I am receiving some peer pressure from my fellow villagers to participate in this years local show by entering into the companion dog show.  Think I may just stick to the 'dog with the most appealing eyes' category, but its pricked my curiosity - are companion shows fun events for anyone to participate in or do you need to have good knowledge of ring craft and showing etiquette ?

I say just for fun..........but it's probably how we all catch the bug for showing!

I was at one this weekend and a guy when in for "best 6 legs" - He rolled up his trousers and put his partners heels on, it was so funny watching him run in them with a bouncy dog, he won by the way :)

Very much fun.  Of course novelty classes are for extream fun...6 legs rolling up trousers...Nope I've seen pulling DOWN trousers!!!!!!! (tight shorts underneath!)

Pedigree classes are taken a little more seriusly in the way they are judged on the quality of the dog but are where alot of people start out and where puppies have their first shows/ideal place to take youngsters after a bad expiriance, good relaxed athmosphere.

Most judges very sympathetic towards unexperianced people and generally with the right crowd can be a very entertaining day! :-D

I suppose they're supposed to be fun and encouraging, but I dare say there will be those who take it all too seriously and don't have a 'proper' show that weekend and will go pot hunting!

There's one about 10 mins from our house on August bank holiday - my pup will be 6 months old so I'm going to take him. I've done obedience and agility in the past but have never shown, but think it will be good experience for him, and will be supporting 2 worthwhile charities. I haven't got a clue what I'm supposed to do, but will tell them it's my first time and not worry about it.

They also have very basic obedience, all on lead, so might have a go at that too - it's all good experience in a different environment :-)

I have done novelty classes in the past with my old boy - most handsome dog, dog with the most appealing eyes, dog the judge would most like to take home  - but that was just walking around in a circle and lining up for the judge. I think the other classes may involve a bit more 'ringcraft' but luckily my breed is shown freestanding so I'm just going to have a go for fun! As long as he keeps all 4 feet on the floor I'll be happy :-D

Dogs that have won CCs, RCCs or JWs cannot take part in the pedigree classes, so it automatically bans the most experienced/successful dogs.

I have to say though I no longer like companion shows because so often the judge doesn't know what they are looking for (or even at) -and to me it annoys me to be beaten by an obvious non-show quality pet dog -at least at champ.shows you know it is all fair and square and the judge knows what breed they have in front of them.  But they're good places for novices to start and very good practice for dogs not used to showing -and the fun classes I do like. :)

Thats the problem with having a breed not every knows.

I've been asked to stand "with the other spaniels" been told "bit too much white on this one" among many other things :-D

But then again every judge has to start somewhere although I think sometimes companion shows should be left to those with a little more experiance of many different breeds...

But hey I only use them for practise...Now if I was beaten at an open show by something of lesser quality I would be annoyed, but at a companion show I don't mind as long as my dog behaves and the pet owner is proud of their rosette....

> Thats the problem with having a breed not every knows.

I know that feeling well....I was asked the other week why I was showing my Poodle in AV Pastoral lol

We use them as training if ringcraft isn't on ( bank holiday etc ) but one judge made my daughter mad by telling her she didn't like our breed with a tail and that they should bring back docking, she also told my daughter the tail should be down, when we know it shouldn't, so daughter is saying she isn't doing anymore companion shows as alot of the judges don't know our breed.

Fun classes are good tho you can have a real laugh in them

We went to a charity dog show at the weekend, first fun show since my girl was a pup, it was a lovely day out , made me appreciate when I am under a proper judge though Lol .In the ring everyone sat on the grass and it was very relaxed and fun, my girl enjoyed herself . I always see fun dog shows as just that ,fun ,and a nice day out. as well as a fix between dog shows lol . we met a lovely man who was mentally challenged, my girl sat quietly for him and was so gentle, normally she jumps up for hugs. Strange how she new not to jump on him. I can see why Elkhounds make Good PAT Dogs.

