Hi,

Would anyone be able to advise me?

I would like to enter my puppy at a local companion show but she will only be 3.5 months old...............is there any age restrictions?
The classes are;

Any Puppy age 6-12 months   ........well I know she is too young for this one!

Any Variety Sporting

Any Variety non-Sporting

Any Variety Open

Any Variety Toy

Do you think I could enter her into one of the Any Variety classes as there is no age restrictions stipulated on the entry form?

We only want to go for a bit of ring practise.......

Thank you xx

As far as I know she's too young for all the classes; 6 months is usually the earliest, even for companion shows.

Depends on whether it is a KC licensed companion show or not -not all are. (However, usually only the licensed ones are referred to as companion shows, others tend to be called fun shows and similar.) If it is KC, no puppy under 6 months can take part in any of the classes. Other shows tend to allow anything.

Thank you, it is licensed by the KC and runs alongside novelty classes

Looks like we will have to stick with prettiest bitch etc for now :-D

Sorry but you won't be able to go in the novelty classes either if it's KC licensed....... :( But go along for the experience, good socialisation opportunity!

One of the novelty classes is "Any Variety Puppy" aged 12-25 weeks

I'm pretty certain licensed Companion shows are only allowed to have "puppy walk" classes for puppies under 6 months, i.e. where the pups are not placed. But I'll go and have a look in the red book, one tick.......... :)

Yes, it is rule F3 -specific show regulations companion dog shows, 5e: "Only dogs of 6 calendar months of age and over on the day of the show are eligible for entry."

so technically, the show organisers are breaking rules by having the above class?

(it wouldn't be the 1st time she has been unaware of rules & regs!)

I had this problem at Fife Show - we thought about showing Teasel but she was 2 weeks too young :-(

They do sometimes have the 'puppy walk' classes for 4 month puppies or so, but otherwise I'm afraid she's too young. I'd take her along for a quick look around, but not stop long with a puppy that young. I did take Ellie to an open and a companion show at about 5 months old (entered her NFC with her DOB at the open show, so they had the option of telling me I couldn't), just to get her used to the atmosphere. I think I may have sneaked Ellie into an AV Puppy class at a companion show at just under the 6 months too (ssh)!

Our local one lets them go in the ring for the puppy class, however when the judge is about to choose they retire.

So they go through the whole process but not actually competing

Umm I ran a KC companionship show a few years ago.  A woman came with a 12 week old pup.  I politely advised her that she was unable to enter any classes.  The judge, a top judge who is a KC member said she could enter, the pup ended up winning BPIS!  I had an almost 6 month old pup and on principle did not enter as the rules state a dog is not allowed to be shown under 6 months.

The judge should have known better, if someone had reported it the fine would have landed on your door mat.

On this type of thing, it is not up to the judge. Like the previous postee stated, the fine would have been in your lap.
I can't understand why these kinds break the rules..just because its a companion show!!??

I entered the novelty classes at a local companion show when my girl was 4 mths old, she ended up winning 3 of those and Best in Show
I was a total novice but knew the actual pedigree classes were not for us, due to age.
For BIS they took every class winner no matter what class they were in.
I think I now get why daggers were stared at me....