Went to an companion show today...no gripes in one way since we won the hound/terrier class and Kimmi won Child handler with the monster.Reason for going was to get Kimmi to show Frankie(only took Frankie and Zara) since I can't show him due to a bad neck and I've got 2 shows in the next 2 weeks.
However I am a bit 'perplexed' ....the winner of the puppy class was a chocolate lab...12 WEEKS OLD!! The pup then got 2nd in the gundog class.All pedigree class winners then went in for best pedigree and it was awarded to the lab pup...who was already a beaten dog.....confused...I am LOL
Archer

Hi Archer,

Well done to Kimmi!

I find companion shows a bit annoying for this reason. I was at one run alongside my village's agricultural show last summer and was annoyed when a Jack Russel puppy was placed 4th in a very large pedigree puppy class! It makes a mockery of the whole event, in my opinion, when things like this are allowed to happen and normal common sense rules don't seem to apply.

Anyway, the main thing is that you enjoyed your day!

Jen

I think they used to called exemption shows because they are exempt from most of the normal rules that we stick to when showing, for example, last summer I took Chloe to a companion show last summer, she won the AV sporting class and was 4th in the open class...but we were also awarded RBIS, BIS going to the winner of the non-sporting class. Now, bear in mind this was beofre I understood the beaten dog rule, they just called all class winners back into the ring so we went in :D
I'm not complaining at all, its the only times she would ever have the chance for an award like that...bless her! They are great places for a fun day out, good ringcraft practice but it can be annoying when we are so used to following the rules at the 'proper' shows....we are conditioned that way!!

Emily

PS Well done Kimmi and Nikki :)

I've had a similar experience.  My Irish Setter won the sporting class beatking an afghan into second place, the same afghan won the open.  All four class winners returned to the ring (even though the afghan should have been excluded).  In the challenge BIS went to the non-sporting winner and the Judge gave the Afgahn RBIS.  People said i should have complained and that it was not the first time the Afghan exhibitor had done this, but i don't think it was her fault but the Judge and Steward.  If a Judge can't remember what she made first in just four classes there is no hope.  I know that the Judge knew it was the same dog as all seen dogs were put the other side of the ring and at least the steward did say to her that the afghan had been beaten.  Still that showing!!

Yesterday I went to a comp show and saw a petit bassett (etc)  in the non-sporting class.  It also makes me laugh when you see lots of jack russells in the pedigree classes.   Am I missing something, or are they classed as pedigrees yet? - although I did see an advert in the paper for jack russell pups - £250 either for pet, working or show!!

The short legged little Jack russels are not recognised by the KC...the Parsons jack russel is
Archer

as I thought - thanks.

sarah

wow seems like there's alot of mistakes going on in the ring. can i show my stuff toy? she the same size as a jack russel. :P

LOL....seems at companion show you could even win best in show with it.:d
Archer

I might be wrong here as I am the first to admit I know absolutely nothing about showing dogs, but a 'companion show' to me sounds like it isn't meant to be a serious show. I thought companion shows were for the dog's that won't quite make the show ring at other shows, and don't they have competitions for the dog with the waggliest tail? And who has the best costume? That sounds to me like a bit of a laugh, and a giggle.

I don't mean to cause offence, and if I am wrong then someone tell me, as I would sincerely like to know, but if a companion show is what I think it is, why can't you all chill out a bit? I would have thought you would all be thinking about the next champ show rather than looking back on which dog won at a bit of a micky-taking show?

We are chilled out....and yes its not serious.As I said I had a nice day out training BUT when a show is run under KC rules and they are so blatently ignored then it makes it a mokery.Another companion show I went to had a class for the best conditioned dog...the dog awarded 1st was a long coated collie type with huge massive dirty lumps in its coat...now don't yuo think that all those people who had made an effort to brush their dogs for the day and had paid their entry monies were done wrongly...I do.
Archer

That makes it clearer for me, thanks Archer :)

I didn't know they were run under KC rules, I thought it was more laid back. Oh well you learn something new every day - except on CD you learn loads more every day!

Maybe the Collie-type that won the best conditioned coat had been seen by the judge BEFORE s/he got clumps of mud in her coat?

unfortunately the collie type was obviously seriously neglected in the grooming department....it had dlumps of matted fur and had probably never seen a bath....poor dog!
Glad things are clearer now...really wasn't being funny but I feel sorry for the people whos dogs deserve to win but don't when the judges don't follow the rules.Can you imagine how the gundog class winner felt when the pup that he had already beaten was awarded the trophy for best pedigree!
Archer

I went to one a few weeks ago, and Alfie won best puppy and the judge kept looking at him for best in show but awarded it to another dog and the reserve went to another one so we all got a rosette :(  afterwards she said to me that she would have loved to have given him BIS but it was only a "pet" show - all the dogs in the final line up were blatantly show dogs, and anyway Alfie is a pet first :p

