JH Mothers often get bad press for being pushy & bad sports.  I am new to the game of being a JH Mother (dd is 6 years old & far more capable of handling a dog than I am)

Anyway, I would like to thank a couple of mothers - one lady gave my daughter some jackets last year & yesterday a complete stranger gave me the most beautiful lime green suit.  I offered to pay for the suit, but she refused.  She really made my day with her kindness - so thank you to both those ladies & also to the mothers who have given me help & advice as well as supported my daughter (with her very difficult dogs!) at open shows this year (you know who you are ladies of Ardingly!!!)

Whilst Emily was not actually placed, she handled to the best of her ability with a dog that she can not even lift on a table (& I can't actually handle myself cos she a bit of a madam & spoilt by her owner  :-O) I was a very proud mummy :-D

Ahh, that's a lovely post, I can't wait until mine are old enough to JH although hubby keeps telling me not to get excited as they may not be interested!  God help them living here if they're no into dogs!

I bet you were very proud and I'm sure it won't be long before she's in the cards.

> God help them living here if they're no into dogs!
>

It can go one of two ways, well into it or really turned off by it.

Managed to get my daughter interested enough to show for 3 years from 10 to 13.

She didn't start until she was 8 handling any of mine in JH as I didn't consider her strong enough until then to handle a medium size breed, and then only a well behaved adult.

At 10 she had the training and showing of our Kizi (now 12) from the word go, but by teenage it was all rather 'sad' in a teens eyes. ;)

for this reason I never think it a good idea to get a child their own dog of a different breed for handling, they should handle one of the family breed, as it won't be a waste if and when they loose interest go to Uni, leave home etc, as the dog will hopefully be around for 12 to 15 years.

So glad it went well and Emily enjoyed her day and you too! 

Rachel & I are heartened by your post of not getting them their own dog!  My daughter normally shows my Spanish girl but she's out of the ring at the moment, so she had a TT to show, she can handle her it's just the table issue so an adult puts the dog on the table & she had a step stool.  For open shows she's been known to stack her on the floor instead of the table but she wanted to try the table for the semi's.

I didn't really want her doing JH as I quite enjoyed the days when I left the kids with dh but she's taken to it & has made friends (bugs the older kids all day ;-)) & she's happy.

Yes, I've seen that happen a few times.  My sister was as keen as I and started at the age of 4 but on hitting 15, that was it.... boys and going out was all she was interested in.  My showing bug has never worn off!  She is still not interested in it. 

We have considered another breed at some point for our children but it's not really necessary as I show a small breed as it is.  I do hope they are 'into' it but I'm going to have to try hard not to go 'showing overkill' and put them off.

I know of one lady who's now 25 year old daughter was incredibly keen as a child and now she is not in the slightest bit interested and now totally off the rails :-o

Do we think girls are keener than boys as youngsters?  The figures competing in JH seem to suggest so.  Maybe men who show generally get into it later in life or through their partners?  Hubby is hoping they get really into it in the hope they won't get interested in boys until they're about 30 :-p !!!

> for this reason I never think it a good idea to get a child their own dog of a different breed for handling, they should handle one of the family breed, as it won't be a waste if and when they loose interest go to Uni, leave home etc, as the dog will hopefully be around for 12 to 15 years.

We had a critique this week from a YKC class - 6-11 age group and I was very disappointed with the comment that the size of dog let both the 2nd place and 3rd place (my daughter age 11 with a setter) lost them places.  His first place was a pom.  His style of handling judging had the kids practically dancing all over the place with him changing sides - of course that is easier with a smaller dog - and not sure that be moving constantly around your dog you are showing it off to its best either.  But no I am not going to get a different breed for handling or their own dog and certainly not a small dog just so they can dance around it for one judge! 

Jess started showing age 8 when Connor was 6m (not idea I know with a puppy) but they have learnt together and now they are a great team.

Emily got into it after her sister and has had to borrow dogs here and there - I finally have bought Max out of retirement (even though age 5 but after tail injury resulting in amputation stopped showing him) to help her build a rapport but she really could do with her 'own' dog but right now its not practical.

I really hope that they will stay into it - I have a feeling Jess will but not sure about Ems?  With dog showing and them helping at the stables locally hopefully I'll keep them off the streets so to speak!

> I didn't really want her doing JH as I quite enjoyed the days when I left the kids with dh but she's taken to it & has made friends (bugs the older kids all day ;-)) & she's happy.

CJ - Ken and I were not keen at all either but I am so pleased they are into it now - gives them something to do and both have come on so well in the last couple of years and both are quite hooked.  For me couldn't leave them behind if I wanted too LOL!

And your wee girl could never 'bug' them they think she is so cute!

Im not sure Katie would agree with that...hee hee....

well if my granhild a girl cj you can hand it down this way,

and not sure that be moving constantly around your dog you are showing it off to its best either.  Do you know this really does my head in.  There's a woman at my ringcraft and she moves around but actually she's more distracting than anything and it actually puts me off judging the dog when people do this! 

Rachel, Emily is welcome to borrow Alf if im entered, he is pretty well behaved (as long as he isnt allowed to eye ball other dogs !!!)

when my daughter was young she did J.H. she was about three when I started showing and she couldnt wait until she was old enough to get started. she always borrowed other peoples dogs, this was a good learning curb for her. she asked the people herself, and it isnt easy taking on a new dog, but she did,the biggest being a Dane and prob the smallest she handled was a M.W.Dachs.  she learnt that to appreciate the wining she had to loose sometimes. Only once did I have to tell her not to come out of the ring looking like she had sucked a lemon! I told her if it made her feel as bad as that she would be better to stop it.  She didnt, and carried on until she was too old. (30 this yr) 

Thanks Claire - she has done really well considering how many 'dogs' she has borrowed - am trying Max for a while as I think she needs to have a rapport if that makes sense!  And I think she too wants a bit of stability with a dog - I just hope Max continues to behave for her and not act the looney that he can sometimes :)