One of my favourite things about Companion shows is picking up the little bits of "informed" doggy conversation!  Last week, complaint to organsiers "people who show dogs should not be allowed to enter"  (????)  this week " what is the breed called that is a cross between Newfoundland and St. Bernard  -  oh I remember, a Leonberger"  also this week " I have had yorkies for 18 years but now have a Lhasa Apso as they do not shed at all so are hypoallergenic and are guaranteed to have great temperaments"  (!!!!!)  and one of my favourites "I'm a great animal lover, I adore all animals - oh, but I hate cats".  Anyone else heard smile making soundbites?

I have been asked on several occasions how many junior warrant points have they won at Companion (exemption) shows?

Recently my postman was telling me about his Yorkshire Terrier...." You know proper one - nice and big - like the ones they take down the mines"...perhaps he means his canary?
Then he came out with that immortal line when I mentioned that my young dog was a bit thick and would run out the gate if I didn't hold him......." Ah what do you expect - they're all interbred poor little things - not a healthy one amongst them".....

Ah well...everyone's a critic these days.

Around the rings at Bakewell there were 3 ladies talking about the dogs, 'look at the pekingnese' (Lhasa!) when I pointed this out they asked where the Shih Tzu were, I pointed them out (we were next to them) lady 1 says to lady 2 'they're not shit zoo(her pronunciation) look at their coat its much too long' OMG!

> "people who show dogs should not be allowed to enter" 

I used to organise a companion show in the village, did it for 10 years, and had a number of different people ring me up befor the show asking if 'professionals who go to crufts would be allowed to enter' and also after to complain that 'it wasn't fair letting those professionals enter' and I should have refused to allow them in :-O.
Also had the odd few pet owners trying to enter various gundog crosses and terrier crosses into sporting.
Had someone enter their jack russel in sporting AND crossbreed. person taking entries wasn't very knowledgable on breeds and swamped with the queue, no it wasn't a Parson JR and we just had a word with the Judge and steward before the class.

i went to a kc regulated open show a couple of years ago, entered my girl in graduate bitch, when it got to my turn, the judge looked over my girl, told me how lovely she was, then asked, what breed is she? :( i was so insolted (sp) my girl had one her classes at ch shows before! My girl ended up winning the class though! But i could not beleive that the judge had to ask me her breed, how sad is that!

I once overheard someone with a Yorkshire Terrier who tried to enter the dog in AV Terrier. Upon being told that Yorkies were Toy he proclaimed very loudly that "I didn't pay good money for a toy, this is a real dog" :-D

that made me chuckle to myself :)

the judge looked over my girl, told me how lovely she was, then asked, what breed is she?

I had that at a compaion show, the judge asked a shar pie owner what breed the dog was. lol

and i went to a compaion show run by a breed club and we asked a person helping which class we should entre my mates lhasa apso in (we wernt sure to enter Utility or non-sporting) and they said to enter him it toy! (we picked non-sporting)

In one compaion show a woman was verry unhappy when her dog who couldnt actualy walk (must of had some problem with its back legs) didnt get placed. She was complaining for ages to her mate about the "stupid show and judge not picking her dog".

I made my self look daft once, i was taking photo's of the dogs and one owner asked me if i knew his dogs breed, i knew it was either a black russian terrier or a Giant Schnauzer. and i ended up picking the wrong breed! lol

that is so funny.

I almost forgot one of the best ones from today, as it happened first thing - person at entries table looking through schedule to decide on which fun classes to enter, handging onto a large, hairy mutt,  - her friend pointed out the "Scrufts" classes suggesting she put the dog in them, to be told "Oh no, he can't enter those, he's a pedigree  - he's a registered labradoodle!"  Last week we had a Labrador and a staffy in the Non sporting class, don't think anyone had the heart to to put them right :)

oh dear these people, but they are not doggy people, well show doggy. did teh person at the desk not say anything.

Overheard a serious conversation in a local pub...

"They use mostly labs for guide dogs."
"Do they? I thought they used any old dog"
"Well, yeh, I 'spose they could"
"Even a jack russell?"
"Why not? if the person was really short it could work..."

I almost fell off my chair laughing

A few years ago I took my Akita along to a fun show for a day out....entered her in prettiest bitch, then the judge came along looking at all the dogs in the class, got to me and said is it a boy or girl!  I had to try not to laugh considering the class I was in lol.   Admittedly my girl did win over about 20 others for just sitting there and looking pretty.

> oh dear these people, but they are not doggy people, well show doggy

LOL At a club match the judge was going over my Field Spaniel and said 'oh what a jolly cocker' so much for show doggy people eh? No idea why she thought they were cockers cause they look nothing like cockers!

Not as bad as a top allround judge who also judges abroad who asked my friend with a brown and white Spanish Water Dog to bring out her Bolognese!