Hi Nat
Companion shows do have novelty classes, such as best 6 legs, dog with waggiest tail, one judge would most like to take home etc. and these classes are open to all or any dogs on the day ;)   They also run pedigree classes which are for pedigree breeds only with the only restriction being that the dogs entered must not have won any major awards - CCs or RCCs (whereby they get their stud book number).  Lots of pet owners who would never show elsewhere do enter these shows in both types of classes but so also do many regular show goers as they are an ideal training ground for youngsters and a bit of fun in the novelty classes if they want to also.  The rules for the pedigree classes should entail that beaten dogs in any of the classes can't then go in for BIS on the basis that they won in a different class - just that usually there are mistakes made at these.  A lot of the ones classed as "Companion Shows" when held in conjunction with say agricultural shows are not strictly the same as they are not KC approved events in which case there would be no breach of KC rules.  Anyway, no-one really takes them seriously which is why the members are laughing at the way some have been organised :P  Teri

I am learning more about shows now than anything else I have read!

I thought campanion shows were for campanion dogs, i.e. 'pet quality', I didn't realise they held different types of classes!

I might just go and get my foot out of my mouth ;)

:D  When you get your new puppy it will be a good way to socialise him and get used to being among lots of other dogs of different breeds etc. - although there may be less around by then, there are more held in spring & summer months.  It also depends on the size of show but some will have all the usual dog show sights and sounds such as trolleys, tables, loud speakers, tents etc.   Can't remember if you have kids too but it's also a good way of involving children in handling and even if doing it yourself it's no more pressure than ring craft, so less embarassing than a first open show appearance :rolleyes:

Unfortunately there are hardly any held in my neck of the woods but I'd recommend them to anyone just starting out.  Regards, Teri :)

Oh we have no plans to show Teri! I would have looked well into it by now if we were!

I would actually quite like to, but I can't drive and hubbie works most weekends on call so we just wouldn't be able to. Although I have book marked his retirement (30 years from now) for showing!! ;) Just don't tell him yet, or he will never give work up!! :rolleyes:

Can I also say that if you want to show at a completely non-serious and fun show - go for a fun show only - there should, in theory, be pet dogs only entered as anyone who shows is not supposed to participate as I understand it.  I fully agree with the other posts on this board about the problems at companion shows and with regard to the pedigree classes, it is not always the show dogs that win but if a pet dog is being shown it does really need to be able to stand still for the judge to go over it and to walk quite nicely so the judge can see its movement.  I was at a show last Saturday and 2nd place in puppy went to a dog on an extending lead (a reall no-no) who was all over the place - extremely frustrating - there was no way the judge could see if it moved well.  And in sporting a jack russell got placed - but there you go.

It's a sticky subject with KC Rules & Companion dog shows.

The red book definition states "for pedigree dogs whether registered or un-registered".

Now how do you turn away a Jack Russell when it has a pedigree?? Likewise all these other terriers (patterdales etc) which although not registered with the KC often have very complete and well thought out pedigrees?
Often as well these little dogs are beautifuly constructed and sounder than quite a few KC registered breeds!

On another thread someone also mentioned about handling classes being held in amongst the pedigree classes.... well again the Red Book states that they go amongst the pedigree classes.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't!!

I judged a Companion show on a caravan park in mid season & there were lots of JRT, Patterdales etc in the pedigree classes along with the dogs that go to open/champ shows etc as well. I did not have a problem & my BIS was a super little JRT(short legged to boot) she was the soundest dog there & even though her owner didn't have a clue re showing properly the little dog just stood away, my Res BIS was a pet veteran Chow(aged 14) & Best Puppy was a trainee GSD police dog)seven months old) being handled by the copper's daughter. I also judged the pet classes & made sure that I gave as many people as possible a place.

The pedigree classes should be judged in a similar manner to the other KC shows & the best physical entries places but the fun classes should be jusdged just as that fun. Perhaps my JRT should have longer legs, but that is all in the interpretation of the standards

The Companion shows are the starter level for the KC shows & if people get the bug for showing from them then hopefully they will go on to take part in other KC shows of all types

If we do well in the pedigree classes we very rarely get placed in the novelty classes which is fair enough because at least most people then get a prize.    But one of my beags is a very young looking 8 year old veteran and I do take umbridge at being thrown out because she's 'not old enough'.  Now, 2 weeks ago, I was at a show where the veteran class was won by a dog on age alone, who the owner claimed to be 23 years old!!    Is this a record?

mmmmm....the JRT that won the veteran class at the weekend was 23...I thought it was a bit of a record too!!! How old is the oldest recorded dog I wonder
Archer

Hi there!!  Interested in this thread!  I have Parson Russell Terriers and working-type Lakeland and Fell Terriers (to anyone not aware, the PRT's are KC recognised and with papers, the Lakies and Fells not, so they have no reg papers), all with 'pedigrees' and I show them all, at shows in which they are eligible.  Question is, how frowned upon would I be if I showed my Lakies and Fells in the Pedigree classes at Com Shows??  Never thought about it before!!

Thanks!!

I wouldn't bother me personally but I can't say what other judges would do most probably wouldn't even know what breeds your dogs were unless they were terrier people