Right bit embarrassed to ask but can someone give me some advice, I've been stocking up on doggy things today and our local pet centre is advertising a companion dog show by kind permission of the kennel club.  I'm thinking of taking biscuit a chocolate lab, he's been neutered can he be shown. there are several classes, he is a pedigree and kc registered so i'm guessing he goes into the any variety sporting group??  or possily the any variety open ?? or can you enter both?  Can you tell I've never even been to a dog show yet??  If I rehomed biscuit albeit from a student at college is he a rescue dog?? or are they considered only to come from a rescue centre??  there is class 13 called unlucky for some... Enter if you dare?/ can't even begin to imagine what that can be.  Sorry to appear so ignorant but apart from visiting Crufts once to buy things, I've never been near a dog show.   So any basic advice would be much appreciated x

As far as I understand it you cannot show a neutered dog sorry.

Yes of course you can enter a neutured dog at a companion show we have entered ours loads of times, we have entered ours in the pedigree classes even tho hes not got any KC papers hes still a great dane :) Its a fun day out and fab for the family and the dogs! have a good day!!

p.s you HAVE to enter unlucky for some just so we know what it is :D :D :D i havent the foggiest..

Even in 'proper' KC-run shows you can show neutered (castrated or spayed) animals as long as the KC's been informed. In companion shows you can show any dog - even crossbreeds in the 'fun' classes. :)

>As far as I understand it you cannot show a neutered dog sorry.

That rule has never applied to Companion shows & hasn't applied to the rest for many many years

You are quite incorrect you can show neutered dogs at all levels of shows in the UK.

At companion shows you can show any pedigree dog in the pedigree classes registered or not.

At other shows run under KC rules the dogs must be KC registered, and if neutered you should write to inform the KC of this fact, that is all.

In serious competition (open and championship shows) a neutered male will be seriously disadvantaged as the standards do call for two testicles to be present,a nd also depending on the age the castration was done the neuter may not have developed full male characteristics.

I don't know why this idea persists that you cannot show neutered dogs.  the rules changed probably around 15 -20 years ago allowing all neuters to be shown, and prior to that they could be shown if they had KC registered offspring.

Obviously most people do not read their show schedules where the rules for preperation for exhibitions set the matter out quite clearly.

Yes you can show a netured dog, even at crufts!

At a companion show dog's don't even need be register.  Biscuit can go into AV sporting and or AV open.  You could enter him into rescue however these are normally judged on saddest past.

Entery as many of the novelty classes as you like if you eligable (handsome dog, waggiest tail, apealing eyes are common ones.) you can also show your other dog (cocker is he? Sorry can't remember) and he can also go into pedigree classes.

oooh I was just telling hannah we couldn't enter and now we can! how fantastic!  Dicksy wouldn't cope wth going, he is geting better with going out gradually but he only goes out in the dark and only to the top of the road and back, i know he'd be really stressed going to a dog show!  bless him, he just likes to be home, he's a proper old man, maybe one day.  Biscuit however, will be fine and it will be a real good socialisation exercise for him as he has come on loads since I first got him in respect of socialisation.  I might just go along to this event and watch a couple first as I've no idea what to do!  Then if I dare I will enter him!  You only win a 2kg bag of dog food and a rosette! There is 1st-5th in each class.  Not saying we'd get anywhere but he's a handsome boy in my opinion, I'll be the one who lets him down!  I took Dicksy to ringcraft when he was a puppy for about 6 months and I should have known then he had a problem as he hated it!  Don't remember much what we learnt as I was always too busy trying to get him to come out of under the table!  In the house he's a totally different dog, confident, dominant towards Biscuit.  Very good with children boy young and old and all visitors either male or female, just don't like going out through the front door or through the back gate!  Anyway off I go again I'll let you know how I get on, September 23rd is the date! Thanks all for the advice.

Wel go along to "watch" and enter something like handsomest dog.  All both of you will have to do is stay still(ish) :D

Companion shows are great fun, socible, fundrasing evets (IMO) I haven't been to one this year except one my ringcraft organised where I went later on in the day with my boyfriend and our youngest dog just to watch, see people and pick up coffee on route! :D

Oh and you ONLY win a bag of food and rossett?  at Champshows we only get a peice of card!

"You only win a 2kg bag of dog food and a rosette! There is 1st-5th in each class."

That is more than you win at most big shows.  At most championship shows for yoru £20 plus you get a card if you place.  A rosette if you7 win BOB or Best of Sex.

Oh Brainless I'm clueless, my dogs are both just my pets and like I say never been to a dog show, just stocked up today on food and treats and was reading the leaflets whilst waiting in the queue that made me pick up the show classifications and decided ok let's do it!  Daughter is excited.  I'm assuming there are 1st - 5th places in each class as it says on class 15...Consolation class (free entry) for any dog not placed 1st - 5th in previous classes.  Does say that all first prize winners receive a 2kg bag of a specific type of dog food.  Rosettes for all placed dogs and Samples for all entrants! 