Umm had loads of rude comments at companionship shows and some even started by someone with a breed in the import register who I think just didn't want me to get placed, so she told organisers at a few companionship shows that I went with that my Spanish was a champion, seeing as she came over to the UK at 12 months of age and was never shown it would of been hard for her to be so.

no they look nothing like cockers. from talking to the younger people that show dogs i do think it is going to get better.
i have a kooikerhondje, it is a rare breed but i would have thought that more judges etc. would know the rare breeds, bt there are some snobs out there. that dont think they are a proper breed until it can get CCs

lol, i went to a show not far from where i live it had family dog, pedigree, terrier etc etc classes, anyway someone entered their german shepherd dog in the sight hound/scent hound class and it got placed second!!!

> no they look nothing like cockers. from talking to the younger people that show dogs i do think it is going to get better.

I don't follow you there, I have a vulnerable breed and can count on one hand the number shown up here so a lot of judges don't see them plus the judge was a young toy person so may never have seen a Field before. I would have thought it better to say nothing than say anything at all. At previous matches I have watched judges before the match starts looking at my dogs trying to figure out what they are!

i mean the young people no more breeds and know more about dogs.

well i just got back from doing a car boot sale, and a lady looking at my dog breed books asked if i had a book on puggles! I said do you mean pugs? She said no the ones that are crosses! I stopped myself from going into one of my lectures, and told her that i had no books on any cross breeds! :)

> i mean the young people no more breeds and know more about dogs.

But surely that depends on where abouts in the country they are and how involved they are in all breeds. Like I said there are 5 or 6 Fields being shown in the whole of Scotland so how do young people get to know the breed? I think it is a very sweeping statement to make as there must be lots of young people who don't know more breeds than their elders. I think it works both ways depending on the actual person.

> well i just got back from doing a car boot sale, and a lady looking at my dog breed books asked if i had a book on puggles! I said do you mean pugs? She said no the ones that are crosses! I stopped myself from going into one of my lectures, and told her that i had no books on any cross breeds!

Mmmmmm................ Now there an idea! Anyone into the get rich quick schemes out there?

If they can sell these crossbred dogs for a fortune then surely a book on each of the crossbreds might equally earn a fortune for the authors?

Now don't all rush... there must be a crossbred for each of us by now!

no not like that, they read books and look at different breeds, because they are interested in dogs.

polly, now there is a thought! :) *searches for her pad and pen* now where shall i start, mmmm oh i know, chaptor one, health screening,,,,, not done so its pot luck on the health of the parents and puppies, chaptor two, mmmm

> no not like that, they read books and look at different breeds, because they are interested in dogs.

Sorry I still feel that this is a very sweeping statement! You are implying that people into dogs who are not young don't read books, don't look at different breeds and aren't interested in dogs!! I've had dogs for 2 years but have had an interest all my life (I'm in my 40's) and that includes reading lots of books on different breeds, going to shows and asking questions! It's only in the last 2 years that I have been showing but that doesn't mean that when I started I knew nothing! I personally believe that asking questions of the breed owners is the best way of learning rather than reading books. I have learned far more from the breeders of my breed than reading books written specifically on the breed.

I remember playing with a young kooikerhondje 14 years ago at a local show and he was at ringcraft a few wks back for an outing. :-)

LOL Is there enough to fill a book?

Polly sadly the books are already written and in the shops!

A judge recently was doing a critique into a dictophone, and said my fawn bitch, was a lovely biege dog!!!!

At at Champ Show import register class, the judge called my Beauceron out as an Eurasier

I thought a leonberger WAS originally bred from newfoundlands and st bernards?

This is a funny thread.  My girlie won best in show at a Companion Show earlier this year. My friend was sitting watching and the man next to her turned to her and said, "Oh yes, give it to the easy dog!"  He promptly got a lecture from my friend about the 10 hours or so grooming a week it takes to have her looking smart, not to mention the training, socialising, exercising etc to have her behave in the ring and show her socks off.  He did apologise ;-)

Mahonc you are correct.
These breeds are often mentioned as breeds used in making Leos as they are now.
I can't blame the person who said this as now you do have all these crosses and people will say this and that breed was used (e.g labradoodle).
Many people believe these new "breeds" to be proper breeds and pedigree so it could be easy to get confused like this person did about the "burger dog".

Difference might be that in Leos it was done a long time ago but this person has obviously listened to somebody telling them about the breed history to say what they said. Quite funny still...
I often get is that a newfie or St Bernard about my Leo and will often say no it is a Leonberger... and add that the breed they mentioned was probably used years ago when Leonbergers were first created, It seems I'm not the only one stating this :).

whilst at a show supporting the local GSD rescue,  I told some one I had an alsatian .... is he at home then they asked.No. that is him in the ring said I pointing to my DALMATIAN! Red face or what???

