Where do i start?
please....

ive got a ring craft class im attending every thursday night.love it the people are lovely and ive found its not so scary as i thought.
i was desperate to have a go but it was match night and that would have been jumping in at the deep end lol.

there is an open show in my local area on 6th march but i think im too late to enter.i need to learn how all this works,im really glad ive found something i can do with lola but all the internet searching in the world isnt helping.ive bought the dogs world news paper dogs today and your dog magazines.but nothing says about any shows i can go to or teaches you how to start or what to start with.
i dont know what clip she should be in while just in ring craft,and if she should be in just the plain puppy clip which she is in now.
a guy at the ring craft commented and said she looks like she needs clipping.does she?im now confused as looking at the books and showing puppy websites ect its a puppy clip.lol
so confused i feel like a complete idiot.
if anyone can give me a shove in the right direction id be ever so grateful.

Can your breeder help?  If she was bought for showing then I'd expect her breeder to be supporting you.

It's so tricky to know where to start but an experienced breeder/exhibitor can make it seem a lot easier.  From guidance and tuition in coat care to what classes and what shows to enter, he/she should be able to cover the lot with you.  My breeder sometimes runs ringcraft sessions for her owners which usually cover the basics but she'll also do a one-to-one on coat care, nail clipping, etc if asked too.

I used to send her detailed pictures of coat, paws, beards and other parts of a dog for specific advice.  Jolly helpful when starting out - and I still ask!

...so if she's reading  Thanks D :)

Go along to the show on the 6th March (don't take your dog unless you can leave her in the car as you won't be able to take her in ), speak to other exhibitors in your breed and watch what is happening in the ring. You won't get show details in dog magazines but Our Dogs and Dog World (the weekly papers) will have them near the back or at least that is where they used to be, its been a while :-). Check the breed club to see if there are any Open shows coming up - our first show was a breed club open show and everyone was so helpful. Most of all, don't stress about it, its meant to be fun :-D

There are a couple of sites too that someone put up the other day that take online entries.

Good luck

There are articles for beginners here: http://www.prodogs.net/tips%20for%20novice%20handlers/tips_for_the_novice.htm on this site: http://www.prodogs.co.uk/ come back and ask more after you have read them and I am sure it will start to make sense.

Very important, read all the instructions and class descriptions in the schedule you have picked up, then ask questions on what is mystifying.

I showed Rabbits before dogs so some of it already was familiar when I started though getting used to D being for males in dogs as it is for females in Rabbits took some getting used to.

> There are a couple of sites too that someone put up the other day that take on line entries.
>

That is true, there is Fossedata, Higham Press, Pennypine and another that have downloasable schedules.  the prodogs site has show dates for different types of shows.

Generally Open shows entries close as early as 6 weeks, but more likely four weeks before the show, and championship shows about two months.

To start with I would do my entires on paper as it can be more confusing doing it on-line when you don't really understand the whole thing.

thanks will read the links and see how i go.thank you.x

Hi Tamara,are you anywhere Newark as there are classes on for all 3 size poodles on Saturday.If so and you can pop along then you can watch the exhibiters and also see them grooming.If they are not too busy then they may give you some tips.

im sorry where?
im in essex but id travel ;-)

sorry thought you were a bit nearer,Newark is in Nottinghamshire.

Is it Romford and district show your going to on the 6th if so come find the bullmastiff ring and you will fine me and my daughters, we will show you around and explain a bit of whats going on and answer any questions you might have