Does anyone know of any companion shows on the Isle of Wight coming up soon ?  Cheers :)

Hiya
There are a couple coming up but both are on the same day - the 28th. One in Shanklin and the other in Newbridge. Doesn't seem to be so many these days!! :)

Hiya
Thanks for that - bit like buses then really, wait for ages then two come at once :-D
Is the Shanklin one the one at the cricket club in the afternoon - just saw a note for that at Jollyes ?  I suppose the Newbridge one is at the same time - become addicted since the county show :-)
Tara

Hi yes the Shanklin one is at the cricket club, thats right. It is an addictive old game! I went to my first show about 15+ years ago and have never looked back! I take it from your user name you have a boxer?? 

Yep, a little old Boxer :)  But the one that I'll be putting into the companion show is my 3 1/2 year old springer cross Rufus - not brave enough to put the boxer in yet, he's only 16 weeks and a complete nutter at the momemt :rolleyes:

What pups have you got ?  And are you putting them in the show ?

I haven't any at the moment! I'm waiting for a new puppy at the moment, I'm hoping to kidnap one of my friends boxers to take in!! But if not I'll probably go along for the day (if its not pouring with rain!!!)

Weather is supposed to be gloriously sunny but not too hot - but after today we can only guess :)

What pup are you waiting for by the way ?

A Bichon Frise, (a cloud on legs) Have always had them! There very cute!! Fingers crossed for the weather eh!!

Hi Lindsey - oh they are cute, never heard them referred to as a cloud on legs but I must admit it does suit them :)  I actually see a lady walk one of those in Shanklin, very sweet little face and when she has just been to the parlour and she's all sprussed (sp?) up, yep she looks like a cloud on legs :D

Hi Tara, I was at the show but wasn't sure who you were!! If you need any friendly advice on showing or handling help for your daughter, feel free to contact me, I have a friend who has been breeding and showing boxers to the highest level for years and years, its great fun as I'm sure you discovered! There is a ringcraft class held in East Cowes every tuesday night which would also be a great start xx

Hi Tara and Lindsey
Nice to hear there are some other Islanders on this page. If either of you was at the Newbridge Show, I was there with my mad ginger 11 month old (also called Rufus). Since it was our first show we went for experience and wasn't the weather lovely (if a bit hot!)?  I have not had the guts to take him to the East Cowes Dog Training since we had an interesting experience at Puppy Classes (nothing to do with East Cowes), when we asked the lady if there were any Ringcraft places on the island, and she reacted as though we had asked her to suggest somewhere we could have him stuffed!  I don't think she's a fan of showing, but then each to their own.  He's lovely at home (FINALLY growing up a bit), but he does get very over-excited with other dogs, so it was as much socialisation as anything else.  And no, we didn't do very well, but he had a lovely time and I'd love to try a few more (with a bit more training, of course).  Unfortunately we didn't see the Shanklin one until the day after - typical! If I do hear/see of any others I'll let you know. Also, do you know anywhere on the island that does scent work as I'd love to give him a go at that! He spent so much time at the show with his nose to the ground that anyone can see he's a natural!
Petra

Hi Petra - Yep, I remember seeing you there (I was sitting with my brood by the side of the ring next to the main road).  I wouldn't worry too much about your Rufus sniffing the floor on Monday as all male dogs were sniffing that bit of grass (even my Rufus who has been castrated) - someone had previously walked their bitch along the field who was on heat so all the males could pick the scent up.  Did you see the pointer thrown out of his class because he was shaking too much ?  The scent really got to him and his owner was livid. The joys of outside dog shows :)

I'd come along to ringcraft - it's good socialisation for the dogs and gets them used to being 'handled' by lots of different people, we take our Dylan (boxer pup) there and he falls in love with a new girl everyweek, the latest one is another boxer that he met last night :)

Not heard of anywhere on the island that does scent work but I'll keep an ear out and will let you know.

Tara x

Thanks Tara
Didn't know about the bitch on heat - so that makes me feel a bit better.  Congratulations on yours getting best puppy - he was gorgeous and behaved beautifully, so my Rufus just looked like a mad adolescent (which he is, of course...lol). However, another BFDB (Basset Fauve de Bretagne) owner has told me that all of the breed have their brains in their noses, so I felt a bit better after that.  Am going to get a proper show lead for him and give it a try. What time does it start on Tuesdays and how long is it for? I didn't see the Pointer, but I'm not surprised the owner was livid!  At least  by the time we went into the Hound class Rufus had his head up - mind you I was running flat out by then just to keep him from going to meet the other dogs OUTSIDE the ring!  And then, just when I thought we might be doing OK, the Mini Dachshund in front of us decided to do a poo, so Rufus had to sniff that too and then weed on the spot when I wasn't looking (narrowly missing my feet!). Still, it was fun! Just out of interest, who won BIS?
Petra

Hi Petra - It was on Sunday at Shanklin that Kelly won best puppy (sorry, just re-read my post and realised that it was a bit 'all over the place' but then that's me - ask my kids LOL) 

Ringcraft starts at 8 in the evening - I've sent you a PM about scent trails and I'll send you another with a list of times and events for the IWCA for the next couple of months - it lasts for about an hour and a half, sometimes more !

