i really want to show my new basset hound puppy and was told by the breeder it was show quality but she has never shown her dogs. how can i tell if she is suitable for the ring?

Start taking it to ringcraft and maybe do some local shows.  Are there any breeders near you who might be able to advise?

i dont know anyone who breeds them. only the lady mine came from. i have been in touch with my local ringcraft and start in 2 weeks. after all inoculations have been done. are the colour and markings important in the show ring? i obviously think she is beautiful but i am biased!

Sometimes a pup from a 'pet' litter can turn out really well due to really good breeding further back, for example if the grandparents were show dogs/champions.

I fail to see how the breeder could say they had show potential if they have never shown, and have nothing to go on.

Why not Google the grandparents names an see if show results come up for them, if so then there is a pretty good chance that the pup may have inherited the right characteristics.

The only way to know is to start training at ringcraft enter some shows under judges that know the breed (you need a few opinions), and see how you do.

If after this you find that your dog is outclassed nearly every time, then no harm done, you Will have learnt a lot a nd further down the lien you can get a companion from him from an established breeder of good show quality stock with a track record of selling show pups to others.

Just be so very careful that you don't over exercise.

my puppy has 17 champions in 5 generations.
can overexcercising as a puppy really have an impact on later showing? i am surprised at this as my parents basset from yonks ago when i was a child was exercised a lot as she was REALLY hungry gutted and was prone to being overweight.

> can overexcercising as a puppy really have an impact on later showing?

Over-exercising puppies of any breed can damage the growing bones and joints, potentially leading to issues later in life and/or altering the conformation once adult.

my puppy has 17 champions in 5 generations.

Doesn't really mean much other than for the parents themselves, i.e. to get a showable pup you look for one from parents doing well at shows. Even then nothing's guaranteed. One of my bitches has two Champion parents and she has a fault that always make judges overlook her.

My least showable bitch has in a 5 generation pedigree (62 ancestors) only 14 ancestors that are not champions, but it doesn't make her a competitive show bitch, though to be fair her sister has a RCC, but sadly the brothers who were more promising were never shown.

This is the kind of bitch that because of a decent pedigree mated to a dog that compensates for her failings can produce puppies better than herself.

The number of Champions in a pups pedigree do not signify anything, it is each individual pairing in that pedigree that is important in producing your particular pup. It does suggest that the animals used were of quality so if the people breeding these animals were good at their job and carefully selected each pair then you may well have a excellent pup but if there have been too many errors in the decisions on which sire for each bitch then it may just be run of the mill.

From any particular litter there will be a mix, one hopes from good to excellent but it could be from poor to good so it is all ways a lottery who has the good pup and no breeder should say that a pup has show quality only that the pup has been breed to be of good type and healthy but even then they can not be guaranteed.

However I do hope your pup is a cracker and you have lots of fun showing him but even if it is not a high flyer you will enjoy yourself and learn a lot so that next time you will know what you are looking for or at least know from whom to ask advice.

> my puppy has 17 champions in 5 generations

Have a dog from similar background and in sheer ignorance found out to his cost - didn't think we would get him to 6 - that health (& that's all that we were interested in) or showing potential can be guarenteed. Bassets are very heavy in bone to weight ratio and you need to be careful in so many areas weight, exercise and that he dosen't jump. I may sound over cautious but we did all of those and still he's had a very hard time of it, I love the breed but whether it' my misfortune but it is rare to come across one without problems.  

The best thing to do is get out there and have a go. its fun and you will meet others in your breed who will give advice and help you. and you can compare your pup to others at shows. that way you can see for yourself if he's a good one. even if hes not. its still fun and if a judge likes him all the better :)
some puppies get better with age , so even if he is not the best puppy now, he could still turn in to the best dog in a few years. as long as you are having fun there is no reason not to show him. he will always be first in your eyes anyway :)