Can you enter a puppy in a champion show or only an open show?  This would probably be the first show she would be eligible for, when she will be over 6 months old.

Thanks

Snowflake

You can enter puppies in either. :-)

The main difference between a Championship show to an open show is dogs can qualify for Crufts. Ok there are some breeds which dont & within some breeds some classes that dont. A Championship is open to all, there is no exclusion, it is basically the next rung up the ladder to an Open show. :)

Either, but don't put her in more than 2 classes. Open shows will be smaller and more friendly, but Champ shows have the advantage you might qualify her for Crufts and there will be more people there in your breed to chat to (but not to cuddle their dogs just before going in the ring lol!). Not sure how often open shows have breed classes for your breed, are they popular? If you want to do open shows in our area we can always car share!

Hi Lucy

I agree that in open shows there aren't many classes for the Wire - so she would have to go into avnc terrier (is that the correct term?) although entering for a Championship show might be rather daunting ...... !

>although entering for a Championship show might be rather daunting ...... !

If it's a numerically small breed then you may be best off entering at championship shows right away as it may be the only way you will meet other owners and members of your breed.

Yes, AVNSC Terrier, any variety not separately classified. :-) Why not try both!

I have a very numerically small breed (Similar to the WFT actually, I have a Welsh terrier).

The first few shows I entered were open shows, in the AVNSC classes (as we very very rarely get a breed class unless its a champ show). But my bitch came into season so we had to pull out of them. Meaning that our first show was Bath Championship!

I have to admit that although I didnt have a clue what I was meant to be doing (apart from practicing at ring craft classes), it was probably the best choice for me to make! I met people there in my breed that have since helped me SOOO much, that the second show we went to I had a dog that looked like the real thing (As I am hand stripping myself) and we qualified for Crufts!

First show I entered with my first show dog was a championship show, I knew no better, she came second in puppy and I as pleased but I was even more pleased when asked at the next ringcraft class how I had got on and they told me I had qualified for crafts.

That happened to me too! Crufts is a life long dream and I've achieved it! You can't go wrong with a Champ show, you'll learn so much from going (or at least I did!) and you never know how well you might do! :)

In cat shows, there aren't many sanction or exemption shows, so as a newcomer you have to usually choose a Champ show for your first outing. Okay so you don't have to handle your cat, but it's very daunting, especially as at GCCF shows you are sent out of the show hall for several hours while judging takes place, and have no idea of anything until you look at the results board. My first cat show was a Champ show, and my kitten won all of his classes.... I couldn't have been more ecstatic.

I had a similar experience with my first boy, we got 2nd out of 21 and I had a feeling we might have qualified but wasn't really sure so had to ask the other exhibitors! Rang his breeder and I think you could have heard the shrieking without needing the phone!!

We tried open shows with our first Bedlington.

Never got placed in AVNSC,  the judges just ignored us.   Did better at breed classes, with a breed specialist judge, and were encouraged by other exhibitors to go to a Ch Show.

First show we came 3rd and qualified for Crufts, the breeder was there and was thrilled.

Second Ch Show, we entered as practise for Crufts at LKA.

Won the BCC, and BOB!    The Welsh contingent were there, with the breeder and had to explain to me what it all meant LOL    My OH had gone for a sleep in the car!  one of the exhibitors ran to find him and frog-marched him back for the group LOL

I have found other exhibitors really helpful and encouraging to newbies, whether at Open or Ch Shows :-)  there's usually a few people who will be willing to guide you through what to do :-)

Years ago, people didn't venture into a Champ show until they started taking significant wins/placements at Open Shows.   That's all changed now - people go right to Champ shows from the get-go.   In other words, you don't HAVE to do Open shows first.    But it might make sense since Open shows are generally less formal, usually cost less to enter and at least you'll be able to ease your new puppy into the showing scene without it really mattering how well, or not, she does!!

You will need to get to some Ringcraft classes - so at least you'll know your puppy will behave, walk as she should and be able to stand and 'gone over'.   Nobody else in her class will welcome you in there with an unruly puppy, Open or Champ.show.   And if she misbehaves to the point the judge can't assess her, you'll find yourself standing at the end of the line.

ps   It always makes me laugh about 'qualifying for Crufts' - the Holy Grail.  Not.   Fact is with a puppy it's far more important that his early showing experiences are good so he goes on to enjoying his days out at shows.   If you are hell-bent on getting a Crufts qual. on her, it may not be as 'enjoyable', for either of you as it should be.   If your dog is good enough she'll get her Crufts qual. eventually.  Showing should be enjoyable although these days it's all about winning - very political.   You should never forget, win or lose, you always bring the best dog home with you.

I always do my very best to support open shows that have breed classes for us, as they are extremely rare and the less people who enter, the more shows will remove the classes. And out of main the championship show season you want other shows so between October and March we tend to go for open shows -in that time period the only championship shows we have with breed classes is Midland Counties, LKA and Boston so not a lot until Crufts. And open shows are good in that they are usually local (well you wouldn't travel very far for one) and they are very cheap to enter indeed. However I prefer championship shows. I find them more relaxed, better for the dogs as you are not generally squashed inside a tiny sports centre or similar with no room to even breathe, and above all you get judges that know what they are doing -which includes how to approach the dogs. I do wonder sometimes where some open show judges are picked from as some don't seem to have the first idea about the breed. And AVNSC is truly what they say; Any Variety Not Seriously Considered.

> It always makes me laugh about 'qualifying for Crufts' - the Holy Grail.  Not.

In our case, it was no holy grail.  It wasn't even thought about, we just thought showing might be a bit of fun, and did it as a favour for the breeder, as he thought she might be a 'bit good'   Any place in a line up at all would have been amazing.   She was 18 months and was just starting to keep 3 feet on the ground in the ring.

Regarding puppies in the ring, Terrier judges seem to be a lot more forgiving than other breed judges, and accept giddy puppy behaviour.   My Ch Bedlington was a nightmare as a pup -I was asked to peel her off the ceiling so the judge could look at her at one Open show :-D   Everyone knew us, as we caused so much laughter.

As far as I was concerned she was enjoying it and would settle with age.  She was never allowed to interfere with other dogs though.   

Waiting worked and once she settled she was amazing in the ring, a real show off with a great attitude.

Her Grand Daughter snogged the judge at her first show (Breed club ChShow) full on paws round the neck, and tonsil hockey!     He loved her attitude and she went BP !

My advice to the OP is to have fun in the Opens, go to ringcraft to learn, don't over practise - an automaton isn't really going to enjoy themselves,   and don't expect too much of your pup at first.      And Yes! We all take the best dogs home :-)

Agree, Crufts is just another show, and very tiring as well, but as a new exhibitor I was excited to have qualified. Stopped after a few years as thought it was asking too much of the dogs to spend so long on a bench in those days getting on for 10 hours (7-5)

I'm not saying it's the holy grail. But as a child that's grown up with dogs and having a dream to have a dog good enough to get there it's a pretty big tick on the bucket list! It certainly won't be my dogs first show! If you have a numerically small breed that you will not see at your local open show (I've never seen another WT) and you want help with your breed specifically champ shows are the place to get it. Infact, most champ shows are open shows for my breed with no CCs on offer and still very small  numbers turn up. (8-10 max!)

Infact, most champ shows are open shows for my breed with no CCs on offer and still very small  numbers turn up. (8-10 max!)

That's good numbers compared to us LOL. Windsor tomorrow 3 entries! So yes, the champ shows without tickets also need supporting or breed classes will be removed.