I'm about to enter a show and am unsure which classes to enter as there seem to be so many options.

On the day of the show Mo will be 11 months and 3 weeks, so by my reckoning she could enter the following breed classes: Puppy, Junior, Special Yearling. There are also any variety gundog classes where she could enter Puppy and Junior. On top of those there is an AV Special beginners class.

Now obviously I don't want to enter every class but which would be the most suitable for us (both newbies to showing as you can probably tell)?

Things would be so much more straight forward if the classes made sense. Why don't the do Puppy 6-9 months, Junior 9-12 etc instead of overlapping the ages which makes it all very confusing.

ok the bottom part you say about puppy 6-9 months, this is in fact a classes already which is Minor Puppy. There is Puppy 6-12 months, then Junior 6-18 months, yearling 6-24 months & special Yearling 12-24 months. This covers those that may have litter siblings or 2 or 3 young dogs they are campaining at the same time...not all shows or breeds schedule all the age classes.

As I have stated on a similar thread that not everyone agrees on the amount of classes but I personally say a maximum of 2 for a puppy or young dog. I also like to stick to breed classes & rarely enter AV's(that just my choice though). Perhaps if the AV Gundog judge is a different judge to your breed judge then you might have 2 bites of the Cherry, so I would try the 2 Puppy classes(breed & AV).

No doubt someone will come on with a differing view......

I'm with you 100 % Lexy! :)

As I have said it very much depends on individual dogs and also perhaps breed and of course class sizes.  Many of mine need the extra ring time, others are more sensitive/overwhelmed or easily bored.

> others are more sensitive/overwhelmed or easily bored.

Oh Barbara that describes ME not my dog :)  I only enter 2 maximum but usually only one as my boredom factor kicks in.  In truth of course if you are in a small breed or have a successful dog there's often quite enough for a youngster to do if you win a class, or challenge for Best Puppy or Best of Breed etc then to hang around waiting for Group.

I might enter a stakes or AV class if I like the judge but generally wouldn't bother.  If I had a dog from one of the numerically strong breeds though I think I might enter 2 breed classes if I was borderline on age (and it was generally accepted in that breed) or an extra non breed class for more handling experience with a different judge.  In some breeds you need to move around a bit with puppies to meet enough men, or skirt-wearing women, or you might want to be assessed by someone whose opinion you really value and they are only doing the stakes classes...

Are we talking champ or open? If champ, I would enter Puppy & Junior. If open, I might consider the AV Puppy class if it's a different judge, more opinions are always good. :-)

The show is an open show (haven't dared enter a champ show yet!!!) and as you can see from my avatar it is a numerically strong breed (very!). Mo tends to be more excitable in the first class and is often much easier to handle later in the day when she's calmed down a bit.

If your dog proves to very successful, entering several classes can make you very unpopular after a while.
I only ever enter one class, if the judge likes your dog you will know.

> Mo tends to be more excitable in the first class and is often much easier to handle later in the day when she's calmed down a bit.

Then yes - it makes sense to enter an age related breed class, then go into an AV or stakes class later.  If she does well in the breed class and needs to remain unbeaten, or you think she's too tired, you can pull out of the AV class.  Usually it doesn't cost much to add an extra class so you won't be losing much either :)

Wishing you lots of luck (and nice weather!) - when is the show?

The show is next month. I've got to get the entry in by the weekend.

When you're new to showing which class(es) to enter is very confusing, but I am enjoying it more than I thought I would.

> When you're new to showing which class(es) to enter is very confusing

Yes it really is, mind you when we got CC's last year I got confused all over again.  When senility sets in I confidently expect to find it more confusing still :)  It's sort of easier with online entries...

I know the feeling - my veteran is still a nutter in her first class or two! Last weekend we did a show with obedience, and she was so much easier to handle in breed after working 2 obedience rounds! :-D I would do Puppy and perhaps the AV class then. :-)