Hello,

I am new so sorry for the late reply.

Yes showing is facey an in my opinion most of the time - saying that I am new to showing (2 years) and my dog had its JW, ShC and a RCC before it was 18 months old and 2 RBPIS and 1 BIS at Open shows before it was 12 months old.  It can be done but then again I have a good dog.  I have seen mediocre dogs handled by 'faces' do very well.  Too many judges are frightened of putting up dogs handled by unknown people even though they are high standard and too many judges give favours to their friends or judges that may be able to return a favour.

Just my opinion - saying all that I still show and will continue to do so because I like my hobby. :o)

I agree, a lot of judges are facey, but if your dog is good enough and you persevere you will get there one day. My first ever dog has his ShCM and a CC, and 2 Firsts at Crufts, so an unknown face can do it. I have had a lot of help, and the judge who gave him his CC has handled him from time to time as well, though the majority of the time she has not been placed much more highly than I think we would have been with me on the end of the lead. But there are fair judges out there, you just have to keep trying and keep notes on which ones aren't worth going under again. I just took my puppy out to her first show, and it was blatantly obvious that I hadn't even finished moving her before we were told that was enough, and yet a very big 'face' was allowed quite some time to get his puppy standing perfectly. It's true that the big names often have good dogs, but I think the judges ought to at least pretend they are looking at all the dogs!

>the judge who gave him his CC has handled him from time to time as well

is that allowed ?

As long as the judge has not handled within a year of judging him then its allowed!

My Fagan is from showlines but I cant show him due to him only have one testicle so we enjoy the companion shows and he is "show trained" and I also show him on a proper lead so one could day that he is a "show dog" because he is a real good specimen - albeit a bit skinny :(  I also show my pup in companion shows for the practice :)

Dogs that have their JW or a CC or even I think a stud book no. can not be shown at companion shows.

edit to say : this was meant in response to Frodos post but has posted in the wrong place :rolleyes:

Just to nitpick, they can't be shown in the pedigree classes, but the novelty classes are fine!

I do all levels of showing although very few champ shows.  I have to say before I started to show a little more seriously I had a really nice bitch that showed very well and I have been to a one or two Companion shows with her where we have won in almost every class.  And that wasn't because I knew the judge.  However at the last comp show we were at the judge most defintely placed only people he knew - he was talking and stroking their dogs but didn't treat others like that at all.

I love companionship shows even though i usually get thrown out of them (the classes not the actual show :d).  The only reason I can see for this is that I show my dogs.  Yesterday I went to a companionship show and one of my dogs got second in the best condition, the winner was about 3 times over the weight that he should have been but was a very poor specimen of his breed which you could tell was a pet.  In the breed classes I was totally ignored.

I find it annoying that because I have an import register breed that at Open show and Champ. shows we are classed as second rate because "they are just imports".  We can't go in for best in show or anything.  We pay the same prices as everyone else and we are treated terribly.  Last week we went to a champ. show and we ended up going in our class when they'd already judged one group and were about to judge another as it was 5.00 pm !!!

There are no classes for us at Limit shows.  Then I go to a companionship show and 99% of the time we are thrown out because they are "show" people and win everything!!  I wish.