Hello,

This is going to sound completely bizzarre but I thought I would give it a go anyway !! I have always wanted to show but am very shy and have no one at all that I know that is into showing to help get me started. I wonder though if anyone might be willing to let me help put with any doggie duties in return for accompanying them to shows to learn all about it, etc. I have my own transport and am in Kent. Happy to do kennel work, grooming or provide show transport.

Hi and welcome to the forum.
Where in Kent are you?

You'll find that most people who show will be happy for you to meet them at a show without any desire for payment :-) You'll find that ringcraft classes are great to get you and your dog started. Do you have a dog now which you want to show or are you looking for the future? If you have a dog now, what breed do you have? This could help in speaking to the right person at a show, but ringcraft is really your best option in actual hands on learning. Remember we all have to start somewhere..

There are lots of people on here who show and your local shows i'm guessing really would be at Lockmeadow, Maidstone and also Ardingly, Sussex.
You'll find that different breeds are shown differently, so mine is shown very differently to that of some gundogs or a dog which is shown on a table.

pm me where you are in Kent x

Sal - don't think new people can PM you perhaps could send the OP your e-mail address.

I know just how you feel.  I have a pup whose first show is in a couple of weeks and I am very nervous about the whole thing. I am not an outgoing type of person and I'm worrying about my nerves going down the lead to her. 

I have been going to Rincraft since she was able to socialise, sometimes twice a week.  One of my concerns is not standing her corrrectly - they never seem to give help with that at Ringcraft.  Even though I have a very popular breed - there are no others at either Club I attend.  Everyone who has gone over her says she's a very nice bitch but I would still like some one-on-one help and have no idea how/where to get it!

Try a Ringcraft Club - I have found them very friendly and in general supportive.

Pop along to the Market Hall in Maidstone on November 7th and find a large blonde lady with a very large lady and a bunch of mad Cavaliers if you want a laugh and a friendly introduction! :-)

If you can't make the 7th Nov in Maidstone there is a show at Ardingly on 13th Nov and i'll be there and i'm probably sure that LucyDogs will be too along with a few others from this site. :-)

We are down at Gravesend and Medway at Maidstone this coming Sunday ( 24th Oct ).  We'll be around the Dobe ring showing our girl in the Open class.  As everyone has said there will be lots of people ready to help you and for free lol !!!!

We run a ringcraft club but in Essex, it's not far from the Dartford Tunnel but it depends whereabouts in Kent you are.  There are several clubs in Kent, Detling being one.  I'm sure someone on here will know of more.  These clubs are probably your best starting point for watching how to train for the ring and obviously getting around to some shows , better prob start with the smaller Open Shows as you might find that some people are too busy to talk at the Championship shows.

Hope this helps let us know how you get on

These are my first shows.......

You'll be fine Ells-Bells :-)
What breed do you have so we can keep an eye out for you

Golden Retriever

ok thanks Nova,

Were do you live as we have Goldies and their breeder at our ringcraft who is very approachable.. Also have a few gundog people there too, including RachelSetters..

Got to give the 13th Nov a miss Suejaw, I have a rally obedience trial (eek!), but I'll be there on the 7th with my bald throated girl and her puppy who is coming nfc for a little socialisation. Can't wait to show her to my friends!

LucyDogs can you tell me a bit more about Rally obedience please. Have heard a bit about it but would like to know more

Thankyou to everyone for your replies. I am only about 10 minutes from Maidstone and could certainly get there for ringcraft but as yet I don't actually have a dog I can show. I like so many breeds I am finding it really difficult to choose and I will be going along to the discover dogs show next month to try and find the right one for me. I just thought if I could perhaps help some others showing then it might help me find the right breed and it would be fantastic to get along to some shows to learn what to look for, etc. I have also bought the dog world paper and am thinking about going along to a few seminars. Do you think anyone would mind if I don't actually have that breed ??

Do you have a small number of breeds which you're interested in? If so then maybe we can meet you at shows with the relevant breeds to help too.
I would suggest seminars are a good way to go. Also joining up with breed clubs and attending their functions/shows as this is where you are likely to meet a lot of breeders and dogs and learn a fair bit about the breed.
Maybe pop along to the Detling ringcraft http://www.detlingringcraftclub.co.uk/ and see what goes on.

DD is a great way to learn about more breeds, though its also handy to have a clear head when you go, some breeds are stunning but not suitable for all homes.
I would also suggest if you've not already, get the Gwen Bailey book of breeds. Work out what you'd like in a dog and then you can go through and see what and if any breeds have these traits. For instance there is no point getting a St Bernard if you wish to run miles with it. :-)
Also a good idea to read into the history of breeds to find out what they were bred for, this will give an indication of some traits they may display.

Sure - won't do a major hijack of this thread, but basically it's kind of a cross between low level obedience and a little agility. At level 1 you are onlead and have to follow a course from sign to sign, doing something at each sign such as 'turn left', 'halt & sit', 'sit, walk round dog' etc. At level 2 you are offlead and there might be low jumps or food distractions. I'm not sure if anyone's doing level 3 yet! There are 2 organisations running trials now, the APDT and Talking Dogs Rally, they both have websites and there are ways to find local clubs. Great fun for any breed of dog, they don't demand collie-type heelwork as long as the dog is happy and working well with their handler, and any dog that's done a Bronze good citizen could easily do it.

