Hi all,

Can anyone tell a show ignoramus the details of the Richmond show and especially when the mini schnauzer classes will be.

Used to go to a few shows when I was a boxer owner, to watch, but none since I've had Zak.

Would be very interested to attend and see what its all about.

Thanks in advance,

Sarah

Richmond Champ show is this weekend at Ascot racecourse. Min Schnauzers are on Friday, judging starts at 10am each day, assuming they're first in the ring.

Don't know if you're local, but if you need directions let me know.

Marina

They're first in the ring. Ring 17, tent 5

Hi Marina,

Thanks for the reply,

We were at a wedding on friday and actually drove past the show ground on the way to the hotel in Ascot would you believe. Didn't see any mini's but saw a few other breeds.

Hope to go next year, unless there are any other local shows you can let me know about, I live in Aldershot in Hampshire.

Thanks again

Sarah and Zak

Hi Sarah, I'm hoping to rescue a mini Schnauzer. I got very close twice but the foster/carers in both cases kept them - my loss! So, I am wondering if you may have any leads in that direction? I and my home have been officially approved so I'd dearly love to find one. Can you help? Veronica.

Hi Veronica,

Sadly for you no leads on rescue except to contact the breed rescue which I assume you have already done as you have been so close twice. Perhaps you could offer to foster them next time and cut out the middle man!!

They seem to be so popular at the moment, not sure why, but when we got Zak a year ago we had a choice of 2 dogs in the whole country, one in Bradford and one in coventry. So not a lot of choice there.

Good luck, let me know how you get on, I would also like to rescue one but as I have Zak already I think it would be greedy for me to try for another.

Sarah and Zak

Hi Sarah and Zak
Yes, like you, I thought of becoming the 'middle maid' as a foster/carer for miniatures. I wish the two who chose to keep the mini Schnauzers were less selfish - they both ended up owning four dogs! My two close encounters caused me such disappointment I'm not sure which course to pursue now. I've been along to the local RSPCA but they only have big dogs - I guess I must keep on trying. Thanks for your encouragement.

Hi again,

Not sure if this is a feasible idea or not but how about writing to all of the breeders in the area (or as far as you would be willing to travel) and ask them if they know of any dogs needing to be rehomed now or in the future.

Alot of the people on this board say that any breeder worth their salt would be insistant on having back any dogs that were unwanted for any reason. Plus I think breeders sometimes rehome any bitches that they have kept for breeding and when they have had their pups or if for any reason they are no longer required for breeding and they would like a nice family to retire to.

I got my first boxer bitch this way, she had been kept for breeding and was unable to conceive, so they said that they would like her to have a nice home for the rest of her years.

The second boxer I got was one which had been run on and had done really quite well in puppy classes, but had grown too big for the breed standard.

I assume that all breeds have breeders that are limited for space and need to keep only the dogs that can help them achive their aim in breeding a good line to show.

If you havent already, contact Mrs Marjorie Gill on 01245 475441 for a list of breeders.

keep trying, Sarah and Zak

Yes you are quite right that many breeders like to find just the right retirement home for some of their dogs, especially those who they think would prefer or be suited to a home with more individual attention.

They may not be actively looking to rehome, but will allow one to go to the right match if it occurs. Often it is to people who are breed devotes of long standing, who no longer wish to start with a puppy.

It isn't just the ones who didn't make the grade or bitches no longer required for breeding, but quite often Champions, Imports, or retired Stud Dogs too.

I have never been as yet able to let go of any of mine, so am up to my limit in numbers, but if yopu are trying to maintain/establish a successful line, it is sensible to let some go!