I would say fun, but I have known people to take it very seriously.
Many years ago I won a prize in "Owner and Dog who look the most alike". Another in "Dog The Judge Would Take Home"

> Many years ago I won a prize in "Owner and Dog who look the most alike".

I think we need pics ;-)! I entered 'best 6 legs' once, but was beaten by a man in shorts :-( !

They are supposed to be more fun and to raise desperately needed cash for the various charities, however over the years I have seen some incredibly bad sports at Companion Shows or as they used to be known Exemption Shows. On exhibitor (who is no longer with us) used to wait outside the ring with her dog relaxed in the shade then come into the ring just as the last dog was being judged, you can imagine on a hot summer day the difference that made. All I will say is that she came unstuck once and never did it again at any show where I stewarded.
As for the novice handlers, as a steward I always ask in every class who is a novice, then attempt to give them some basic ringcraft tips to help settle their nerves. Also as most of these dogs had never been handled by a stranger I chat to the owners and quietly try to assess if the dog is nervous and maybe a potential problem for the judge. In the past I have had dogs lunge out aggressively when judging, one was a St. Bernard who really went at it, the owner then calmly told me the her dog did not like people who wore glasses ( guess who was wearing specs?)
Yes I agree the judging can leave a lot to be desired sometimes, I have been convinced they went to the local bus depot and got one of the drivers who was on a break! but it is good practice for both dog and handler under sometimes very strange conditions, Get out there and enjoy I say. Have fun and help a good cause at the same time.

all dog shows are fun it may be serious for the owner sometimes, but it must always be fun for the dog.  i entered my kooikerhondje in a village dog show teh day after scca, flick won prettiest bitch and wasnt allowd best in show, because she had qualified for crufts and wasn't fair on the mutts. but who cares it is for carity isnt it?
the fundenhall villege dog show, is to rase money for teh church, i would say 80% are showdogs or from show lines. but every year we do get people say "oh this is a pet show"

I use them in lieu of ringcraft for my nearly 6  mth old girl.
She won prettiest bitch, most adorable eyes and best in show at her first one aged 4 mths!
3rd and 4th at another for waggiest tail and best condition.
And a 1st last weekend for best pedigree puppy 6-12 mths - where she behaved superbly
she also went in a novelty class - where she was appalling
She could have done best in show but she was not happy so I kept her out of it
There has always been a nice feel to the ones we've been to, good mix of fun and competitiveness.

I just go for fun, but umm sometimes get comments for being a "professional".  I've actually heard a number of nasty comments over the years but I just ignore them now.  Many a time a dog that looks nothing like their breed will win BIS, a dog who is more than double the breeds weight wiill win the class Dog in Best Condition, but if you just take it as a bit of practice and enjoy no matter what they usually are a great day out.

I enjoy them, though can only enter the "fun" classes now with my youngest.  Our oldie nearly always gets 1st or 2nd in Best Veteran when we take him along. 

We won Best in Show with our youngest earlier in the year, my friend was sat watching and the person next to her said "Oh yes, give it to the easy dog"!  My firend put him straight on the 6+ hours of grooming a week, training, exercise, socialisation etc it takes to have a big hand-stripped Terrier in show condition, and he did apologise!

I stopped off at one, dogless, recently only to see the 'judge' - a vet nurse taking on a huge class.
In the class was a frail lady with a ginormous rottweiller wearing a muzzle. While we watched I said to my husband who was enjoying a large slice of cake ( that's why we'd gone :-)) " I do hope she doesn't put her face down to that Rottie".
As the nurse approached the dog, the owner obviously saw that the lady was looking at their teeth so whipped off the muzzle............
Hunkering down in front of each dog to see it's face she came to the Rottie.....it was like slow motion...." Oh no she's going to put her face in....."
.....too late the dog lunged and the judge flung herself over backwards, the owner was up-ended and a riot ensued.

