Our Gordon Setter puppy is six months this week and his first show is at Dukeries Gundog club next week.

He is a smashing little pup, beautiful head and bone structure.........problem is, he is sooooo shy around strangers.  We have been trying desperately hard to socialise him and get him used to people, taking him down town, letting him approach people, letting them feed him tidbits etc.  With some people, he will settle within seconds, other people, as soon as they go to stroke him, he just whips round and tries to hide behind either me or my wife (whoevers out with him).

Do you think its worth the gamble going to the show (we also have manchester booked as well the following week) just for the ring experience?  I am probably 70% sure that he will react when the judge tries to go over him, one half of me doesnt want him to be stressed up by the experience, but I also feel that being around the other dogs , possibly getting attention from the other owners may help.  Any suggestions?

Any other suggestions on overcoming shyness would also be nice. Thanks.

Have you actually had people go over him as if at a show, including looking at teeth? With people approaching HIM as opposed to the other way around. If NOT, I would practice more and not go as otherwise the first show could be too much of a shock if he has to both meet strangers, be at a strange place and be handled in a way he isn't used to. First impressions count for a lot for pups. :)

Ty for the reply.

Yes, hes been going to ringcraft for 2 months (with some judges hes putty in their hands, others he starts getting all shy) so has been "messed with" in that respect, plus we ask friends/relatives who come to the house to go over him - check his teeth etc.  He finds this all a big game and will happily let people do it on his own territory. Its just certain people, hopefully he will grow out of it.

Or you could take him to the show, let him experience the atmosphere but not take him in the ring, if you think he'd be happy with that.  Have you been to ringcraft?

Yes, hes been to ringcraft for a couple of months now.  With a couple of the regulars, he is great, they can go over him no probs, but with some of the others he just shys away.

I think we will take him next week, let him experience the hustle and bustle, see what hes like when we take him in the ring, if he becomes shy then we can just walk him out of the ring, but let him stay and take it all in.  Just wish we were not on first!

Thanks for the reply :)

Good luck and enjoy your day, whatever you decide to do.

PS Sorry asking about appearing to ask about ringcraft after you'd already said you had been, but the system was working so slowly that your bit saying that wasn't actually there when I started typing my original response!!  Seems to be working a bit faster now.

If he refuses to be gone over just politely say to the judge i'm sorry do you mind if i move him 1st, don't let the judge keep trying to approach him it can put them off i find..if he still wont settle then just say thanks and go to the back of the line.

Good luck :)

I would take him to the show, perhaps try to find someone to gently go over him, if he seems fairly happy go in the ring. But don't be afraid to say to the judge 'it's his first show and he can be a little shy' and make sure the judge isn't rough and doesn't scare him. Better to withdraw partway through the class if necessary, or be unplaced because the judge objects to a sensitive puppy or something, than to put your boy off for life. Let us know how it all goes! :-)

ooh Just had a look at Hamish, he is adorable :)

Good luck at your first show :)

My girl was like this but went into any room with confidence, I later found out that she was partially sighted!  Took her to LKA a few weeks ago and she was all over everybody but I didn't puther in her class as I didn't want to push things.  She's only 18 months and has many years to come round so I don't care if it tkes me another year or so before I can show her.