Hi Everyone,
My reason for making this post is currently sitting at my feet, 4.5 months old and panting heavily as he falls asleep ;)

The first dog I have owned since I was young (too busy establishing a career in my 20's to be able to offer a dog everything it needs), but with my career pretty much sorted, I bit the bullet earlier this year and began looking into dog breeds.

What started as a search for a companion, ended up with me taking in a pedigree puppy with champions for parents.

So here I am...discovering (and quite excited by) what appears to be a whole new world that I didn't even know existed! (Remember when YOU were at this early stage? LOL)

We're in the North-West (Merseyside to be exact), and I was hoping that some of the kind members here might help to point me in the right direction so that we can see if our pup has any potential in the showring?

In particular, I'd like recommendations for some good RingCraft lessons ASAP. We've attended a couple, (4-5 lessons in all) but yet I still haven't been shown personally how to begin getting our pup to stand.

I also have some questions (which must seem very basic to you, but are rather perplexing to me) about the dog world.

Any advice on the above or the below would be appreciated!

1. Why do dog breeders online always seem to refer to 'their breed' without mentioning what the breed is? Does it somehow put them at a disadvantage to say what breed they specialize in?
2. When I previously imagined dog shows, and heard of dogs winning "Champion Titles", I naively thought of dogs that did all sorts of obedience and followed commands in a spectacular fashion (not quite Lassie, but almost if you get the picture). So...when I got my pup, we started training on obedience and 'tricks' straight away. Since then, I have been able to read and discover more about how things work. It appears to me that the Champion dog shows (to use an analogy) are more or less (forgive me for saying this if I am simply ignorant), genetic beauty shows i.e. A Champion dog doesn't have to prove, or master, a down stay or lead a blind man through a minefield...the dog simply has to be handled well and have great genetics. Am I right? (Please don't be upset as I don't mean to offend, I am just saying what I see so far.)
If so, can anyone tell me where, or what I should do, if I want to ALSO pursue dog shows/training where my dog and I demonstrate obedience and teamwork etc. because right now I am undecided which route I'd like to follow. Can obedience dog shows also lead to great titles such as champion?
3. Do I live in the most canine challenged area of the UK? How come I cannot find anything happening throughout the year in the Merseyside area, nevermind decent ring craft classes?

Hope you can help, and thanks in advance for your reply!
 

 

Hello and welcome !
You haven't mentioned your breed , if we knew perhaps we could point you in the right direction of some experienced posters on here .
Also , what does your breeder think of your dogs chances in the ring ?
I know of a place near you who does agility , not sure about obedience . Weat Lancs Canine Centre  is near Woodvale Aerodrome in Formby .
Good luck with your pup ,  we'd love to see a piccie on your avatar !

Welcome to the forum :D

> If so, can anyone tell me where, or what I should do, if I want to ALSO pursue dog shows/training where my dog and I demonstrate obedience and teamwork etc. because right now I am undecided which route I'd like to follow. Can obedience dog shows also lead to great titles such as champion?

Titles are not restricted to the show ring . Yes there are obedience, agility, working trail, feild trail titles that can be worked towards depending to some extent on your breed.

I would hurry up and get entering some shows as the champ shows entries for October are closing now.

Driffield at Wetherby would be near you.

Go on the Higham Press website for a schedule and on-line entry as postal entries are closed.

While waiting you can get to Ringcraft, this list http://www.bestofbreeds.com/clubcorner/dogs/ringcraftclubs.htm may be out of date but a starting point for contacts .

Some tips for beginners here: http://www.prodogs.net/

> Why do dog breeders online always seem to refer to 'their breed' without mentioning what the breed is? Does it somehow put them at a disadvantage to say what breed they specialize in?
>

On this forum it is counted as advertising to mention the breed if you are planning or currently have a litter . so you can talk about your breed if you want advice on health, training etc as, as quite often, the answer may be breed specific.

you can tell people what breed you have as some breed clubs seem to do their own ringcraft sessions also you may be advantaged/disadvantaged in obedience or agility by the breed you have, you may also find there are other things such as field trials which are open to you if you have a gundog.
Chris

Hi I am in Merseyside too where abouts are YOU? what is your breed?

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the replies.

Sorry for not mentioning the breed of my pup, but as mentioned in my post - I noticed a lot of others on here simply saying "my breed" and I didn't know why. I thought it might be some weird etiquette or rule that I couldn't mention what breed my little pup was! (I did say that I was discovering a whole new world here!)

OK, so that mystery solved (thanks tatty ead)...here are the answers to the questions raised so far...

