Hi,

  We've just bought a new baby pug who we are hoping to show and was wondering if anyone could give me any suggestions!  Firstly, what lead is best to show a pug in?  At the shows i've seen them at they've had very thin leather half choke-type collars and a thin leather lead.  Those looked nice, but if anyone can suggest anything better that would be good.

Also, do we need to trim her at all?  I know in America they trim the whiskers off and around the bum and tail, is that the same over here?

Our little Pug is only 3 months old so not showing yet (she's going to her first ringcraft class monday - cant wait!!) but we want to at least get it right for her first show, which will be in Blackpool :)

Thanks

Hi Jess, the lead you describe is just right for showing pugs - it is what I use for most of ours.  Make sure you get one to match the colour of your pug, rather than something bright or pretty (keep these for excercise/at home leads) as you want to compliment the whole picture, not visually chop off at the neck!  Trimming is a matter of personal taste - we show ours with whiskers, tails and back legs trimmed, but lots of very traditional "British" pug old timers disapprove of any trimming.  Make sure you keep her nails trimmed - pugs can get very upset by nail trimming, but keeping on top of it from babyhood sometimes helps!  HAve you found a good ringcrast yet?  IF you are in the NorthWest then the pug club hold a monthly one near Aintree which is great.  Make sure youpractice "posing" severla times a day, every day, both on the table and free standing on the floor.  Little and often is the best way.
bye and have pug fun
Gwen

Just been told my above information is out of date!  North West Pug finished their training nights a cople of months back, sorry!
bye
Gwen

Hi Gwen,

  Thanks for the reply.  Im in the South, and we do already attend ringcraft classes with our others dogs anyway but thanks for that :)  Our ringcraft classes are for all dogs but theres lots of toy dogs that go so they should be able to help us out a bit with our new baby.

We have been practicing the free standing and have had a couple of tries at standing on a table (she tries to lean on me though lol) and she does stand herself really nicely and seems to pick things up very quickly!  She has got 3 months before she can start showing so hopefully we'll be able to get her used to it all a bit more, we only got her Monday so it must all be very confusing!!

And thanks for the info about the lead, will look for one at our next show.