I love taking the schips to Open shows in AVNSC rarely do they get called out by breed usually tis Can you bring your little black dog please?

Its got worse since the docking ban, even had 1 judge ask me if they were German Spitz having a bad moult!  Nope its a Schipperke in Excellent coat thank you very much plus Tail!

whilst at a show supporting the local GSD rescue,  I told some one I had an alsatian .... is he at home then they asked.No. that is him in the ring said I pointing to my DALMATIAN! Red face or what???

hee hee hee! How embarassing!

People are always asking me if my Dogue de Bordeaux is a Boxer. I then reply, " No, she's a Dogue de Bordeaux". Their reply? "Oh, what's that then?", like there is some explanation as to what a Dogue de Bordeaux is!! I've started saying she's a Franch Mastiff to make it easier!!

Overheard at a companion show last weekend whilst walking round,  "Oh what a lovely Afghan" - it was a Borzoi!!!!  Whilst sitting watching the judging (my husband was judging) someone standing behind me said to her friend "They can make a fortune showing dogs", I only just resisted telling her about paying £22 for an entry at a Ch show and receiving a coloured piece of card!!!!

I have heard that pedigree classes are put on so that "proper" pedigree dog owners do not have to get their "proper" pedigree dogs beaten by the mutts :)!
When I pointed out there is a breed standard for "proper" pedigrees and being (loosely) judged against the breedstandard they were like oh, never thought about that... That makes sense!

Wounderful I just did fall off my chair, excuse me whilst I wipe the tea off my keyboard!!!

Ah my mum had a schipperke (he died recently) what a lovely dog they are, very independant, he left home to live with our neighbour when Mum died.

Jack will always have a place in my heart he gave mum such joy and they are a lovely breed, as a pup he looked like a tiny black fox!!

They all look like angelic tiny foxes be they reds or blacks but man do they grow up into their attitude and alert status lol.

Have to admit no matter how much they drive me insane I adore them - even had a critque recently exclaming what an excellent dog my male was but boy did he know how to make his hander work!

I went to a companion dog show not too long ago and entered my Brittany bitch in the sporting and open classes, I also went in the obedience novice for a bit of fun. I went with my friend who went to show her utonagans, well, I guess you can imagine that I was explaining to joe public all day about both of these breeds, gosh I was tired out by the end of the day. But I guess the public are going to ask questions if they see an unusual dog.
The judge placed us 3rd in sporting, I went to ask her what I could do to show her better and the response was, 'She showed well, Its a Kooikerhondje isn't it' :D. This is my bitch is in my profile pic :) the black and white, bobtailed Kooikerhondje :D bless her. After that we were back in the ring for open, this time accompanied by my friend and her bouncing ute. We overheard behind us sitting near the ring a family discussing my bitch, the conversation as I remember it was...
'What's that dog there?'
'It looks like a setter'
'No its not a setter, its not a got a tail, its a spaniel'
'It looks like a setter, look at its long hair on its chest and legs'
'No its a spaniel, a cocker x I think, its got very short ears'
'It shouldn't be in the pedigree class if its a cross'
By this time I turned around 'She's a Brittany, a type of pointer'
'A what?' luckily my friend took over explaining what she was to these people, thank goodness, I get tired of explaining its not a spaniel even though she does look very spaniel like.
And after this, my friend went back in the ring and I was sat with the Utonagans. Then...
'Excuse me what's type of dog is that?'
'Its a utonagan, a wolf look alike dog'
'Its a what?'
'Its a Utonagan, a new breed underdevelopment, its bred from GSDx malamute x husky matings'
'oh, is it not aggressive because its a wolf?'
'No, Its not a wolf, it is a dog that has been bred to look like a wolf, they have very good temperaments'
'Because its a wolf (obviously not listened to what I had just said), does it only eat every 3 days like they do in the wild?' :O someone's been watching animal park :)
'No its a dog, its no different than any other dog, it eats every day'
'Does it eat raw meat?'
'No it eats normal dog food'
'Is it from Russia ( I think she's thinking of czech wolfdogs)'
' Russia? No the breed was created in the uk'
'But you can get wolfdog breeds from russia can't you, do you need a licence for it?'
'I think what you are thinking of are Saarloos wolfdogs and Czechslovakian wolfdogs, they are from europe, these breeds were created from wolf hybrids, wolf hybrids need a licence (I didn't get into how you don't need a licence if your wolf dog is so many generations removed from the first hybrid mating in its pedigree, I was getting a little bored by this point), you don't need a licence for utonagan'
'Was it expensive?'
'Yes'
By this point my friend had come out the ring and dealth with it :) As if my day couldn't get anymore tiresome, I went into the stay ring, the steward approaches me.
'Breed of dog'
'Brittany'
'No not its name, its breed' :D
Sometimes you just have to laugh.

