Hi, You will have to excuse my ignorance but I have had dogs for lots of years but have never shown.

I now have a Briard and will be getting another one next year and would like to show her/him. I was advised to show my boy, by the breeders of him who also show and judge, but I was put off by the reputation of the show ring. (wuss) :D I have heard horror stories of jealousy, sheer nastiness and poisoning! This is probably not a fair assumption but it has put me off. If I were to show it would be for the sheer pleasure of looking at other dogs and of course, satisfaction if I got anywhere. I have no interest in breeding, just doing it for pleasure. I am quite competitive and this concerns me, but then I suppose you have to be competitive to be there in the first place.

Where do I start? At what age (dog) do I start? How much does it cost roughly? I really need a mentor don't I :)  I just dont know who to approach as they can be very patronising in my breed as it is such a small circle.

Looking forward to your learned responses, :)

Well lets start, there is a few people who are arrogant and will do anything to win, and yes poisoning is not unheard of but doesn't happen to everydog!!!!

On the whole alot of people ar nice, like in all sports and hobbies you get competivness from some people, but likewise some very nice and helpful people.

Start a dog training for the ring as soon as possible but you cannot start showing at shows untill they are 6 mths old. 

First I would advise you find a ringcraft near you, you can wait untill you get your new puppy or you could start going now with your older dog, and maybe start showing him so you know how its done for when you get a puppy (puppy and owner starting from nothing togther can be hard work!!!)

So its up to you.  Start going to shows NOW and get a feel for them, go without a dog so you can talk to people, explain that your knew and want to go into showing, talk to the breeder, they will (normally) be the best people to talk to and will be willing to help you with anything.

Good luck and go out and have fun, don't be upset by competive people and enojy a hobby with your dog! 

Thank you, this may sound naive, but what does ringcraft involve? I used to help the Police with GSD's ( and GSD rescue) and they gave me some very sound training points but nothing on ringcraft.

Ringcraft involves the dog learning to be relaxed around other dogs, to be able to weave in and out of them without feeling threatened (shows can be very crowded places), to move on a loose lead without pulling and to allow strangers to touch it all over, feel its feet, its tail, look at its teeth etc. Most vets love dogs that have been ring-trained because they are so much easier to examine!

Jeangenie, the only thing that my boy currently has a problem with on that score is slightly pulling on the lead, for this I use a Halti, (he weighs 45 kilos) He allows me to touch him ALL over, and the vet, dont know about anyone else though Obviously, it wouldn't be  him that I would end up showing as I presume he is too old at nearly 2! But hopefully, he would be a good guinepig (sp)  with the training that I have done so far :) ie, lots of socialisation, just has a bit of a problem with strangers (breed characteristic) Would you recommend that I use him at a ringcraft class?

Personally I think all dogs benefit from what can be learned at ringcraft. It is often more use than 'regular' training classes. To be able to run with a dog on a lead, without it getting over-excited and leaping around, can be very useful.

And your boy's nowhere near too old to start showing!
:)

Do you know how happy that has made me Jeangenie? :) :) I have always regretted not showing him and someone in the breed told me the other day that I would have problems showing him now because of his age! Albeit, I have snipped his fringe over his eyes, Briards can be clumsy, so I chose to cut his fringe so he didn't keep walking into me,( less bruises :D  and every other solid object,) and this is not allowed for showing, you can only trim their toes Albeit, mine as a breed, is very stubborn, it is a challenge, and, my god, he's been that from the day that I brought him home, bless him :)

Thank you once again, now all I need is the details for a ringcraft class for unruly 7 year old daughters :D :D

Oh 7 year old daughters taking part in the training of the dog can sometimes be very good!  Teachers them alot more in dog responsibility and encourages them to be involved in the dogs and enjoy your hobby also!

We have had many juniors come though our ringcraft as we specalise in junior handling and, well, it gives them something to do one night aweek!!!!

I started shwoing my f0oundation bitch at nearly two years old, and she did quite well once she had the hang of it.

A couple I sold a nice pup to came to our club shows, so I suggested they show their dog next time.  He went to his first show at nearly two, and didn't do too well as it was the breed club show, but several people thought him nice and advised they try again. 

Their next show an all breed Open show they were Best of Breed, then Best of the hound breeds, and finally Reserve Best in show.

At their first Championship show they were Best male, and then Best of Breed and on their way to getting the dogs Champion title.

This year at 4 1/2 years old he became a Champion, and they also got a bitch 2 years ago that is doing really well. 

They knew nothing of showing.

So go on show your older boy, take things slowly at Ring training, first get him used to you showing his teeth and feling his testicles etc, and then the trainers will do the same in a mock show situation.  At Ringcraft you will meat people who are new to showing and very expereinced ones with new pups, and they will be able to help you and start your network of show freinds.

Thanks brainless, I think that you have just given me the push, with your example, that I need. I have always had a secret desire to show him, his temperament doesn't help (very stubborn) but in saying that, he normally wants to please me, so this has to be a good start.........doesn't it?

Give it a go!! Its great fun and you'll get to meet lots of people with a love of your breed.
You asked about cost! Not cheap,I'm afraid. Open shows are cheapest at about £3.00 per class. Champ shows ,if your breed has CC's on offer are normally about £20 per class.Add on to that cataloque,petrol,sometimes parking etc and it mounts up.
However its worth the money and I wouldn't give it up for the world
Archer

Hi Archer,

Again, total ignorance on my behalf :rolleyes: Can you explain to me the difference between open shows and champ shows? I think my breed has CC's on offer as I subscribe to the breed newsletter that is sent out every 3 months and they list all the dogs that have won with CC's etc.

Thank you for your kind assistance :)

Hi hairypooch, I know I'm not Archer, but I may be able to help!

A Championship show is one where there are CCs (Challenge Certificates - which count towards gaining the title Champion) available to be won, and where placings (usually 1st, 2nd and 3rd) in various classes qualify a dog for entry to Crufts. At Open Shows the only (I think) Crufts qualification is if you win Best in Show.

There are always far more entries at Champ shows than Open shows.

Hi nearly right Jeangenie but its best in show, reserve best in show and best puppy in show that qualifies for Crufts at an ordinary open show and then there are premier Open shows where the best of breeds qualify if they have more than 5 classes for the breed if the breed is in stud book band E and more than 3 classes for the breed if they are in the other stud book bands. HTH Gillian

Hi Hairypooch,

Firstly dont worry that you have trimmed his eyes. It grows back very quickly. Many people in Briards have completely clipped off their dogs and had them back in the show ring 18 mths later!

It also doesnt matter what age you start showing them, in fact it is more often than not a great advantage to show them later. (Nobody got to see them when they were going through that gangly, ugly stage and therefore cannot judge on his previous "look").

Ignore the politics and do not get taken in by cliques, and regardless of wether or not the judge likes him on the day, you are taking the best one home. (I keep the best Briard in the world at my home!)

Whereabouts are you and perhaps we can find you a good ringcraft?

I agree as well it doesnt hurt to take an older dog to ringcraft. It will get him used to being around other dogs in an enviroment other than playtimes, and a judge going all over them is especialy useful for visits to the vets etc.

Start whilst at home examining his teeth and get freinds to examine them also, and if any of your non doggy mates are brave enough get them to grope his balls every now and then . That can sometimes be a shock for an older dog who is not used to have them checked.

Hannah