The BIS for the first half was the Whippet and second was the Boxer.  The second half, Novelty classes, BIS was the GSD.

We've seen some funny things in shows / ringcraft regarding dogs and their toilet habbits - The lady who owned the pointer also has Bloddhounds and one of hers peed up her legs at ringcraft, lots of dogs stopping in mid run in the ring to do a poo and even saw one doing a pee when the judge was trying to examine him :D  Our own Dylan, recognising competition when he sees it, peed over another Boxers head on Monday, good job we are friends with the owners LOL :)

I'll get that list together and PM you.

Tara x

Hi Tara
I realised after I sent it that I'd got the wrong day (it was the boxer that confused me), but then was distracted and couldn't edit msg within time limit. Will have to sweet-talk my husband into losing a couple of hours of my company on a Tuesday night now. Oh, and will have to record Holby City too!  How scary is it? I noticed you said you'd only been going for a few weeks. Please tell me all the dogs aren't perfectly behaved, otherwise I am going to definitely feel the odd one out!
Petra

LOL - put it this way, lets be thankful it's not an obedience class or a lot of us would fail miserably :D  Lots of puppies, lots of dropped 'bait' and lots of giggles, don't worry :)

I didn't even bother with bait with Rufus - even though he loves treats at home, he turns his nose up at them when other dogs are around.  Am thinking of trying him with one of his toys, as he gets excited with them. Although of course he managed to find one or two pieces of dropped bait with that nose of his! Have you tried liver cake before, as a lot of people say it works a treat and I was considering it? So, if on Tuesday you see a deranged-looking woman covered in treats, toys and other unmentionables, being pulled along by a ginger hound, you'll know who it is! 

LOL - and I'll be the one counting my fingers as our Dyl has a habbit of 'nibbling' the ends of my them even after he has had his treat. 

Not tried liver cake as we normally use his usual kibble - we feed him Autarky and he loves it - but we have heard that it's really good as it's quite fragrant ! (is that a good thing in a room full of dogs we wonder LOL)

I sometimes get a tin of 'cheap' salmon, mixed with toast made into breadcrumbs and blended with an egg white - roll it into little balls and cooked slowly in the oven for 20 minutes till they become hard little treats - still have the scent of the salmon which is just enough to take his mind off the girls there ! (and they are edible for us too so handy if you're a little peckish in the line up :) !)

Tara x

I like that idea - dual-purpose treats.Hmmm. Steak nibbles maybe?
Petra

Hi Lindsey - We were sitting on the far bank under the trees (there was another set of boxers there behind us - Harry in particular !)  Rufus wasn't his best on sunday and was really being naughty - I put him in a few classes but he was playing up to much, little hooligan :) (Rufus is virtually all black apart from a white blaze on his nose and chest - looks like a big springer)

My youngest daughter (Kelly) entered Dylan in for best puppy (last minute decision) and she won ! She couldn't believe that he stood so nicely as we have been going to ringcraft and all he normally wants to do is play with the other dogs (especially the other boxers !) so she was thrilled - they worked well together last night at ringcraft too so perhaps it's all just twigged in his brain what he is supposed to do :D

Did you manage to borrow a dog on Sunday ?  It was a bit of a strange show really - so many dogs entered that I think the judge was a bit overwhelmed but it just seemed to be lacking that 'fun' aspect, a few others said the same.

Did you go to the Newbridge show on Monday ?  We went and I managed to put Rufus in a few classes, he behaved a bit better and got a third in Best Crossbreed, he then tried to eat the rosette - suppose he didn't like the colour as he wanted a red with a number one on it :D

Tara x

awww.... how is Rufus ?? I've heard great things about him and his showing ability, and i hope he does well in all of his shows to come!
       Dylan sounds like a right hero, winning at a last minute desision! :D

Yes you are right Boxer mum, there was a bit to many dogs in the show and all the people seemed to do was just stand there with their dog, but never mind! Hope theres another show soon,

Haggis x

Hi Haggis - Rufus is fine, although I think he could do with a hug from his girls right now !  Dylan is asleep at last :)

See you later,  Love McCheeeeze :D