> Hey none of us really bite ;-)

Unless they are called Brainless... lol...

> Unless they are called Brainless... lol...

Ooh didn't know I came over all 'scary', :D

I've over stepped the mark this time. I feel I've let Brainless down as well she was only explaining to me this morning about forum etiquette.

No worries, I am sure no-one is mortally offended. ;)

LOL if everyone remembered forum etiquette all the time then I would be out of a job. The problem is a dry sense of humour doesn't always translate well to the written word without the usual facial expressions to read the fun behind the words and it can be difficult keeping up when a thread is moving quickly. I'm sure everyone can accept the apologies made with the grace they were given with and move on and back to exchanging information.

I appreciate what you are all saying, thank you, but you should really think of your fellow posters before me, you have all been on here alot longer than I, they won't appreciate you condoning my behavior. But I do now understand that looking from the outside - in that it is not good for the forums reputation as a knowlege base to take peoples views cheaply.

Hopefully this draws a line under the whole situation.

I really wasn't trying to wind anyone up. I'm going to make a conscious decision and think before I speak in future.

Lets forget it Sian, it is so easy to be misunderstood i.e. I did not delete my post because you had offended in any way but because once I had replied I realised the thread had changed tack and there was a bit of "personal" going on and I did not wish to join in.

Anyway what I said was along the lines of:

Crufts is just another Championship Show on the circuit except it is the only one you have to qualifies to enter.  There are other differences, the show is far too crowded, there are loads of stalls and your dog has to stay on it's bench from 8 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon. And the winner of the show is just that the Best in Show not as the BBC would have it Supreme Champion, the value of any win at Crufts is no different to any other show it is just expensive, crowded, uncomfortable and I have not been to exhibit for many years not because I have not qualified but because I hate it.

Just though I would add, I don't really see Crufts as a "special" show - it is (to me anyway) pretty much the same as all the other champ shows - you just have to qualify for this one :o)

I'm sure you wouldn't have a problem qualifying, your dog looked a cracker. As long as the handler Smartens up :)

If somebody had told me back then she'd get BOB at Crufts I'd had said they were insane!

Thanks for sharing that story, MarianneB--I've had exactly the same start but have started showing because my youngest dog has grown into such a nice looking boy. I've no background at all in this and almost fell over when he made 3rd of a class of 8 and qualified for Crufts. So now I'm making as big an effort as I can with ringcraft, but need to get over my nerves and feel sometimes I'll never get there. It's good to know that everyone starts at the beginning. All I see around me are expert handlers, breeders and owners who are calm as a rock...and I wish that was me!

I assumed your kickboxing ref was a joke, but it was a little startling. Don't worry! And in answer to your question, yes many of us have shown our dogs at Crufts, but we are friendly to beginners too! My boy won his class at Crufts twice and got placed 3 other times, and I now have a new puppy, so fingers crossed I qualify her next year and and take her the year after. Too early to tell how her quality is, but she's got the temperament!

Now now Sian the handlers dress is neither here nor there, though if your proud of your dog you will be clean and tidy.

Dress of the handler varies a lot between breeds, and groups even.  In our breed we are pretty casual, just tidy comfort generally, though some people will wear a suit, and most of the men and many of the women will wear a jacket.

In many breeds colour co-ordination is the norm a nd I would hazard the more glamorous and groomed the breed the handlers seem to do the same.

A lot of the Gundog handlers will wear country clothing, it suits the breeds and of course may more than likely be the usual wear of the handlers too, if they are country based.

Thanks for sharing that story, MarianneB--I've had exactly the same start but have started showing because my youngest dog has grown into such a nice looking boy.

Good luck and enjoy Crufts!!! Yes we all have to start somewhere! I had actually been showing on and off for many years when I got Ripley but as my ex husband didn't drive (nor do I) had to stick to local shows only then which REALLY limited it, so the serious showing didn't start until this dog that I wasn't going to show. :) (And of course she was of a new breed to me as well.)

thanks MarianneB--I went last year to gundog day as a spectator and found it absolutely overwhelming in the best possible way. I'm hoping to work really hard on my technique now so I don't put my boy off showing, he has a tendency to sit down on the job and I need to correct him in a positive way instead of feeling flustered :(

I have found that dogs who sit as the automatic response due to earlier obedience training will stand fine if you stand at the shoulder instead of face on.

A couple who have a 10 months pup out of my breeding attended and competed at their first ever show on Saturday.  Never had ring craft or taught to stand, but had been to puppy training and would sit and down when not sure what was wanted.

A friend took her in for the first class, and they did fine on their own in Special Newcomers.

im another one who hates crufts. i know the public are paying to see the dogs but what gives them a right to come up and stick a camera in my dogs face or pet him all over. im sure it says on the their tickets to ask permission before touching the dogs.

as for qualifying - im from a numerically small breed so its easy to qualify for crufts which can be annoying aswell looking at some of the dogs!

I get claustrophobic, and hate crufts. I've been a couple of times and each time I say never again. It will have to be a good judge that I respect to get me back. I've even had a bitch not go to the tilet all day as she was taught not to go indoors, and she was very clean. :-( She ended up peeing on the green carpet on the way out. This was when we couldn't leave until 8 o'clock.

I'm sure you wouldn't have a problem qualifying, your dog looked a cracker. As long as the handler Smartens up

Not sure If this was aimed at me and the jumper picture? We have already qualified - the pic was taken after chilling out after the classes - I normally show in a suit ;)

It was, and I know I remembered. You looked very dashing. :)

Crufts night round at my mums, Sunday nights I remember them well. Everyone congregated in the lounge, waiting for my mums tea spread, Fresh sliced bread, boiled ham, homemade chutneys, lovely. Followed by tinned fruit and Carnation milk. Them were the days..we would all try and pick the eventual winner. I never got it right though, and the loser always had to wash up. :(

> In many breeds colour co-ordination is the norm a nd I would hazard the more glamorous and groomed the breed the handlers seem to do the same.
>

I know they make a real effort, especially at crufts, with an interest in fashion myself, I look forward to the dress wear as much as the dogs. :)