As some of you may already know I am eager to begin showing Chihuahuas and I would like to prepare as much as possible.  Could anyone reccomend a very good book to enable me to prepare and gain klnowledge prior to going in at the deep end.

I intend to visit shows in the interim too, however I do not drive and am thus restricted at times.

I am also on the lookout for a mentor if there's anyone out there that could offer assistance over the net or otherwise.

Many Thanks.

If anyone at least has a book recommendation that would be good. :)

Sorry, I cannot think of a book that you could purchase that could give you all the info you require.  Really the best way is to visit some shows and see for yourself how your breed is shown and speak to the people showing to see what is needed for presentation. Also become a member of a breed club and attend some of the seminars that they hold.  Most pet shops carry books on different breeds and I have found that the book 'An owners guide to:(whatever breed) is a nice easy to read book that gives you enough info without being so deep that you don't understand it.

There's a good book called 'Dog Showing from Beginners to Winners' I think it's by Robert Killick. I'll go and look on amazon and see if I can confirm that.

Dawn R.

Edit, yes it's there priced £22.00

Thanks Alison.  I think to become a member of the BCC you first need to have two nominations from other current members.  I did attempt to attend the BCC show recently in Hatfield, however there was an incident on the public transport I was using to get there from London, and the police were called to the incident and I missed the show completely, I was very upset!

I was going to build up slowly and attend the next one and watch etc, however I have the opportunity of a little chap who's already doing quite well in shows and has qualified for Crufts next year, so I am eager to bring myself up to standard as fast as possible to match the dog! :)

Everyone on here always seems so knowledgeable I feel as if there's a mountain of stuff to learn - very eager to have a good understanding though and as I am interested and (dare I say) reasonably intelligent I am optimistic i'll pick it up.

Am very excited about my potential new addition to the family.

Edited to add: 

Thanks to you too Dawn - that's brilliant information, I am off to order now!  I have been able to locate another couple of books, one is "The Winning Edge: Show Ring Secrets" (Howell Reference Books) by George G. Alston and Connie Vanacore  & the other's "Good Showing: The New Exhibitor's Guide to Dog Showing and the Showring" by Peggy Grayson (Hardcover - 11 Mar 1999).  I may add these to your recommendations and qualify for a deal on delivery.

:)

The reference book is NYC based so I may skip that one.

Having looked at your recommendation Dawn it seems far superior to the that one. I'm going for yours, the Peggy Grayson one and I've also found a good one called "Show Me!" by D C Cole.

Appreciate both your advice.

Well you have got it potentially 'made'. If the dog is already qualified for Crufts he will already have had quite a it of training so it will make it so much easier for you to learn (the hardest as a novice is training your dog). Ask the person you are gettinghim from to help a little and show you the ropes.  Then do some ringcraft and attend as many shows as you can to gain experience. Don't forget, Crufts is only another shop so when you go , go with the intention of just enjoying it.  Good luck.

I know I'll feel really lucky if it all works out well and the dog in question comes to me.

I've got the 'Beginners to Winner's and I think I've got 'Show Me' too - both very good. :-)

Great Stuff Lucy thanks for the feedback.  I have ordered the Grayson one and the Cole one, just waiting for the supplier of the Killick book to get back to me about international postage.

International postage

The Our Dogs site has it too, their price is £17.00 and change.

Dawn R.

Ooohhhh! Could be saving me loads!  Thanks Dawn you're a star, I'll take a look now.