I have a lovely French Bulldog male who turned 2 in March. Is he too old to start showing? I have a 9 week old bitch who is doing her standing practise everyday and walking on the lead, ive started standing my boy and he seems a natural. If he enjoys it and in our opinion is as good as any we have seen at shows can he adjust to and learn ringcraft etc? Would be fun to take both to shows!

Lots of people wait until dogs are older and mature to show, so no, I don't think he's too old at all. Sounds like he's a natural and it's all about having fun at the end of the day. :)

No problem! There are plenty of dogs that don't start out being shown as pups and still go on to do well. Usually the one problem you may encounter is if the dog has been obedience trained and is used to sitting as soon as you stop walking, but that's a minor training issue only.

Thank you, he has never been taught to sit so we dont have any obedience training to undo, hes a very laid back chap bit sensitive but is very correct. I am aiming for a first show in October with the puppy at 6 months old so will carry on teaching my male and try him then I think!

Many on this site know about the boy i took on was a biter and manic he had his first show a couple of weeks ago and it was a championship show and he did really good, he is nearly three and we only did 5 weeks of ringcraft up until the day we went to the show but for the first year of his life he did something else so my ANSWER IS YES, and good luck to you have fun i did and will be doing it again very shortly

I didn't show my foundation bitch until she was nearly two due to having a Young baby that I wasn't prepared to foist on my Dad and his partner for the day until he was older.

Never too old. Straight into Open Dog and if he wins you'll look very smart and had a plan.
The really cool exhibitors bring the dog out exactly when its at its best.......that'll be you :-)

Just wanted to add go along to a local ringcraft class so both dogs get used to lots of different dogs and the hub bub that goes on there and show day.

You can do lots of training at home but your dogs need to be used to a stranger going over them, checking their mouths and males "dangly bits".

Good Luck

Thanks everyone, he's been practising today and going to find a ring craft class. Think I may try a small show first tho! Can't wait to get out with him and the puppy :)

he has never been taught to sit so we dont have any obedience training to undo

*SIGH* your dog would be smart enough to learn the difference so that when in the ring there is no sitting down. Obedience training and ringcraft are not mutually exclusive.

My first Spanish Water Dog was nearly 8 when she was first shown as the breed wasn't recognised until then.  She won many BOB's, beating dogs who afterwards became the top Spanish in the UK.  So yep you definitely can show dogs at any age in my experience and do well.