Hi all, I have a 2 1/2 year old yellow lab who i am told by several lab breeders that he is of a lovley nature with a good size head and good legs with an outstanding presence. I have recently had him netured because he was an active bliter! I have made the decision to start to show him but to be honest he isnt perfect on commands etc he is what i would describe as an average dog! Although the qualities he has as listed above would help him in the show setting i dont think ( i could be wrong ) that he would do well in top class shows etc. However my question is this, can someone explain to me the showing procedure and what type of show or class he might be best suited? Also does anyone know of societies or shows in the Carlisle, Cumbria area?

Many thanks
Mark

Hi Mark, go to the Kennel Club site and click on the Discover Dogs then onto Gundogs and finaly, Labs. You will find the breed standard and it is that discription of the Lab that the judge will use in the show ring. And in theory it is the dog that comes closest to the standard that will win. Take a look at the standard and at your dog and see what you think. I would go for Open shows to start with and try the Carlisle & District Canine Society for classes ring a Mr K B Staveley on 01228 531263
Jackie

Thankyou very very much jackie ! I have been looking for that telephone number for ages!

Regards
Mark

P.s are all show dogs in the open ring trained ' perfectly ' ??

No they are not perfectly trained, and nor are mine. In the UK most of us still show our own dogs and we do it for fun. And most of us have many other things to do apart from training our dogs, we do our best, but our best is not perfect.
Jackie

Hi Jackie,
Since we got our Bernese puppy "Oscar" two weeks or so ago, I have asked numerous questions on this site..on his behaviour, food etc.One thing that I might want to do with him in the future(If I stay in England) is show him, after looking on the Kennel Club site and then under breed standard I read that bernese dogs tails should be carried sort of low and NEVER raised up and over the back..or bent.. oh horrors Oscars tail is just as it shouldn't be..(not to worry tail bent or not we love him to bits) but are all hopes dashed.. would it be pointless to even consider showing him in the future?? what do u think?
Regards Sandyxx:)

You don't say how old your puppy is but in a lot of breeds the tail carrage does not settle until they reach 6 to 9 months. Why not ask your pups breeder who will tell you what the norm in in the Bernese. Jackie

Thanks Jackie, will do that..After the first week I could have cheerfully returned him but he does seem to be settling now, just this morning I tought him to hand me his paw it only took 5 minutes..he's only 10 weeks old..and he will do it to command now..I can make him stay either sitting or lying flat with his head flat to the floor untill I walk to the other side of the kitchen wait for a second or two and say okay and over he comes for his treat.. which is just a few pieces of his puppy advance..I'm getting so proud of him!!:D

You do right to start teaching him early, he will be a big boy by the time he is 12 months and will go through the teenage stage like all others, when you will need every scrap of control you can install prior to then, 'cause it is a sure thing that you wont do any training then. As he is only 10 week I'm sure his tail will sort it's self, but get him to ringcraft classes as soon as he has finished his injections. Jackie

Hi again Jackie,

One day Oscar is fine and the next day we seem to be battling again..My husband says he has changed so much since we first got him (for the better).. when I'm alone with him he will sit, stay etc etc.. but we had some visitors tonite and he just ignored my commands to sit,obviously he was excited and he is so young, can't wait to get his next injections then I can get him out more.. keep trying the lead with him too but not having much success at the mo.. he just thinks it's something else to devour or chew at..

Regards Sandy xx :)

Sandy he is only a baby, you are right he is easily excited and distracted. All I can say is try not to give an order unless you can make sure it is obeyed, and when you have a visitor that is not posible so may be if you know a visitor is coming put the pup into its cage or it room until the visitors are settled then bring the pup in to meet them having asked that they keep the greating low key, if the pup plays up put it back in it room or cage, for say half an hour and then try again. Jackie

To be perfectly honest showing a neutered dog is
going to be an uphill struggle.
As all breed standards say that the males must have two
testicles descended into the scrotum.
So as your boys have been surgically removed the judge
will probably mark him down accordingly as if he were born with none.
Also before you show him you would have to get KC permission
to show letter too.
Sorry to put a dampner on your aspirations.
Showing a neutered bitch (with KC permission) is alot easier.
However if you wanted to have a bit of fun with him, go to the exemption shows and they have lots of fun classes to enter too.

Kindest Regards
Kirstine

Oh balls!

Mark

P.s lets hope his other manly looks make up for it as surely there must be neutured dogs that are shown???

One person who posts on this site, despite the lack of testes has been holding their own in the show ring, including champ shows I believe. I would hazard a guess though that if he had been entire he would have been winning a lot more.

There is no reason though that you cnnnot enjoy showing him, and if he does reasonably well despite his handicap, then you may want to get a pup from his breeder to show next time.

You should have fun anyway and learn a lot, as long as you don't nind that you are 7unlikely to win at top level.

Did you *really* mean to say this :

One person who posts on this site, despite the lack of testes has been holding their own in the show ring

:D :D :D

Mel ;)

:D :D :D :D

If they don't have any how do they hold their own ??? ;) :D or is that the point :D

And fancy doing it at a Champ show too !!!! ;)

SaraW :D

sorry Barbara but you have to agree it is funny ;) :D

Always happy if I amuse :D ;)

Hi Mark I am in Workington you have just missed a show at the Sands centre on Sunday and I am afraid you have missed the closing date for entries for the next one which will be held there on Sunday 2nd of feb.There is however nothing to stop you going along and having a look and meeting some of us.Where abouts are you.Do you have details of alocal ringcraft class if you let me know where you are I may e able to help.Best Wishes Gillian

Good idea to go and have a look Mark, but don't take your dog. Unentered dogs are not allowed at shows. Jackie

Thanks again jackie i am going to the next gundog show here just for a look, although mine are both labs they arent gun dogs in any sense! I am pleased to hear that all dogs that enter arent perfect like you see on crufts because i dont think mine is near that standard!

Gillian, I am in Carlisle and spoke to a Mrs Stavley of the Carlisle&District society which was an experience i can tell you! She said they wouldnt be holding a show untill june but made me aware of a Gundog show at the sands a week on Sunday of which i think i will go to have a nose about, but i would be interested in hearing about the one on Feb 2nd?! Dont know of any ringcraft schools in my area but again would be interested to know as i would prob go with 'Benji' to see if it is possible! I will probably enter him into one a few months later. Is there much work done in the ring 'off the lead' as this is where his downfall is!

Thanks again,
Mark

Mark what you see on the TV is not what is going on in general, I am going to Crufts with a very much less than well behaved dog. And I wont be alone. I wont reach the dizzy hights that the dogs you see on TV do, but I would hope to get a class place.
Jackie

Hi Mark you keep your dogs on the lead all the time so no need to worry about that .The show on the 2nd of Feb is a general open show so a wide selection of breeds will be present it is run by thr Cumberland Canine Association.rhe show opens at 9.30 and judging starts at 10 .
As to ringcraft classes near you I will ask our trainer wheres best and when they are held and get back to you:D Gillian

You are not allowed to have the dog off lead at a show, well thats the theory, some people do but it is against the regs. Show dogs are trained to stand in the ring and allow the judge to go over them and then to move with the handler (you) as instructed by the judge. No recalls or down stays or anything really clever like that. Have a go, if you and the dog like it you will have lots of fun. Jackie

Thanks all for your replys, i am reading with interest - all of them! Gillian i would like to go to the show on the 2nd Feb just to have a look round and see what the crack is although 'benji' showed his enthusiasm with a couple of dogs again last night (!) so i hope he doesnt do the same at shows otherwise both he and i will be knackered! If you could let me know any more details you may have?