What I meant is that at these little shows you get a lot for your £1 or so entry. :D  I love entering them, but sadly all my dogs except the pup are over qualified.  My favourite local one (linked to a village carnival) was last weekend, but the pup came into season last week.

The prizes are far better at companion shows than at other shows! Go for it, Lesley! :) It's not meant to be deadly serious, nobody will expect you to be professional at it because very few people there will have shown a dog before. :) Take Hannah and Biscuit along, watch what happens and see if you want to have a stab at it. Good luck! :)

Yep, my Marley goes into companion shows and he's been neutered. When I put him into a rescue class, I was, however, asked to write the name of the rescue organisation he came from, but that may have just been that particular show. I stopped taking my bichon boys as I got so many dirty looks and under breath mutterings that they're 'proper' show dogs?? :rolleyes: Daft.
But Marley enjoys his day out without having to share the attention with the others!
Dying to know what class 13 is? :D
I'm sure Biscuit will love it, its great fun!

We've had that too, our Herman (no balls) is fantastic at standing and moving :D when i was practising with the girls in the kitchen or beach i couldnt leave him out now could i??!! :D  People asked me was he a retired show dog lol and tutted if i took him to companion shows i never said yes he was or no he wasnt it was nice to think the old chap was thought of as show worthy and a threat :)

(edit) sorry craigles i hijacked your thread

Hehe mygirl.  Although saying that my friend has a crossbreed which has better construction and movement than many "show dogs" that I've seen :D OK you can't judge him to a breed standard but still....

go on let's get all the questinos i want to ask out the way!  do i walk around in the ring with all the other dogs or will i have to go in alone and walk him around, will i be expected to know what to do ??   He's got no problem with being handled by anyone so won't have a problem being handled by a judge, it's just I don't really know what's expected, I've seen Crufts on TV obviously, would i be expected to be able to 'trot' him around? or can you just walk,  he does walk nicely to heel, it would be me that is nervous, i'm a bit conscious of people looking at me!! Dog show so i guess they'll be looking at him but I'll be paranoid they're looking at me!

Ok for your pedigree class you will walk into the ring when the class is called and everyone will stand their dogs round the ring in a line.  Then dogs will be seen individually so you can get biscuit lie down, sit, roll over untill it's your turn, normally the line will be going down (imagine a que!) when it's your turn, normally infront of the table you will stand your dog for the judge to check teeth and run his hands over the dogs body.  The judge will then ask you to move in a shape such as a triangle.  You will have to trot biscuit round the ring while you do this.

You won't be expected to know what to do.  Tell the steward it's your first time and hopefully they will help you.  if you don't understand what the judge wants you to do then just ask him to clarify.

Also watch other people in the ring to see what they do, copy the ones that look like they know what they are doing!

can i just use his normal lead?? slip lead he has, i can vaguely remember taking Dicksy and buying a leather thinnish slip lead but don't have that anymore gave it away i think.

Just go for it, Lesley :D :D Don't worry about anything :D Daughter and I entered Tara for a companion show when she was about 15 months old. We'd never entered a show before and only been to one Championship show before. Tara won her large class (Junior Pedigree) even tho' she's a mismark - daughter hadn't a clue what to do in the ring, but it didn't matter. We were going to enter Tara for some other class until some kind person told us that she wouldn't be able to go into the BIS at the end if she lost :D :D We have never repeated the experience - once was enough :D :D

Why don't you let your daughter take him in if you're nervous ??? :)

Daisy

I would let Hannah Daisy had we had Biscuit a bit longer, but I don't think she spends enough time with him, she's a Dicksy fan as he's always been her baby, she obviously knows Biscuit but has never walked him as he initially had socialisation problems and went to a behaviourist etc., but is so much better now with lots of time and patience spent on him, but I've done all the work.  My son takes him out at 6am when he finishes work most days along the river and he's fine with him as Alex runs and biscuits trots along very contentedly beside him off lead.  I'm a bit of a protective mum too so Hannah although is 13 almost 14 she doesn't go out often on her own!  Once a week with her friends on a Saturday so long as she's home by 4.30-5pm! 

Yea go for his normal lead.  Most of the dogs will be pets at these shows.  His normal lead will be fine.  Normally it's a kind of way a judge can also tell those who will need more of a guide of what to do and those who don't. :)  Doesn't mean they will knock you though :)

Depending on the judge you may also be asked to trot your dog aroudn with all or soem of the others.  As said before if yu are unsure ask the judge to clarify. 

If you are not sure what to do in the ring make sure you dont enter the first class, and watch what happens. When it comes to your class do not rush into the ring first, allow a few people in front of you, and again watch and see what they are asked to do. have fun and enjoy

really dense question now, biscuit goes into sporting as he's a gundog i know that much, Cockers would go in which?

Cockers are Gundogs too, so would go in Sporting.................have a fab time :)

Gundog ?? :D :D :D

Daisy

Let us know how he does - and have fun! :-)