I am hoping to give showing a go with my now 5 month old pup. There is a breed club open show which falls on the day she is 6 months old so thought this may be a good place to start? Or would I be better doing an all breed open show - there is one a week after? Or any other recommendations? I guess Champ Shows would not be a good idea at this stage as we are both inexperienced when it comes to showing?

I haven't yet managed to get to a ringcraft club (if anyone knows of one in the North Herts area that would also be helpful - I've had no response from the one I have contacted), and our efforts in the garden are not very good, so any hints and tips would be gratefully received.

Why not try both? Keep trying your best in the garden, there's really no subsitute for a good ringcraft club, but your breed club might be a way to find some people in your breed who live nearby and can perhaps help or recommend one. Don't be afraid to tell the steward at the show that you aren't sure what you're doing, they are usually ready and willing to help. And relax, whatever naughtiness your puppy gets up to, make sure they have fun, settling down and behaving themselves can come as they mature, but they need to have good experiences at their first shows. You might need to get the entries in quickish though if your puppy is now 5 months and the shows are only a month away. :-)

> You might need to get the entries in quickish though if your puppy is now 5 months and the shows are only a month away.

That's why I need to get my head around which one(s) to enter! It's all a bit daunting! I'm used to agility shows, but have never really got into this showing lark.

Enter both, if you enjoy the first you will wish you had entered both.

Ditto above, enter both.

Enter both, keep going with the garden practise, even out on a walk, every now and then stop walking and at the same time say stand, stand for a few secs then praise and walk on.  Go to both and have fun.

i go to a ringcraft in stevenage if thats anywhere near u - pm me if u want the details, id prob do the champ show and the open show :)

I reacon a breed show is an excellent place to start...I love my breed shows..they are much quieter then ordinary open shows but thats probably more to do with my breed than anything else.
I would also try the one the week after too. Yes Champ shows are quite different & it looks like your breed will have huge entries...
If you know what day & time the training is for the club you contacted, just pop along...you have missed some training time & only got a month/4 training nights left, before the show your wanting to enter.