Help I am trying to enter my puppy into her first show and wonder which classes to enter she is 6 months and so do I enter just the minor or do I enter the minor the puppy the junior or the open the novice the open.............. Help

Is it a champ show or Open show?

If it were me if my first ever show then minor puppy and puppy and possibly Novice.  Leave Junior when she is a bit older and a bit more experience under her belt as such.  I wouldn't enter Open class until you are unable to enter any of the other classes or maybe when she is in Post Grad but certainly not when a puppy and you have many other options to enter.

Hope this helps and is clear (as mud maybe!?)

mine is just sixth months and I tend to stick to minor puppy at Ch shows, open shows I tend to enter puppy and junior (mainly training purposes) and when she is 9 months old poss postgrad - her mum won several best of breeds as a puppy and quite often won junior and postgrad as a puppy beating some top winning males :-)   

Its just so new to me and we promised her breeder not that we aren't looking forward to it we are just all very confusing.

Yes definatley as clear as mud so what I think your saying is its ok to enter all three puppy type classes?

at an open show yes definitely -but at six months I would give Junior a miss until later.  But it is all good practice - just don't over do it as they can get very very bored!!  at a champ show perhaps stick to minor puppy only!

Just have fun!

Sorry it's hard to explain in writing!!! :-D

Thats helpful thank you I'll just put her in for the first two.

At an open show I would enter the puppy breed class the AV(whatever group) puppy class, and the Puppy stakes class.  this will give the pup experience of being in the ring with it's own breed, a selection of pups from breed in the same group, and in the stakes get used to being in the ring with all shapes and sizes and breeds.

This is very good practice for winning Best puppy in Group, and in show :D

If you only do the breed classes and do well and go onto the Group the pup may find the other breeds too interesting, or even intimidating.

I find 3 classes about right at Open shows, and at Championship shows would stick to say two in breed or  if you are a strong breed numbers wise just one in the breed and maybe enter the puppy stakes for the practice.

She's a bolognese so there are not that many shows with breed classes. so it started getting confusing when I found a show with more than one option for her to enter I just made the entry date for the uktoy show and was in a frazzle but she only fitted into one class and the puppy stakes was a last minute thought wether i was right or wrong I didn't know but think that will be ok the AV classes threw me and I started to wonder should I bother but I'd realy love to give it a go.

She seems very blind to other dogs its the handlers she'll be more interested in she loves people and thinks they should all say hello to her.

Do you know if your breed is stil on the Imported register, or is it now a Rare breed.  this does make a difference as to what you are allowed to enter.

If it is still on the Import register you can only go in Import register classes, otherwise what I said still goes, but instead of a breed class you will go into Not Seperately Classified toy (they are toys I hope) :D

No she's not on the imported register any more and she's not really a rare breed just not many of them and not that many being shown they're never cc classes for them if that makes sense?

There are breeds that are cl;assified as rare (no CCs) that are actually far more numerous than some breeds that have CCs but are going through the doldrums numbers wise :D

So officially she is a rare breed, so can also enter these classes that shows occasionally also put on.

Thats helpful to know thanks. I dont want to over do it with shows I'm trying to find ones that wont involve too much traveling for her and us and so plan to take it slowly for now she is after all only a puppy.

She'd be very offended you saying she's a toy! but yes you are right she is!

If it's an open show. I would just put her in puppy and possible AV puppy. The stakes classes are another good one but alot of the time they are later in the afternoon and after Best in Show. That's a long day for a pup. Depends when your breed are in the ring. If you haven't taken her out to a show the whole experience is quite overwhelming and exciting for them.
At a champ show it's your call. Either stick to the one class she's aged at ie, minor puppy. Then if you win your class, you can challenge for best puppy. However if you are looking to get the experience then go for puppy class too. Novice is another class you could go in but judge your own pup. Some will take it in their stride, others will get unsettled doing three classes close together. Junior as a rule I would miss until she's older. If she then holds her own in the puppy classes you can think about putting her in junior as well. Bear in mind if you put her in either of the puppy classes either/and junior/novice. As long as she isn't beaten by another puppy in these classes, she can still challenge for best puppy if she won that class.
Good luck for your new show

Sorry its an open class

Is it a Championship Show or an Open Show? (It'll say on the cover of the catalogue.)

