Hi everyone,

I have always used this site, but never the forums which are brilliant, so thought I'd post a little blog....

I am owned by two beautiful dogs, Dougie, a three year old Border and Ruby, a 15 month Irish Setter. I have worked in boarding and show kennels and have always had an ambition to get into the show ring myself, and on Sunday I will be there! And I'm terrified!

Ruby has been entered for the novice class of her breed at an Open show fairly close to our home, and although I have had some amazing guidance and advice from a very knowledgable and well known person to the doggy world, I am still not convinced we are ready!

Don't get me wrong, Ruby will always be first and foremost our pet, and I am not worried whether we win or loose, but I know how fierce the dog showing world can be and I am so scared of making a fool of myself!

Any tips / advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

Nicki

Remember, everyone had their first show once.  And any mistakes you *think* you will make, someone has already done them, and many more people will do them!  So don't be embarressed or upset with yourself if you do something wrong.

Enjoy your day and best of luck.  Most Irsih Setter folk are really nice so get talking to afew people. It's not just the dogs who make new friends!

Whatever you do, it won't be as embarrassing as my first show! :-D Just relax and enjoy.... you learn as you go along. :-)

Good luck!

We are new to showing ;) We recently had our first champ show, and i messed up!! too nervous, :) Archie was a star, but i was all over the place.
Just enjoy it ;) we had a great time....and i am sure you will too :)

As the others have said go and enjoy yourself, I went completley wrong when I first did it, tell the judge its your first time they are quite understanding and usually have a giggle with you or in my case at me, :).

If your not already get yourself to a good ring craft.

Give yourself plenty of time before you go in the ring,  good luck and above all else enjoy yourself.

> Any tips / advice would be greatly appreciated!

I've only been doing it for 18 months so still very much a novice too.  I told the Steward it was my first time, and my pups, and asked her to help point me in the right direction and she was fantastic.  She came and stood by me to explain what was happening and she told the Judge who was also very clear in her instructions.  I came out of the ring with a mental list of what to do differently next time but I also came out with AVNSC Best Puppy too, thanks to some complete strangers who shoved me back in the ring at the right time!!

My 'must do better next time' included the following advice to myself:

:) Tuck hair out of the way - helps if you can see more of the judge than her feet!
:) Don't drop end of lead on dog's head as we are trotting our stuff for the judge - oh well at least she got to see what shiny teeth he has and how flexible he is!!
:) Find a new place to position the rosette - flapping about on large chest is not a good look
:) Remember that our boy will drink no other water than our own and so will the dog standing next to us!
:) Don't look at our shadow; it somehow made the pups tail shake very badly - or was that me?!
:) Remember to wash mud off the dogs's tummy - apparently it doesn't just drop off - judge might think he has alarming skin condition...

Good luck :)

Thank you so much everyone, your advice and experiences has helped to calm me down a lot.

I think Ruby is all ready now, we have her bag packed with all of her stuff in and she was bathed a few days ago so I just keep combing through the straggly bits and making sure her eyes and ears etc stay clean.

I'm not sure I will sleep much tonight! :-)

Thanks again everyone, I will let you all know how I get on!

Take care.

Nicki xx

How exciting and nerve racking!
Our first proper champ show is a month away.
Have done local novelty shows to try and educate Zola, but am off to watch breed champ show tomorrow for my learning!
Really good luck! 

Good Luck and enjoy yourself, good tip is to suck a peppermint as this "apparantly" takes the smell of nerves from your breath so your dog will be more relaxed, I read this in a dog handling book from America, take from it what you like LOL oh and remember to breath !!

Hi All!

Thanks so much for all of your messages of advice and encouragement!

The show was yesterday, Ruby behaved impeccably and I was a very proud mum, in her Junior breed class she came third (out of three ha ha) and in the Any Variety Junior she wasn't placed, but I don't care, we had a really nice day and cannot wait to do it again in a fortnight!

Nicki

xx

Well done.. and it's good that you enjoyed it..

A 3rd out of three isnt too bad.. we have all been there.. and still feel proud standing in the line up :-)

good luck in your next show

Well done you!!...

We have our 2nd show in a fortnight....I think I`m more nervous this time than I was 1st time around lol