I am training my puppy to be a show dog. I would like any tips on training a puppy for showing. I will be starting ring craft next week
thanks :)

I would make it clear at your ringcraft club that you are new.  Ask if anyone there has your breed and can give you some more specific guidance.  If not it might be worth seeing if there are any more clubs near you as there might be someone there that can help.

I learnt my 'craft' by doing companion dog shows and watching the expereinced handlers very closely - it will also give your dog show experience in a more relaxed atmosphere if you went to a few.  But your pup does have to be 6 months or older.  However be warned the judging is not always that great.

Also worth attending any open shows and watching your breed in the ring even if your pup is too young to enter (and remember not allowed at the show even in a non-participating capcity if under 6 months). 

So I suppose in summary my advice is keep watching, keep asking and keep practicing what you learn.  But in the end do keep it fun for your dog - an unhappy dog will never show well.

Good luck!

Louise

I am hoping to do some fun/companion dog shows to start off. I used to do a lot of theses shows with a GSD and enjoyed it. I want to do more professorial dog shows but I don't plan on taking it to seriously. I want to have fun with my dog. I wanted to know what I should be teaching in the house. I am already teaching stand. What else should I be doing?

Different dogs are showed in different stances, so you need to know how your breed is shown first. Someone in your breed is probably the best person to seek help from. Is there anyone close to you who could help out?

Once you have the stand correct then you need to get people to put their hands on the dog. You would stand and hold the dog and the other person (family friend, postie ;-) person stopped in the park ;-) ) would then run their hands over the dog as if they were in the showring. They don't need to be knowledgable, its just to get the dog used to someone touching their bodies. Finding the right pace is also a very good thing to do. I have a male that I've been showing for 5 1/2 years and I am used to his pace. I also have young bitch. I keep forgetting I'm showing her and run at his pace. She doesn't run smoothly :-D I have to adjust to her pace, but it is taking some getting used to. She tends to hop skip and jump if I move wrong with her. I need a lot more practice with her. ;-)

Edited to add: If you can get someone to video you showing your dog (just in the park, or your garden) then you can see how you look and adjust where necessary.

thanks I will try the getting people to look her over when she is standing, she mite wiggle as she loves people coming over to her.

Just back from Sweden yesterday afternoon.  Still shattered as yet, but I'll do my best to give you some advice for elkhounds.  The Dachsie Lad and LindyLou have given you some good advice already.  Essentially, look for a well run ringcraft class and keep all experiences happy.  The main thing is to socialise.  Take her for walks as she gets older and get her used to meeting people and friendly dogs (don't overexercise though - stick to the five minutes per month of age rule, or you'll run the risk of damaging her).
At home, get her to stand for treats every day, just for short periods of time at first.  We tend not to train our young dogs to sit for treats until they are pretty well versed in showing - we made the mistake of training the first one we ever had to sit for food, and she did it in the ring.  Our breed stands naturally, so don't stack her - it's always been frowned on in our breed, as has standing on feet/touching them to get them in the right place (you'll soon be put right by someone if you do that).  You can get her to stand with her feet in the right place by training her to move forward or back a fraction to command (encouraged at first with a treat) and GENTLE pulling on the lead - a wellbuilt dog will normally put its feet in the right place quite naturally, but sometimes you may need to watch foot placement.  You will want her to stand so that the curl in her tail faces the judge - practise showing her with the lead held in the other hand and keep your bait in the pocket on the same side as her tail curl - you want to keep the lead away from her face so the judge can see her head.
Train her to walk on the lead without pulling.  We normally show our elkhounds on loose leads, but some dogs need a bit more control and it sometimes helps to move the collar a bit higher on an uncooperative teenager.  On a puppy, I would keep the lead loose so that she doesn't feel she is being choked - keep all interactions at shows happy and positive while she learns her craft.  Train her to walk and run at a trot on your left - moderate your pace to match hers.  Practice moving in the showring patterns - up and down, in a triangle and in a circle.  Expect some puppy "misbehaving" - she isn't a robot, and she doesn't need to be absolutely foot perfect whilst she is young.  Practice frequently - at least once a week.
I would enter both open shows near you and championship shows from when she is six months, perhaps LKA in December for instance and Manchester in Stafford (!) early next year.  She needs to get used to noisy halls and slippy floors, and the numbers in our breed aren't too great.  The Hound Association, HCEA (Nova can send you a schedule) and Stourbridge hold good open shows in the Midlands with classes for elkhounds, and there are a number of good shows, both indoors and outdoors, next spring. I will send you some schedules later in the year if you PM your address.
She will be old enough to enter Not For Competition at our Club Show in Coventry in September - you will not be able to show her, but it will be a good opportunity to meet other elkhounds and their owners and you can see how they are shown.  My mother is judging and I am stewarding, but other people will be happy to go over her for you - my stepdad will be there for instance, and she can meet her grandsire, Raider.  He can give her a masterclass in standing!  :-) It will only cost a pound to enter, and you might like to get a catalogue as well.  I strongly recommend you join the NECGB in any case.
Feed her the best food you can while she is growing up.  We feed a complete food.  Ardengrange suits elkhounds and their coats very well.  Start getting her used to a toothbrush and doggy toothpaste - dirty teeth are a no-no on a showdog.  Just a minute or two brushing once or twice a week is OK at this stage.  Your vet can tell you more, and may have finger toothbrushes for sale - good for puppies.
Edited to say: Raider isn't competing either of course, as Mum bred him, but he's coming for the eyetesting, also NFC.

One more thing. She is a puppy so she is allowed to wriggle a bit ;-) :-D It shows that she is not a robot :-) It all somes right in the end (we all hope LOL!!)