>LucyDogs can you tell me a bit more about Rally obedience please. Have heard a bit about it but would like to know more

It's popular and an 'Official' dog activity in most breeds in the USA.

As someone who has had more than one dog to show at a time believe me, there are plenty people out there who would be happy to have an extra pair of hands around :-) By going to a ringcraft you will get your face seen, people will see that you are really interested, you will see the different breeds and see how they are shown. You don't need a dog to go to ringcraft. Some people take more than one dog with them and are more than willing to have someone else take one up for a shot, so that the dog gets used to other people more than anything else :-D At one ringcraft we would swap dogs now and then (with people we knew and trusted) just to see how our dogs would move. So once you got to be known I'm sure people would happily let you help

Also you may find you will be able to help at ring-craft as often they have a job to find people to act as the judge (once you now how to go over a dog confidently of course).

>>Sure - won't do a major hijack of this thread,>>

True thanks for info have pm'd you

Callia.  can you make  Gravesend show this Sunday at Lockmeadow. Maidstone? if so we could meet up x

Hi Callia The people on here are really helpful. I have been hauting the shows mainly ardingly thamks to suejaw who pointed me in the right direction for a while now. Its great fun and you can talk to people about their dogs. I love discover dogs not because I dont know what I want particulary I am pretty sure now where I am going with that atm but just great to see breeds you never knew about and talk to people and you can learn so much.
I agree naybe some thought as to what you can offer a pup and what appeals to you before you start is helpful or you could end up with kennel full or choose a breed forth e wrong reasons. ie looks nice but doesnt fit your lifestyle

I am going to discover dogs on the 14th sunday happy to meet and say high I you would like.

Forgot to mention, though nearly everyone at a show will be happy to see you, tell you about their dogs, even let you have a go in an empty ring at lunchtime perhaps - but DON'T go up and start fussing a dog if it's on the top of its crate being brushed and prepared to go in the ring, you will get a stressed owner who's trying to remember ring number, arrange dog's hair, locate show lead from the bottom of the show bag, find treats, etc etc etc, and they won't thank you for trying to ask questions or mess up the dog's hair, haha! Come and say hi when they've finished and are lounging around in their chairs, and most people will be happy to get the dogs out and let you have a play. :-)

Thanks again everyone for your advice ;-)
Unfortunately I have a waterfowl show on the same weekend as the open show at Maidstone so it looks like I won't be able to make this one. I will certainly check out the dog world though for future shows there and I am all booked up for discover dogs. I like so many very different breeds and have been reading as much as I can about them. I think my 'short' list at the moment includes mainly pastoral breeds especially Cardigan corgis, Australian shepherds, Pyrenean sheepdogs, Belgian shepherds, German shepherds and Australian cattle dogs but I have also been thinking maybe a smaller breed might be a good idea, I just don't know !!!

Hey Callia

Just going down your not so short list, noticed GSD on there, my fave breed, have had 3 myself all faithful, loyal companions, easy to train, easy on the eye, not sure about handling at shows though as I have only had them as pets. But a lovely breed to own all the same, just thought I'd give you my experience is all.:)

I'm too going to my first dog show at Midland Counties in a few weeks, so an experience I am looking forward to very much, might see you at a show sometime who knows. :)

Hi Callia
Just seen Cardigan Corgis on your list. Having had this lovely breed since the 80's can vouch for their delightful personalities. Most of them think they are a big dog and lifting a male on to a table at a show they certainly feel like a big dog. Obviously I am biased but wouldn't want another breed, though we do have a Tibetan Spaniel.!!.. Anyway all the best in your search.

May I say that of all breeds a GSD is probably the least suitable to launch yourself into the showing world with.

Great breed, as they are, the showing world for GSDs is a tricky place to be.

Im not sure that I would be able to show a german shepherd much as I love them, I have watched them being shown and its all very busy and to be honest I think the type that I prefer probably wouldnt be suitable for showing anyway LOL !! They are fabulous though and had to be on the list.
Cardigan Corgi's are such lovely dogs and I think one would fit in here very nicely but there seems to be very few litters born and I imagine the wait for a little lady with show potential may be a very long one.

> I think the type that I prefer probably wouldnt be suitable for showing anyway LOL !! They are fabulous though and had to be on the list.

Why? :) What type do you prefer?

In a rare breed like that though breeders are crying out for people seriously interested in a breed to come into it. 

So the wait may be a little long but if a breeder knows your serious the wait for something really Good will be worthwhile.

I like the slightly heavier type gsds with the semi
long coats and straight backs. Especially a lovely dark sable, gorgeous dogs.

That's true and they are a breed I particularly like. If I do decide on a little cardi the wait wouldn't put me off anyway, just makes it all more exciting when it happens

I'm sure a GSD and a cardi would make the best of friends. ;)

Think thats true, sure my cardis think they are GSDs with shorter legs.!!. As Brainless says in a vulnerable breed we are always willing to welcome "new" owners to the breed. Also though few litters are born the wait is not too long and well worth it.
Another fact about Cardis that you may not know is that they are superb all round dogs. Not so much in the U.K but in other countries they do obedience, tracking, agility, herding etc,
Anyway wish you all the best in whatever you decide.
Anna

I know one lady who works Corgis to a high level of obedience....