I have a beautiful Newfoundland puppy who i would love to show, i have been told by a few breeders that he would be worth showing but only by them as my face is not known.
As they are well known the pup would do quite well but as i have never shown in the Newfy world i would get nowhere.
Is the showing world this bad, it sounds like it's the people that count not the dogs, is this true?
Please if anyone can give help or advise , it would be much appreciated.

S Deary

I don't know what it is like in Newfs, but in our breed a newcomer has every chance. a good dog will always get its just deserts. It may be that through lack of experience in presenting the dog to advantage,(accentuating good points, and trying to underplay the less good) the dog may not come to prominence as quickly. It can take quite a while to learn to move your dog correctly. Our breed can tend to pace, and it took me ages to get the gentleman I have been encouraging to learn what this meant, and how to move at the right pace. this has cost him a better placing on occasion, say a 2nd or 3rd, whereas he may have won.

At his third show, our breed ch show, he won 4 classes, under a breed specialist, who new very well he was a complete new face!

It all comes down to the honesty and capabilities of the judges, who I would like to think are mostly honest. Some may be weak and put up the face, due to lack of knowledge (on the basis that they always win, so can't go wrong), or some exchange of favours. I beleive in most cases the faces have won because they have the better dog, presented to its best, and cleverly handled.

the good news is thaqt they all strted somewhere! I would show the dog myself, and learn as best I can all the handling techniques that the winners use, and copy them if appropriate. Confidence in your handling can help make your dog shine. Go to ringcraft, and enjoy your showing, and when you win, you will know it is through your own efforts, despite not being a face.

I have been showing in my breed since Jan 1994, and have just made up my first Champion this year. I can look back at my previous exhibits and say honestly, that they mostly got the placings they desrved, whereas at the time I may have been tempted to beleive otherwise.

Find yourself a mentor, it may be your breeder. Better still is someone who has been successful in the breed, but due to age is starting to wind down, and is no longer out there to compete and win.

Welcome to the Forum Deary :-)

Brainless has given you sound advice. We all had to start out somewhere. Why not join your local Ringcraft Club too. The people there will advise you on how to get the very best from your dog.It will also give you confidence in the ability to handle your own dog.

Enjoy!

Leigh

Hi

Unfortunately this is the case in Cocker Spaniels, and you have to be seen and almost do an apprenticeship before you can be placed at Champ Shows under certain judges.

This is even more frustrating for me as I have to come all the way over from Guernsey, and can't do lots and lots of Shows to be seen at. But I intend to persevere and hopefully this will pay off in the long run.

Good luck though and keep at it.

Derryn

Samantha

Again, just to echo what has already been said. If you want to show you have to start somewhere and it is a question of keeping at it and getting your face known. I'm going through it at the mo. I recently started showing my first Cocker a few weeks ago. He is having some success at Open shows, but not so at Breed specific's and Champ shows and this is partly because I am not yet known. I will keep at it though coz I know I have a promising dog and now a very promising pup who is just old enough to show. I'm really lucky to be getting a lot of very positive support from fellow Cocker show people and know I am on the right tracks. It's just gonna take a little time. Anyway - it's all part of the fun - and you must look at it as fun. If you can't, you need to seriously consider if you should do it.

Do give it a go. Ask for guidance, get off to ringcraft classes and watch those who are experienced and practice and then go for it. But most of all ENJOY. I do and have made some great new friends:-)

Pam n the two boys

Don't be afraid just get in there show them all how good your dog is and you will be rewarded.

HI it is true to a certain extent that new faces dont usually do as well as the known faces but thats almost alwawys down to bad handling in other words if an experienced handler was to go in the ring with agood dog and was not known to the breed judge the dog would stand a good chance as the other dogs in beeing placed you have to have confidence to show well & this only comes with painful experience but you do learn quickly all breeds need new blood get in there & have ago & enjoy Pawla

Unfortunately, with some judges, this may be true. However there are honest judges out there who are not afraid of doing what they want to do and if your puppy is good enough he will be rewarded. I would give it a go, and wish you good luck in your attempt.

Joan
take the rough with the smooth

Hi, you could always compromise and let the breeder show it to begin with, get a few wins under the belt and then take over!! I have mostly shown at Open shows as most Ch shows are a long long way for me, but on the occasions that I have shown at Ch shows as a more or less unknown, we have only been unplaced once. What would be very handy would be if the breeder of your puppy would advise you which shows to enter, depending on who is judging. They will know which judges prefer your "type" of dog, or who are more likely to put up a newcomer if the dog deserves it. When I first started showing I used to prefer to show under "allrounder" judges, those that dont neccesarily breed and show " your breed", they are less likley to be "facey" and put up the best dogs, which sadly oes not always happen under breed specialists. The only trouble with this is if you have 2 dogs that are very "close" in quality etc, and the allrounder judge may not make the "right" choice". I hope this helps rather than confuses!!

I breed and show Newfies and know from experience that some judges can be facey ie choose dogs exhibited by well known faces. However there are lots of people judging Newfies who will place a good dog if it is handled well in the show ring. The advice you've been given so far here is sound - go to ring craft, go to local open shows and have some fun. If you have a good puppy it will do well. Dont be put off by negative comments - just be aware that show judging can be very unfair but there are good judges there too.
Good luck - enjoy your puppy!!