're there unless they're banging on the van and they will be checked on regularly but I just need am emergency plan b. Am I best checking with the organisers directly?

 

[Patterdale]

I would ask the organisers - you can usually enter spectator dogs?

 

[Patterdale]

We didn’t make Manchester as pup was having a phantom pregnancy. Whatever next!! I’m now on pins to see if she’ll be in season for crufts
We’ve only got one show now before crufts but it’s our breed show so it should be a good friendly experience.

 

[EllieBeast]

As the end of the shooting season approaches it’s time to start getting back to ringcraft with Erik ready for crufts!

Any hints or tips very welcomed! He stands well and is very good for the judge to go over. Unfortunately can add a few of his own special moves when running round with other dogs. He used to be fab and commended for his laid back attitude but post KC quarantine he’s found it all more exciting

(Ive been banned from showing/too much indoor show training in the season after bringing Kennel cough back from a show and messing up a big chunk of it )

 

[druid]

It feels like a daft question but I also can't find an answer online.

Obviously it will depend on the weather but provided it is safe to do so, could we leave our other dogs in the van if our dog care falls through? I know they can't be in the show hall without being entered (and I wouldn't want them to be anyway as 2 are reactive) but there's a slight risk our dog care may fall through this weekend They are very used to and comfortable in the van, I doubt anyone would know they're there unless they're banging on the van and they will be checked on regularly but I just need am emergency plan b. Am I best checking with the organisers directly?

Loads of people do it, won't be an issue. Plenty leave dogs in vans overnight outside hotels etc too!

 

[druid]

We didn’t make Manchester as pup was having a phantom pregnancy. Whatever next!! I’m now on pins to see if she’ll be in season for crufts
We’ve only got one show now before crufts but it’s our breed show so it should be a good friendly experience.

Fingers crossed she's not - the breed show should be good fun for her, and an understanding judge.

 

[satinbaze]

It feels like a daft question but I also can't find an answer online.

Obviously it will depend on the weather but provided it is safe to do so, could we leave our other dogs in the van if our dog care falls through? I know they can't be in the show hall without being entered (and I wouldn't want them to be anyway as 2 are reactive) but there's a slight risk our dog care may fall through this weekend They are very used to and comfortable in the van, I doubt anyone would know they're there unless they're banging on the van and they will be checked on regularly but I just need am emergency plan b. Am I best checking with the organisers directly?

Depends very much on the show and weather. For Any champ show held at Stafford show ground you will need a spectator dog pass as they check removal passes and dog numbers. Some of the big summer shows have a no dogs left in vehicles policy and you hear a lot of tannoy announcements about dogs in cars.
Having a dog sitter at home is obviously the best option for reactive dogs otherwise you may need to consider spectator or NFC