I would be very grateful for any advice on the following, either on the open forum or as a pm. I have a pup who at 14 months is turning into a very nice junior. He qualified for Crufts this month in spite of my ineptitude as a handler. At that show some of the most experienced people in our breed took me to one side and told me in no uncertain terms to put some serious effort into ringcraft to make sure he recognises he is at work in the ring, not at play, and not to give up.

To date we've done very little in the ring, which is nothing to do with lack of interest or laziness but more a function of lack of time/money. In the right hands he would go far in terms of his show career. I don't have the skill to show him at his best, but I am keen to learn. I've just been asked by a very respectable kennel whether I would consider selling him (never!) or sending him on loan to them with the aim of turning him into a champion in their country. They have offered to pay his expenses, hip score him, etc. and stand him at stud to develop their lines. It's flattering to know others think one's dog is a fine example, but I think he is very young yet, he is still a growing boy and I would get his hips tested and eyes scored myself anyway.

My feeling is that if they would like to use him, health tests permitting, they could bring their bitch over instead. Am I off beam here? Can anyone who has sent their dog abroad give me some much needed advice please? As ever, many thanks for any tips you can give!

I've had offers from overseas to buy a dog from me, I wouldn't sell him as he was a much loved family member, all my dogs are. I sent semen instead :-)

Thanks Tigger2, that was my other thought, although I know there are mixed views about ai. I could never sell him at any price, any more than I could sell one of my sons. Actually thinking about their impact on the household, I'd consider selling a son, it's just no one ever asked :)

I can't even imagine sending him away but though perhaps I was being overly sentimental

> I was being overly sentimental

No just a caring, lovely owner,

i would never give my dogs to anyone overnight never mind longer. they are my reason for being here....ok so I have had a G & T. I will still feel the same in the morning.

> Actually thinking about their impact on the household, I'd consider selling a son,

:-)  :-)  :-)

> or sending him on loan to them with the aim of turning him into a champion in their country

This happens a lot, but you have to trust the people/person who is looking after your dog and there has to be an agreement as to whether they are looking after free of charge so can use at stud or whether you pay them for the upkeep. So much to think about there..

Could he just go for Studding then come back.

You've got him this far so trust your capabilities.  my gorls would get further in someone elses hands but I want to do it.

How long would they keep him for?  would you still have ownership?

personally not in a million years but my hounds are family 1st and show hounds 2nd

Never in a million years. As others have said get some semen stored and they can buy it off you.

>At that show some of the most experienced people in our breed took me to one side and told me in no uncertain >terms to put some serious effort into ringcraft to make sure he recognises he is at work in the ring, not at play, >and not to give up.

While I agree not to give up, I'd be very careful of taking the fun out of showing for your boy at this age.  At 14 months he's only just out of Puppy Classes and into Junior.  This acknowledges that he is still a youngster and will play up ;)  Far better to have an enthusiastic playful dog than a robot ;)  His behaviour will improve with maturity and as YOU gain confidence in handling him -it's a joint effort and you'd be surprised just how much nerves transmits down the leash.   If he's as good as they think, there's no rush, he'll still be good in the future when he's older and less playful and if he's still got that 'Sparkle' as well he'll draw the eyes of the judges :)

Dont let your boy go, you will be so proud when you learn to perfect your handling skills and make him up in your own country by yourself. 
Do you know these people from Adam?  If I ever did consider it I would need to have known the other people for a few years and spent time at their own house/kennels.
I have had the same approach for one of my dogs, its very flattering, but my baby is never leaving my house!  I would just tell them that when your boy is mature enough you will accept a bitch.  (And they should come to you, we all have to take our bitches out of the country for foreign mates!)

you'd be surprised just how much nerves transmits down the leash

Well, I might have been at one time but not now :) :) :)

He was in two classes that day and the second should have been easy since he'd already beaten the winning dog, but I was desperately nervous since I barely know what I should be doing and he'd had enough. I could almost hear him saying "I want to go home now!" -- I felt like a complete idiot, forgetting about seen dogs etc...everything seemed to go out the window.

We are going to ringcraft tomorrow, wish us luck!

Aww  and as the saying goes Rome wasn't built in a day....

I think you wouldn't be able to beat that sense of satisfaction when
you finally 'click' with your dog.

It will come with time and confidence on your part.

If I had that offer...I'd turn it down as has others have already said
my dogs are part of the family first and foremost.
The showing is a hobby and secondary.

Good Luck for your ringcraft!! :) and ENJOY :)

> -- I felt like a complete idiot, forgetting about seen dogs etc...everything seemed to go out the window.
>

Your not on your own.  I've done this even recently, if the stewards not on the ball it can be easily done.  Sometimes the judge wants you in line then act as a seen dog, others like you out of the way until the end.  Trust yourself that you can do it.  have you thought about having someone else handle the dog in the ring here for you.

Mine have rolled on their back before and put the breaks on much to everyones amusement.  Maybe separate training and ring work with special words that will only be used for that.  Such as a french/spanish ect word for come or stand, then he knows he's working.  it might work if your comfortable doing it.

If the dog went abroard how long would it stay.  Would you know every time it was at stud.  Could you visit?  its a tough choice to make.

I think I'd like to handle him myself to try to learn; I wouldn't get anywhere if I gave him to someone else to handle, I think. This kennel recently had a dog over for 3 months, so I guess they would want him for between 3-6 months :(

I am sure I can trust them on the breeding side--they are very well respected and have a big reputation to maintain--but it wouldn't be possible for me to visit (work, other dogs and not least the expense).

We are off to serious ringcraft tonight and I am fairly certain the trainer will cheerfully kick my behind if I don't shape up...a bit of motivation there!

I think you'll get more fun by persevering with him yourself. I was in a very similar position with Henry, I qualified him for Crufts and even got a CC but didn't really have a clue what I was doing for the first few years. I also had an offer from a friend of a friend to take him abroad for a few months to make him a champion and use him at stud, I would have loved it as I never did make him up over here, but I couldn't have managed without my boy for so long - perhaps if we'd been lucky and got 3 5 point majors in a weekend so he could come straight back, but not months on end.

Also you would need to check with your breeder - I asked mine what she thought about the offer, and found that he was endorsed not for export, so even if I had sent him he could not have got authority to compete! She does this to stop people being tempted to pack their dogs off all over the world instead of having them settled in one home, and although I was a bit disappointed at the time I think she is right.

No I couldn't do it. I would only consider letting my dogs stay (overnight)with someone in this country if I trusted them implictly ( could count these people on one hand)   How would you know how they were caring for him? I would perserve with him and think about sending semen later as he matures, if this is what they want.

Hi LucyDogs, I checked for endorsements when I  bought him--there are none so this isn't the issue so much as I  would be miserable without the little so and so :) :) :) taking up his space on the bed, and it did occur to me that his shoe munching, toothbrush stealing, phone eating habits might perhaps put others off him just a weeny bit...

It's very flattering.  I couldn't do it unless I knew the people well and knew my dogs would live with them like they live with me - on the sofa's, in the bed...  And even then I would have to REALLY know the people well and still would likely NOT do it. 

However I would be really flattered that they thought so highly of him, and it would certainly motivate me to do as well as I could with/for him.

How did ringcraft go last night.