Hi, Im new to showing, My 6 month boy and i have our first show end of next month at Godmanchester. Im really nervous about it, i just hope he is going to behave in the ring. Any one got any tips apart from dont worry, enjoy and a white show lead

That's the most important thing - don't worry, if he mucks about, don't panic or scold him, make sure he has fun. Have you been to ringcraft? They should be teaching your boy how to stand for strangers to go over him, and teaching you the basics like making sure never to walk between the dog and judge. Other than that, make sure you leave plenty of time for the journey so you can walk him around (somewhere clean as I take it he's white!), let him have a wee and settle down and see all the new sights and sounds, rather than arriving with 30 seconds to spare and hurtling straight into the ring. Have fun and let us know how it goes! :-)

Judges are usually very patient .  They will wait until you are satisifed your dog is standing correctly before going over them.  And if you have a problem with the movement as you start off then just turn around come back to the judge and start again.  indeed if the movement is wrong at any point go back to the start of that particular bit ie if on a triangle go back to the last corner.  But I am sure you will have a great time.

Louise

Have been and done some training with him, i.e not walking between him and the judge, walking in straight lines and triangles, not to look at him to much but plenty of praise. Was also told the other week that his back toes turn out and to walk him on the road and gravel, but i have noticed it just depends on his mood, most of the time ,to me, he stands perfectley. Was also told not to send him to be groomed the day before a show !!!!????

and yes he is white with a splash of red

Depends on the breed - I assume Admin allows you to say here? With my breed I bath them the day before, used to do my boy on the morning or he weed down his feathering but it started to make him tired instead of sparkly at the show so had to do him the night before. Pity, we had it all sussed - he had his morning wee, got bathed, went to the show and we were usually first in the ring so he didn't need a wee until afterwards. Only problem came if he got BOB and had to wee before the group! :-D

Have got him booked into be bathed and groomed on the friday, so will have to keep him clean all day sat, no going out into the garden and playing tag with the cat !!!
He is only 6 monthes old do i need to do anything special to his coat, in other words what do i trim and what dont i trim ????? he has got his under coat and a fine longer coat do i just brush this or does it need trimming down ??? Help if you show paps i am in need of urgent grooming advice PLEASE thank you

I'm afraid I don't know, but make sure you find out before you drop him off as a groomer won't do a show trim unless they happen to be into showing dogs. I'm one of the few in my area who handstrips terriers if requested for example, and the number of clipped Cavaliers I see is awful. But even if like me they are into showing, they are still unlikely to know the particular trim for your breed unless they have it themselves - can your breeder give some help? My guess would be virtually no trimming at least at that age.

The lady who does my dogs said she was going to look on the internet as she was not really sure how they should be done for show. As this is his first show i think i will get her to do the normal, which is a good wash and trim round his feet, he went begining of december he looked so cute when he came out, we both laughed because he looked like he had stuck his paw in the plug socket, bless him.
Can't contact breeder she has emegrated. I got the bitch from her who was expecting when i got her and my little chap is  one we were offerd a lot of money, more than i would ever pay,  by someone who had just got their pap pup into crufts 08, we decided that no matter what the offer was we were not going to let him go. Hopefully there will be someone else who is showing paps that would not mind giving me some advice, better still would be someone local showing paps so i could possably have a buddy for help and advice.

just checked the breed standard.  Pleas do not let the groomer trim his feet ad the standard calls for:

Feet
Fine, fairly long, hare-like. Tufts of hair between toes extending far beyond them

I think you are best not to trim at all only have him bathed and combed.

For coat it says:
Coat
Abundant, flowing but without undercoat; long fine silky, falling flat on back and sides; profuse frill on chest; short and close on skull, muzzle and front parts of legs. Rear of forelegs to pasterns, tail and thighs covered with long hair.

Yes, sounds like just a bath and no trimming then. When you get to the show, look for some other Pap people who seem friendly and ask them - not when they're preparing their dog for the next class, but try to find a time well before the judging starts when they could show you. MOST people will be happy to do this. :-)

thank you both for your advice, i will tell the lady that grooms him not to trim him at all just a jolly good wash

Ah, is this a Papillon? They're usually trimmed at the BACK of the feet only (up to hocks at hind), and underneath the paws -they need to have the long hair at front to have the hare like feet.

The ear fringes are very important -the more the better basically! The tail is usually divided into two halves so that half falls on one side of the body and the other half on the other side.

If you go to this page: http://www.papillonclub.co.uk/activities/showing/champions/index.htm and click on each year you will see photos of all Papillons UK Champions for those years -each photo can be enlarged. A lot stand on grass but some don't so if you look through the photos it might give you some idea.

yep paps. Cool just found our dogs mum, lovely looking bitch, never found that bit before. most seem to look like they have thier slippers on, but there are a hand full that have had thier feet trimmed. I still personally like the feet trimed, but will this lose me point with the judge ????

It will make the feet look the wrong shape so wouldn't be a good idea. :) I trim the feet of mine that don't go to shows and I agree it looks nice that way, but of course they then look much smaller and rounder.