No blood was spilled thank goodness but it further added to my tales of Exemption shows ( as was). I used to judge them when asked but after being bitten and threatened by so many pet dogs, unused to extreme scrutiny, I now say no thanks :-)

This will make you chuckle

We went to one a few months ago when my male newfie pup was just six months old and covered in puppy fluff as they are at that age.
The judge was a dog trainer.

I was in the puppy class and when i had finished moving him the judge said to me, your puppy poodle is lovely but if you want to show him professionaly you will have to take him to proper groomer and have the appropriate hair cut for him, or no-one will take him seriously.

I did not not have the heart to put him straight, and i am still laughing now.

Peanuts

Awwwwww I couldn't have resisted putting him right :-)
How's your poodle now :-) :-)

Funnily enough we went to a companion show recently, wanted to take my 5 year old neice who loves dogs.
I didn't win anything, but also went for the practice, we were also asked if we showed. but anyway had a great day...my 5 year old neice came first in Under 14's junior handling :) with my Lab.

Awwwwww I couldn't have resisted putting him right :-)

Me neither LOL. We were at Dogs Unleashed on Saturday and a friend had brought his Malinois (I only brought Papillons) and a working judge asked if it was a crossbreed. I told him to wash his mouth out with soap. ;)

Makes me feel a bit better about my friend who I asked to judge our show and only afterwards realised she only knows anything about our breed! She actually asked our club chairman whether his curly coat retrievers were Bedlingtons!!!!!!!

And yes, they're just in fun, though I confess I do take all shows a bit more seriously than perhaps I should!

I once entered a companion show with a Curly puppy and was told that I could not do the pedigree classes with her as she was a crossbreed.
The exhibitors who make me laugh are the ones who turn up with their pedigree best of breed bags and take their place next to the judges table.

I turned up to a local show 12 months ago this weekend with a normal lead and colar and our little girl(17 months), entered her into her pedigree class and lined up against proper show people as i called them then. We won our class to my suprise and went on to win best in show, i was told by the judge she was lovely and i should show her properly. I was also stopped by a old lady who told me she has judged dallys at crufts and that i should show her at champ shows as she has balance and great movement, now 12 months on we cant go to these shows as we are over qualified :-D but i believe  all shows should be fun for you and your dog. Lol i guess i am one of those proper show people now with show leads and an idea of what i am doing  

What a lovely story. :)

Just think if you hadn't of been to that companion show.....Your life wouldn't have been taken over by dog shows!!!!!!

yes she may have never been into the show ring if it was not for going to that compainion show. But even now i still remember what dog showing is about, its about me and her having time together and having fun! plus meeting people with the same intrests as us. Now we are off every weekend all over the country doing this and we both love it win or not :)

Ahh, that's a nice story and LOL at all those mistaken for other breeds... There's no way I couldn't have corrected the Newfie/Poodle boob!  No way!

'Exemption Shows' are how I started too 20 years ago and now I feel a bit frustrated (stupidly!!) that I haven't got a dog to show at one as they're over-qualified... good job I'm in a silly part of the country where they're aren't many!

Ex shows are some of my fondest memories from my childhood with my mum and my little brother (who's all grown up too now and not interested in showing :-()... Ahhh, the old days....

> 'Exemption Shows' are how I started too 20 years ago and now I feel a bit frustrated (stupidly!!) that I haven't got a dog to show at one as they're over-qualified... good job I'm in a silly part of the country where they're aren't many!

Mmmm......... Sounds to me like you might enjoy organising one! I am helping at one tomorrow in Princes Risborough with Ana Prevel as we do the training classes at Whiteleaf Dog Club. I don't show my dogs very much, but like keeping up connections by stewarding at open and champ shows and by helping run companion shows. Tomorrow's (11th July) has Marc Abrahams judging the novelty classes and due to our pedigree judge being rushed off to hospital to have her appendix removed a couple of days ago we have managed to get Debbie Amstead (Duck Tollers) to stand in for us. Over the years I have helped out at many of these shows and I know organisers are always grateful for any help people are willing to give.