Following from our previous messages, ( had some computer problems )  we went to our first Show 'Grantham CS'.  Didn't get placed and the judge commented on him ( the dog / Beagle ) being a bit giddy !  First time on the table,  but the experience was good.

Second show last week at 'Bolsover CS' again didnt get placed and the dog would let her see his teeth, but she had really long false finger nails, i mean really long and he seem a bit freaked out by them.  But my daughter who handles him got 2nd placed in the junior handling and qulaifies for the richmond show.

At ringcraft classes he didn't seem to want to let anyone look at his teeth, we had all week been getting him used to looking again, seems ok with us.

Show tomorrow the west torrington show,  no Beagle class but going into the AV hound class,  trying to get him used to it.

He now stands perfect, still want to look around now and again, rather than keeping still, but he is getting better, considering he is 2 and only started classes 5 weeks ago, he is doing brill. 

Good luck :) It takes a while for new dogs and owners to get into the swing of things. Sometimes those of us who have been doing it for ages get butterflies ;) Or worse It's not the first time I've felt sick before going into a ring :D Just remember that emotions are carried down the lead to the dog, so just enjoy your day out. :)

"still want to look around now and again, rather than keeping still"

I'd be worried if he didn't look around ;)  I know in some breeds the dogs are expected to stand absolutely still and not move a muscle, but this is a living, breathing animal.  Surely some interest is allowed in the proceedings? it shows a bit of spark ;)

Good luck and don't forget to let your dog relax a little when he isn't being looked at ;)

And don't forget, even the 'pros' have their off days and make their experienced owners look like novices :D :D :D

'Don't forget to let your dog relax a little when he isn't being looked at'

Dill, can you pop round to our ringcraft please, where they are always telling us to work our dogs all through a class and always keep them standing so if the judge swivels round they always look perfect?? I don't know about other breeds, but with Cavaliers they are usually having a cuddle if the judge is going over another dog. I generally try to get them briefly standing while the other dog is moving, but I would never work the dog throughout. I keep wanting to ask our trainers if they've ever seen a puppy bitch class in Cavaliers, with 30 or more dogs in!!

There's no way my dog would stay still for the duration either, he's not bad when it's his turn (he does still like a nose round though, LOL) but once he's finished :-)  I think he likes using the excuse "that he's a hound and thats what hounds do" :D

When we first started ringcraft we tried to get him to be like a statue but there was no way he'd do it.  They told us then that it's fine to relax when it's not our turn, phew, LOL

If he won't let a judge look at his teeth tell the next judge his had a bad experiance with a judge looking at his teeth and ask if you can show the teeth to the judge.  Might be better then him getting freaked at another show.

Not all dogs stand still, you've only been doing classes for 5 weeks you say and it's always harder to train a older dog then a puppy IMO.

I dog should still have life and character in the ring and shouldn't be like a robot. 

Show today got 3rd in AVNSC and 3rd in AV Hound.  He stood perfect, but been told that he is too thin,  he is such a fit dog, but when it was pointed out we can see that he is on the thin side,  but fit. 

How old is he? (congrats on 3rd by the way :D ) My dogs have looked thin until they were fully mature. I'd rather they were a bit on the thin side than overweight. :) He should fill out as he matures.

Congrats that a brill result :-) 

We had the same problem about being to thin, he's 2 years and 3 months old now, but i would say it's only in the last 6 months or so that he's filled out.  We didn't do anything different it was as if he was on a last maturing spurt.

I started my GSP with showing at 2 yrs old... they are stacked, and it took me AGES to get him used to me having hold of his head and tail and him staying still. It takes longer with adults, it's just a question of patience and practice :) We used to do a couple of minutes daily. We got there in the end - though we have got out of it again as he's not been shown for ages.

Congrats on your third :D

The beagle is 2, my daughter handles him and shes managed to bait him, stand perfect, waits for his tip bit.

http://www.granthamtown.co.uk/cliffmerecatcher.html

Have a look at the page above a tell me : is he too thin

Well done on the placings :D :D  shows he's made of the good stuff :) )    Just had a look at the photos - he's gorgeous :) :)

Personally, I'd say he was fit and athletic not thin, I've seen a fair few chunky dogs at shows but when you put your hands on them it's not muscle it's untrained 'muscle' :rolleyes:  some people can't tell muscle from the other stuff LOL  don't know how his line matures but he looks to me like he's still maturing too so I'm sure he'll look a bit different again in a few months or so. 

I wouldn't worry too much, after all the judge/s gave you a placing :) and other judges will have other opinions :)  some will like him some won't, when you have a number of judges' opinions you'll start to see a pattern and will be able to work it out more :)

Doesn't look particularly thin to me! Sometimes you have to wonder - I was told last week my girl was overweight, but when I took her to ringcraft nobody thought so, at least not more than 1 or 2 pounds over. They suggested the judge hadn't gone over her thoroughly as she does have a very big spring of ribs which might make her look quite wide if you don't feel through the coat. :-)

Well done with Buddy on the weekend. All the training is paying off, I bet your Daughter is really enjoying herself. I don't think he looks thin his lines are normally a bit heavier in bone but it's so hard to tell by photos. Do you use a harness on him? If so at what age did you start using one?

We started with a harness when is about 6 months old.  still use it every day.