at one last week when a lady came up to me and asked which cross my dogs were to which i said they are newfoundlands and she said yes but crossed with which dogs????
i gave up and just gave her a sweet smile and my oh pulled me away as he knows what i'm like.!!!

sometimes I think it would be a good idea to carry leaflets around with me, so when people come up to me I can just pass them one and save my breath :) aww it does sound a bit mean, I don't really mind if they have a genuine interest in my dog, its just the ones that seem to speak for the sake of it, After all if you don't ask you will never know!. I certainly don't get cross if they mis identify what breed she is, unless that is of course they are a judge :) 

> 'Breed of dog'
> 'Brittany'
> 'No not its name, its breed'

I love it :) :) :)

>> no not like that, they read books and look at different breeds, because they are interested in dogs.
> Sorry I still feel that this is a very sweeping statement! You are implying that people into dogs who are not young don't read books, don't look at different breeds and aren't interested in dogs!!

I'm in total agreement.  I'm not 'young' but I don't consider myself 'old'.  I wonder how many 'young people' would've recognised a Stabyhoun?   I met one on a local walk recently and I was pleased to say I recognised the breed although my pronounciation left a lot to be desired.    His owners said most guesses are Lab x ESS and that no-one - except me - has recognised him not even the vet! 

As for Kooikers.  I used to be in contact with Esther Wolthuizen who bred the Kooikers that were originally imported into the UK by Mollie & Bill Yates so I know exactly what they are!

> His owners said most guesses are Lab x ESS

I like to keep pretty up to date breed wise but if I saw just one of those that would be my guess.

when you see several of an unknown breed together then you know it is a breed, as opposed to a cross.

Yes, age has nothing to do with it - it's interest that counts.  I like dogs in general but there are some groups I have less interest in and therefore, less knowledge of.

I won't start the whole Crufts TV debate again but at least it gives me a chance to guess/watch the judging of breeds I don't usually see and it's often a handy guide to pronounciation too.  I do feel slightly uncomfortable when my son asks me what something is at an open show and I have to whisper I'm not sure, whilst furiously leafing through pages in the catalogue to check for him.  I always come away thinking I must do some more revision!

I agree that age has nothing to do with it, I'm 19 and I have a keen interest in the more obscure breeds so very often I am able to recognise them when I see them. I often get 'OMG 10/10' or 'how did you know?' I think it might be also that I have a very visual memory, when I was younger I did the same learning different dinosaur species, my parents used to show off when I was younger to other family members, I could clearly identify 200+ different dinosaur species and tell you where it came from, what genus it was from  etc and still can do now. Maybe some people can't remember certain breeds, it may not be ignorance but just that their memory is different. I know (here comes the psychologist in me) that it may be more difficult for people learning new breeds if they have retrospective memory interference, that is old memories affecting new memories so say if you are just used to know and study KC recognised breeds, then you lets say see the Stabyhoun, you are more likely to say its a cross based on your previous experience as you try to rationalise what you are seeing on your previous memories. Even if someone was to tell you it is in fact a Stabyhoun it is unlikely you will be able to remember it as you have previously rationalised it as a cross, not making a new memory of its distinguishing features such as its particular tail shape, the level top line etc. Where as some one like me would look at the dog, make a memory of its key features and therefore be more likely to identify it in the future. This being said I don't know how I do it I just can, I'm one of those people who, if they have an interest in something, want to know everything about it.

On the common where I live a vast array of different breeds are walked throughout the year.
Owners seem chuffed that ( at last) someone recognises their breed when I say "hello I like your Brittany or Soft Coated Wheaten or Phalene".
They must be so fed up asking what they are crosses of so it's worth giving the owners a sensible conversation for a change :-)

> I agree that age has nothing to do with it, I'm 19 and I have a keen interest in the more obscure breeds so very often I am able to recognise them when I see them.

I think you are right that age has little to do with it :-) . I think that it is more to do with having an interest in rarer breeds coupled with the fact that it is much easier to get information on rarer breeds now that we have the Web than it was even 10 years ago. In 1991 it was impossible to get any books in English about Swedish Lapphunds (I don't speak Swedish :-) ) and there were only two or three books published in English about the Bernese too. Now that we can simply Google to get info it does help if you are interested in obscure (or not so obscure) breeds. As younger people are more likely to be computer literate, they have access to more information so might appear more knowledgeable about different breeds (- says she whose mother is ordering her shopping online at 72 :-D ).

TBH In these days of un-docked tails and 99 varieties of doodles, I'm finding it harder and harder to recognise some fairly common breeds :-D