Well I'm trying to enter a couple the first is an open show with all three puppy options. My breeder is on holiday and so cant help right now and the closing dates are looming well it feels like they are to me:rolleyes:

Classes at Open shows are generally smaller than at Champ shows, but the whole experience is very tiring for a young puppy (and nerve-racking for you too!) so don't enter too much and tire her out. You don't want her to be overwhelmed and not enjoy herself. Minor Puppy and Puppy would be ample experience to start with. Good luck!

Thank you thats been realy helpful fingers crossed. not sure she'll show well she's a bit of a diva but its meant to be fun so we'll give it a go

Good luck - don't worry if she is a fidget - that's expected!!!  And you want a diva for sure!  Make it exciting and fun for her so she is happy to go again!!

I took my 6 month old to his first show last weekend - try to relax yourself and it will be okay - the first show is always the hardest!!!  But once out the way it does get easier - promise!!

As you said it's meant to be FUN!  it becomes very addictive - we have been out of the ring for 2 months and I was getting withdraw symptons!!  So glad to be back in the swing of things again - it's so social too!

our breeder said she was the best she'd ever breed and cried when we we're leaving I felt so awful but she said she's far too old now to consider keeping anymore she already has 9 and has now stopped breeding! we'd never considered showing befor but are really looking forward to it now its just so confusing not knowing any of the terms the practices etc any good books that someone could recomend?

I know what you mean - only started showing last May myself.

I was introduced by my boys breeder to someone local to myself who owned my breed.  She became a bit of a mentor for me and I joined her ringcraft (do you go to a ringcraft as I'm sure someone there can guide you?).  She guided me on filling in the entry forms and which classes, shows etc.  After a few shows I felt much more relaxed about things and was able to 'look after myself!'

Still great friends with her and still ask her advice as well as having my boys breeder who is always willing to help still.

I never did find a good book but the internet is a great source and someone here is always happy to help too!

We've been struggling to find a ring class thats not an hours drive away the kennel club have sent me a list now and I'm awaiting a call from the lady who we think is closest.

There is a book by Frank Jackson called from Beginners to Winners that explains the UK show world.

Thats sound helpful all the ones I seem to find are usa ones not really much help

Sorry just did a search at amazon its showing only either books by frank Jackson or a collins book called from beginner to winner is that the one?

It is the one by Frank Jacson, and only a couple of years old.  Maybe I have the title a bit off.

Well got that wrong it is by Robert Killick (writes a column alongside Franks in Our dogs).

It can be purchased at the Our Dogs Website http://www.ourdogs.co.uk/ , go to shop, books, showing,a nd it is about the fourth listed.

DOG SHOWING - FROM BEGINNERS TO WINNERS
The world of dog showing is fascinating and rewarding but its regulations, etiquette and jargon can also be bewildering.

This superbly written guide by write, breeder and judge, Robert Killick, provides practical advice and information to all aspects of the dog showing world.

Follow these guidelines on breeds, shows and rules and you'll increase both your chances of winning and your enjoyment of showing.

Inspiring secrets from previous Crufts Supreme Champion winners will help you on your way from beginner to winner.

Price:  £17.49

Wonderful i'll take a look

Our Dogs will also have this book I'm sure. http://www.ourdogs.co.uk

If you want a bargain, then ebay has one ending tomorrow currently at £4.91 plus £2 p&p, might go for it myself :-D :-D

I've got the Killick book and it's very good. I used to take my boy in the breed puppy class and the AV Toy puppy class. Then when he was a junior and we were chasing JW points (hadn't heard of the thing when he was a puppy, drat it!!) we went in Junior and Novice, or Junior and Graduate. I generally think 2 classes is enough for a young puppy. Make sure your girl enjoys herself at her first shows, that's more important than her behaving properly, so don't tell her off if she plays around! :-)