Hello champdog'ers!  I have been visiting your site over the last few months and I have to say it is very interesting!  The reason for my posting is that I have got a 2 and a half year old border collie who has been shown at exemption/companion level and has had a fantastic season this year, after being 'persuaded' by her breeder and other people "in the know" who have told me she is wasted at this level I have entered her into Darlington Champ Show in the post grad class.  After serious research and a few visits to a local ringcraft class I am very nervous now and am lacking in confidence with only two weeks to go and I wondered if anyone had any tips for me as a newcomer into this big scary world of showing!  Also what is the best way to stand border collies, as mine tends to stand with her ears back unless I hold her head.

Hello guest.

I have a Border Collie that I show at championship level.  Unfortunately I am not going to Darlington and live in the South otherwise I would be happy to help you.

The best way of standing is free standing, but as you have observed it is not easy to get the ears forward.  You can keep trying to bait with very tasty treats to bring the ears up, as long as they are up when the judge is looking that is all you need.  There is a way of stacking them so you hold the ears forward and a lot of exhibitors do this, if not all the time like me there are occasions when they will not go up no matter what.  You really need to be shown how to do it though, or at least watch someone doing it to copy. 

Get to the show early and ask someone to show you, they are a friendly lot, they really won't mind.  Just do it early before they are about to go into the ring and it will give you time to practise too.

Good luck, let us know how you get on.
Sandra

ps Take loads of money as the stands are great, bet she comes away with at least a new lead :)

Hi, I don't have Border Collies, but general advice would be to get there early(as already suggested) so that you don't feel hurried, as your dog will pick up on the tension you're feeling. Watch how the handlers in earlier classes handle their dogs, you can learn a lot by watching experienced handlers/dogs. I like to be near the middle of the lineup if possible, that way i can see what the judge is doing/asking for, and i'm not so near the back of the line that my dog gets bored (my breed tends to have very big classes). Try to relax (not easy, i know!) and enjoy yourself - far too many people get het up about the results, and i'm not denying that a win feels great, but we all started somewhere, and no dog wins all the time! We all take the best dog home at the end of the day, and that's really that counts. Have a great time with your dog, you'll both be fine!

Karen

Hold her head if you have to, stand your dog how you feel most comfortable and how the dog looks her best!!!  Also maybe you should invest in some "rescue remedy" for the day as a champshow can be quite scary first time round, so something natural to calm your nerve, as if your nevous, it will go down the lead to the dog aswell!

Main thing is go and have fun, its just another show, and your girl is the best no matter what!

Everyone has to start somewhere & the first time at a champ show can be worrying especially if it is a big class. From a judges point of view BC's look much better free standing than stacked

I have a friend who is a very experienced obedience handler but had never handled at a breed show. She trained her dog to stand & stay then worked on the correct stance, off they went to there 1st ch s & got third in Junior & qualified for Crufts. She can't run with him so another obedience handler handles for her & was a bag of nerves when she went in. This friend has worked at Crufts in the Ob Championships. I've also seen photos of Mary Ray handling an OES at a show.

Take a swig of Rescue Remedy & give a drop or two to the dog & you will be fine. Have a wander round the show before you go in to relax & spend some dosh.

I'll be going but on toy day with the naughty boys & my veteran angel cavaliers.