Hello all,
            I have been talking to my dogs breeder (and the stud dog owner) and we are considering doing some shows in Europe in 2005. It's only an idea at the moment but I was wondering if anybody had any experiences (good or bad) to share and/or any advice? All info gratefully received!
Jeff.

Living in Europe all my shows are on the continent.  :)

Ok, I think you'll find its more relaxed than UK shows (not in rules, ohhhhhh no ;) ).  But we tend to use more casual clothes, and the atmosphere is generally more relaxed. 

You'll find that the write ups will be MUCH more extensive and detailed, and you will find yourself reading about faults as much as good points. Bad thing is they are usually in the language of the judge, be it Greek, English, German, ect. so it can be difficult to understand. Some countries will require you to have the dog registered in the national studbook (Switzerland being one of them), but most will allow you to show with only a basic FCI registration, even then you might just be able to show with only the KC papers.

The judges are much more interested with judging the dog.  Teeth and the bite of the dog are taken very seriously, literally I've seen dogs sent out of the ring for a bad bite or missing teeth.

The classes are way different. And puppies under 6 months are allowed to be judged, but its more for experience, not serious.  Now in Switzerland we have the Swiss Junior Champion, with Junior CCs and RCCs.  Maybe you have something like that too.  The Junior Warrant (sp?) isn't it?

I can't really think of anything else to say :)  Hope I helped :)

Thanks for the insight, I may take the plunge!

I showed at the World show in 2002 with two of mine going with a coach tour which was fun as you had the comraderie.

Frids in the breed have gone over several times and enjoyed it.  One freind has made her dog a Begian and a Dutch Champion, and he has sufficinet CACIB's for his International title, except our KC has got the FCI to agree that INt Ch title can only go to a UK dog if it has it's UK title (he has a fist full of RCC's). 

I think this is grossly unfair to those with breds who don't have CC status here who were hoping to be able to title their doigs in Europe instead.  After all the UK title is much hatder to get than most other National Champion titles.

Jeff

I have been in touch with andy as well  as we are taking Barbie on to the continent this year to show, I am on a couple of the international boards and have been given show dates if you email me I can pass what I have on to you, and hopefully next year there will be enough of us with TM's to be able to help each other out, as there are a few now that have been doing it for the last few years.

Lynn

Also to become In.Sh.Ch. our breed have to pass a working trial & as there are none in this country set up for them I can`t make my 2 up to Int Ch!! They`ve got loads of cacibs as well.

Not sure I agree with you B/less about being harder in UK to make a champion. Here in Spain they have to have 4cc given by 3 different judges. 1 of those cc`s must be from a champion show of which for my breed there is one a yr held in a different part of Spain each yr or one from Madrid. Madrid has 1 show a yr & another in a different region of Spain that changes yearly. Sometimes the regions are North of Spain which is miles away from us.

Christine, Spain.