Hi, we have a 13 week old pup that we bred and are keeping with the view to showing her. We are just starting to think about taking her for small walks outside to get used to being on the collar and lead etc. She stands well so that is going well but really want to make sure she moves well in the ring. Our other bitch although didn't intend to show her is a pain on the lead - she tries to chase cars so we are anxious not to have another pup doing the same and really want her to walk well on the lead from the start.

Any tips would be really appreciated as this is really important to us!!
Thanks in advace

Why don't you take her to Ringcraft?  It would help you & her to practise for showing. The one i have used has a monthly competition, sort of like a mini show comp. too.  Its also good for socialisation & you may pick up some tips.  Good Luck.

Yes I would say the same, going to ringcraft has made my girls super social and they teach you so much :)

Ditto ringcraft - if you're lucky they will be able to help with the particular nuances of your breed, but at worst they should be able to do basic socialisation, lead walking, handling and teaching your puppy to be gone over by strangers. I can't wait till Hetty gets her 2nd jab and can start!

Whatever you do, don't try to do any serious ring training yet, I've seen enthusiastic owners start too early and the dog won't go near a show ring as an adult as they are completely turned off :(

If you want her to move well, make sure she gets the right type and amounts of exercise at the right age, and once she is able/old enough to have free exercise then you can make sure she gets both on-lead and off lead exercise.  This will help to build the right musculature to ensure she's built right and will move right ;) 

For the time being, she needs to enjoy being out and about with you.  Ringcraft classes will help with socialisation as will taking her on outings where she can meet other well-behaved, friendly dogs and people :)  Training her to just walk on a lead nicely without pulling will go a long way towards ringcraft training.

If you have another dog, then no matter how well behaved (or otherwise) it is, you still need to take your pup out alone until pup is really well trained on lead and off.  Once pup is reliable, then is the time to start training them to walk together ;)  Otherwise you will have pup picking up any bad habits, and only being confident when your older dog is around ;)

Hope this helps

No, a 13 week old can perfectly well start ring training. But only a short time each time, and like Dill says keep it fun!

I agree, I started my current dogs ring training at 12 weeks.  She is now 2 1/2 yrs and it takes all my strength to keep her from diving into the ring whilst the younger classes are being judged.  (One show a friend was holding her as I was helping to groom another dog and she got away from them and tagged onto the end of the class!)  As long as you treat every training session and show as a game they will always love to show.  If you are the type that gets wound up that one day they wont put a certain foot in the right place and tell the dog off for it, train for too long when they are young, or sit and gossip too others rather than keeping all your attention on your dog you will end up with a robot that has no enjoyment in the ring.

> she got away from them and tagged onto the end of the class!

A got to laugh a friends dog did this in my breed, wasn't there but got told about it from the owner, oh how I laughed!! :-D

i started taking  my puppy at 14 weeks old we only did little bits in the class and she is now 7 months old and races into the class to see everyone and loves it all, we make everything a game and she does not know she is learning she thinks this is great fun, so i do not think that i have done any damage to her,
i do not make her go around and around and up and down all the time she is there she has time to socialise with other dogs large and small, she lies down and has a snooze if she wants to and we both love the classes that we go to.

you could always go to ringcraft and if you do not like it or you think it is to intensive for you puppy find another one if you can
but most of all have fun,

That happened to me once, I had dogs in consecutive classes and had asked my friend to get Henry out, he dived past her hands and arrived in the ring while I was showing Ellie!! That was pretty lucky though, he would have been more likely to try to hump the nearest bitch of whatever breed normally! :-D

All three of my champion girls are like this.

With having to wait your turn, at my classes your lucky to be seen twice on each of two mats, puppy spends most of the time socialising or quietly settled.

This is a lot less tiring than a 45 minute obedience class say.

Many thanks to all the comments so far. I think I will try her in the back garden getting used to having the collar and lead and then once she's Ok take into the big wide world and then ringcraft so I can practise as well!! I live in gloucestershire so I think there are a couple of classes nearby - one in Cheltenham and one in Gloucester for me to try.