im in a dilema! three years ago i stopped showing as i relocated and started a very demanding job. now i find that i have more time to myself on a weekend and i wonder if i should start going to the open shows again.( thanks to you guys i have found a couple i would like to go to) the problem is that my girl is 6 and imho she is the bees knees even though i can see she isnt when i take off my rose tinted specs!!! the thing is my girl loved going to shows and once in the ring she thought she was it!!! and i have got to admit i enjoyed it aswell, i leart more in the ring that i ever did at training. it was a day out meeting new dogs/people and to be honest it was my social life! dont get me wrong we did quite well at open shows with bob and group placings but i feel a bit of a prat when i see people writing things like 'i wouldnt take an older dog to shows unless i was making him up'.

I would go for it.  Like you say it's a social day out to meet friends.  You have done well in the past so why not once again?  Go to some shows and enjoy yourself.  Our 6 and 8 year old stilll do open shows, we show them becaue we enjoy it and if we take one to the show we take all the show team! (Which is currently only 3, going down to two soon!)

If you both enjoy it why not? Take her, you never know.
Maybe ringcraft 1st to refresh her memory.:-)

the problem with her at ring craft is that she knows it is only practice so she either pretends that she is so lame that she cannot walk!! or she lays down pretending to be dead so that i have to push her off the mat! (she frequently puts on this act when on a walk and i wont let her eat dead birds and other lovely gourmet things) although once off the mat she is amazingly sound again! but she has only ever pulled these stunts once at a show befor thank god )))

I would go back to showing if I were you.  I mean, you said you and your dog enjoy it, so its a good thing for you.

We take to much time worrying, and stressing, but when you are doing something you truely enjoy, then its the best thing you can do.  I know many people who show dogs that would be considered quite old (dog I mean) and its nice to see sometimes.

Dog sports are amazing, and you shouldnt hold back in doing it.  GO FOR IT!!!!!!

go for it.  if you both enjoyed it.  I've just started showing my 8 yr old again,  she loves it and hasn't forgotten  anything.

thanks for that. and even if we never get anywhere at least im doing something we both enjoy and are supporting smaller shows

Go for it - my (nearly 10) oldie loves her occasional run out in the vet classes, even though she was never very keen as a youngster.

> i feel a bit of a prat when i see people writing things like 'i wouldnt take an older dog to shows unless i was making him up'. <

For the vast majority of people entering their dogs at a show they are entering without any real hope of winning best of breed or making a dog up.

In my breed approximately 3 to 6 dogs are made up a year and our numerically small breed gives us an entry of 40 to 120 dogs art championship shows.

If only those with a good likelihood of being made up were shown how boring and lonely ti would be.

My first two dogs shown made up the numbers (one did get her stud book number the other rarely won a first prize at champ show level, yet both have successful descendants) the next managed to get a RCC but by then she had a champion daughter.  It took me 3 generations to get to that level.  I no other people with decades in dogs who have never had a big winner or a champion, yet they are the backbone of the dog fancy.

My 10 1/2 year old Veteran enjoys a day at a show (showed her head off at Crufts), and if I can find the pennies I enjoy showing her.

A dog I bred who has 2CC's and A RCC won those awards at 6, 7 and 8 years of age, so Patience can pay off if you have a late maturing, or a good laster.

Open shows are crying out for entries & as you say it's a good social day out.  I certainly wouldn't think twice about taking a 6 year old to an open show (or any show for that matter).  Some breeds don't mature until that age anyway.  Whether it's serious or a bit of fun what harm is there in a good day out?!

BTW my first Champion was 6 and a half when I made her up so I don't consider 6 old. 

So, start printing off entry forms & hope you have a good day out at your next show :-D

You enjoy it, your dog enjoys it - those are the two REALLY important things I think in showing.

Stuff what anyone else thinks, go and have fun.

Took my 14 year old to ringcraft this week and she loved it.  As many of them haven't seen her there for a number of years they thought I'd brought a new youngster with me!!

Go for it. If it makes you both happy! :-)

I take my old girl to shows even though she is made up and she has no chance of ever getting another ticket just because she loves going.  If you both enjoy it go for it.