Hi everyone,

I have a very active Newfoundland puppy 'Ralph', he's 14 weeks old now and he's just fantastic! ('mouthing' a lot, but lovely).  I would love to show him and to be honest, I haven't a clue as to how to go about it!!!.  I understand ringcraft is the first place to start but there are no good classes here in Merseyside!!!.  I am going to the LKA in December and would love to show my boy but not sure what you do!!! even on the training side of things!!.  Sorry to be such a dimwit but with working all the hours (grooming dogs), sorting kids out, cat & dog together with my husband, I just can't seem to find the flippin time to sort out HOW to show my dog & what training is needed and of course HOW to train me to train my lovely boy!!!!

Any help, tips or advice would be grately appreciated....

Debi xx

Hi Debi

My first piece of advice would be speak to the breeder of your dog, they are the very best person to advise you.  Did you buy Ralph specifically for showing?  Do you have any local opens shows you can visit (without Ralph) to gain a bit of experience and see what actually goes on.  You cannot enter a show until he is 6 months and then I would opt firstly for companion or open shows rather than delve straight in to Champ shows. 

Showing is a wonderful, addictive and expensive hobby you basically never stop learning and have to take some hard knocks, but if you can take it all on the chin and keep smiling it's well worth it.

Ringcraft is another great place to start perhaps someone on the boards local to you can point you in the right direction to a local club, if not drop a mail to to KC and they can give you a list of registered societies in your area.

Good Luck

Vicky x

Get yourself a good book either on the breed that includes showing or one on showing in the UK.  Their are loads on amazon.  Next thing would be to contact the kennel club for ringcraft clubs in your area, I am sure there is one as they are everywhere.  Then maybe look up breed clubs for your breed, the people in these clubs will be the most help to you and you will probably find your breeder is a member of at least one of them.
Hopefully that should set you on your way.  Showing is great fun, I highly recommend it.

Link for info on starting showing
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/265

Contact form at bottom of this link page to contact KC for ringcraft info
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/about/contact_us.html Just select information services when sending

Emma

i jumped straight into a champ show,  we never got placed but we had a wonderful day, we have now gone onto open shows and havw some ist and 2nd

i found the champ show good as i have no one near me how shows bulldogs and needed advice, opiopions dfrom people who know what there doing

good luck and must of all have fun

Hi newfidays

My personal advice would be to go to as many championship shows as possible, study the breed, learn the handling techniques, speak to different breeders and hear different opinions, study the breed standard. Learn what looks the best and what particular dogs you thought should have been placed and should have not. Be honest with yourself about your favourites once you have learnt the breed standard. This is the best way to start off in showing to go to many champ shows and study before starting to show yourself because until you have seen some of the standard of the dogs that go in the ring you may think that your dog may or may not do well in the ring even though he will always be your little baby you need to be critical about what you take in the ring. Did you buy him specifically as a show potential dog or did you just buy him as a pet? does your breeder show because maybe she can advise you. If she does show and you didnt ask for a show potential dog your breeder has most probabaly sold him as a pet however I know some breeders who have sold show potential to pet homes so maybe he is good. Ringcraft is an excellent way to start practising to show your dogs, find a ringcraft club in your area if you are really considering showing. Also would you like to take showing very seriously (meaning on a very competitive level) or just for fun like companion shows or open show level however this is not serious showing  and will not qualify you for crufts. I understand you have to start somewhere and I wish you lots of luck but i suggest your next move should be to attend some championship shows on your own (which qualifys you for crufts if you get placed 1st 2nd or 3rd) and learn from the breeders who just started off exactly like you and now are successful. learn from the best. The LKA has most of the top breeders so thats definately a good start

good luck with your showing it is extremely addictive :) If you would like any more advice and tips then send me a personal message and ask whatever you want, don't feel silly we ALL start of as beginners and can end up as pros ;)below I have left a link to the newfoundland breed standard.

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/57