1. You haven't mentioned your breed My pup's breed is a Bouvier.

2. What does your breeder think of your dogs chances in the ring ? The breeder selected him out for me as I said that I wanted a companion but may also want to have the option of looking into showing at some point. The breeder said that our pup was a special pup who she thought had great show potential (she also kept his sister and plans to show her).
I had the opportunity to visit a retired breeder, an ex-A Panel KC Judge who has judged for this breed at Crufts in the past. They were very impressed with our pup and told us we had a really good example of the breed with perfect ears and coat, excellent temperament and great box shape. So it would appear that I have a pup with showing potential - it's owner just needs training to see if he has showing potential too. ;)

3. Titles are not restricted to the show ring . Yes there are obedience, agility, working trail... Where can I get information on these types of shows locally, as I really would love to go and see some?

4. I would hurry up and get entering some shows as the champ shows entries for October are closing now. Driffield at Wetherby would be near you Driffield at Wetherby is almost a couple of hours drive up the motorway from Liverpool and quite a distance. I'm also not sure if I should be entering champ shows just yet as I am completely new to this. There are some "unbenched" shows on more locally (within 45 minutes) over the next few months that a friend of mine got me programs for. I was planning on entering these to get more experience of the ring. Do you not think this would be a good idea?

5. Hi I am in Merseyside too where abouts are YOU? We're in Woolton. What about you?

Thanks everyone.

Allerton just down the road!!

Hi
Congratulations on your new addition, my best friend is a Bouv person and has been in the breed for many years. I can definitely recommend Bob Hernandez (sp) rincraft classes which take place on a Wednesday evening in Skelmersdale. If you are interested pm me and I will give you his phone number.

With regard to training for different disciplines, Lynda Edmonson holds excellent classes on a number of different evenings. She trains up to competition level obedience and heelwork to music. I would think her methods would be particularly suited to a Bouvier. Look her up on her website http://www.dogfriendlytraining.net.

There is a ringcraft class in Skem that has a very good trainer where my new puppy owners tend to go for this area , I have recently found another ringcraft in Deeside half an hour across the water but cannot recommend this one as yet. I also know of one in Wigan that a gundog friend attends .

If you go onto www.arenaprint.co.uk they have schedules for a few open shows that you can download within an hour or so of Liverpool.

To be honest the nearest show for us in this area is Blackpool which has been on for this year, after that it is probably Midland Counties in Stafford then you are talking over 2 -2half hours for the rest. so be prepared to travel some distances.

Roni

Yes Bob's Class I am referring to also you beat me to it!!

> 4. I would hurry up and get entering some shows as the champ shows entries for October are closing now. Driffield at Wetherby would be near you Driffield at Wetherby is almost a couple of hours drive up the motorway from Liverpool and quite a distance. I'm also not sure if I should be entering champ shows just yet as I am completely new to this. There are some "unbenched" shows on more locally (within 45 minutes) over the next few months that a friend of mine got me programs for. I was planning on entering these to get more experience of the ring. Do you not think this would be a good idea?
>

The more local shows are a good idea, but a couple of hours drive is still local, LOL.

I have entered Driffield and I live in Bristol!!! ;)

At championship shows you will get a far better idea of the quality of your dog against it's peers.

At the smaller shows you are:

a) less likely to meet many of your own breed to compete against and
b) often the judges will be novice or not really expert in your breed and may be more likely to put up well shown dogs as opposed to the best in their breed if that is the case.

You have plenty of time before the show to get some training in, as after all it is only teaching pup to stand for examination and to look alert, and trotting on a loose lead.

Don't think there are Bouv classes at either Driffield or Midland Counties.

Hi, and welcome.
Would also recomend Bob's ringcraft class in Skem. He helped us with Charlie and is a lovely friendly man which is important when you're newbies like we are.
Good Luck
Paula

Hi all i am looking for a good ring craft class in liverpool area , ive seen lots of good reports about bob in skelmersdale but cant find a web site for him or contact details could some one please send me them my email is Lawrence.moran@hotmail.co.uk . Thanks

been to the class this evening ...Bob was off on holiday and RC will be closed next week too  then normal after that.
will send his detail via PM

Hi Clasixuk, 

I think I'm in a similar boat to you being a newbie - one of the best buys I've made has been a Starprint Diary which are made for each breed.  In the front are breed specific shows, and then pages of open, limit and champ shows and contact numbers etc.  There is also a diary part which has the major champ shows already printed in it and lots of space to write notes, entries closing etc.

I bought mine on ebay for £8.00 all in.  I've discovered canine societies I'd never heard of before in my locality, and whilst I've missed many shows, I have the contacts for next year if I want.  I'm ALMOST organised now!

Very good luck with your Bouvier! :)

If the OP's puppy is 4.5 months old is he going to make 6 months by Driffield anyway?

If it was born on or before March 30th it'll be okay.

> If the OP's puppy is 4.5 months old is he going to make 6 months by Driffield anyway?

The OP's pup was born in 2009 !!  I wonder if she went...  ?

Every so often we get a rash of old posts being resurrected and this is yet another.

>The OP's pup was born in 2009 !!

:-D Ooops! LOL! :-D