Hi everyone,
My irish setter bitch is 4 months old now, I was wondering, how old does she need to be before I show her?
Also, she has an umbilical hernia which I will get operated to get solved next year, it causes her no problems and the vet is monitoring it whenever I get her weighed for worming tablets, but is that something which could affect her when being judged?
Also I am looking for ringcraft classes in South East Essex.
Finally can someone give me an idea of some good shows to try as I have no idea what's expected nor what to do - as I said I live in Essex so ones closer to home to start with are ideal.  I went to an Irish Setter fun show in Brentwood but that was literally 20 people with their setters next to them and the judge just picked his favourite...I don't think that's an idea of a proper show!
We want to be able to build her up and if she's good enough get her a CH in front of her name...what kind of shows do we need to look towards to get a CH?
Also what are the abbreviations such as ShCh, BOB,BIS?
Can you tell I'm a newbie yet?
:-)

Hi
Somebody will correct me if I am wrong as I cannot remember if it recently changed or not, but you didn't use to be allowed to show a dog that had had a hernia repair. Any surgery like this has to be reported to the KC and permission to show applied for, and in the case of hernias it would not normally be granted. You can show a dog with a hernia that hasn't been repaired, but in a breed like yours where it isn't very common, it would probably be seen as quite a major fault -if the judge noticed it.

Dogs have to be 6 months old before being shown. It's very hard to make up a Champion and most people show and breed for years, even decades or a lifetime, before gaining one, and in a popular breed like yours the competition will be stiff, so don't expect too much. :) It's only championship shows where CCs are awarded (3 CCs under 3 different judges needed to gain the title of Champion) but not all champ.shows have CCs on offer for all breeds -have no idea what it's like in irish setters but would imagine MOST champ.shows have them as it is such a popular breed with large entries-in my own breed there are only 8 shows a year with CCs available. ShCh= Show Champion, the title gundogs and Border Collies receive when winning 3 CCs, for the title of "full" Champion  (Ch) they must have passed certain working ability tests as well. BOB= Best of Breed, BIS= Best in Show.

Can't help with ringcraft in your area but hopefully somebody can -it's a great place to start. But do check out first whether you will be able to show your dog if you have the hernia repair done.

Hi Nicky, I'm in Irish Setters too, so I'd be happy to help if I can, with any questions you may have about the breed.

Is your puppy's umbilical hernia very big? It may never need any intervention if it's only small. In time you may find that there's just a smooth lump, where the gap used to be. If it does need an operation to repair it, then as has been said already, you would need to inform the Kennel Club, and they may not give permission for her to be shown. However let's cross that bridge if you come to it.

I'm in the North East, so can't be much hep with ringcraft in Essex, but there is a breed club in the south..........

SOUTH OF ENGLAND IRISH SETTER CLUB. Sec. Mrs M Webb. Tel No: 01932 850398

Does the puppy's breeder show their dogs? Could they be helpful to you in getting started with showing?

You may want to try to get to Crufts in March next year, you see at first hand how things work, and get to speak to lots of exhibitors.

Dawn R.

The South of England Club are actually having their Championship show on January 9th at the Magnet Leisure Centre in Maidenhead Berks.

Dawn R.

In my breed umbilical hernias are pretty common, loads of bitches whelp with hernias and without any trouble. I wouldn't bother fixing it if it's small and not causing trouble to be honest. Good luck with the showing - you need something of a thick skin for the times you don't do well, but it only takes a couple of good results to be very addictive! :-) I don't know if north London is any good for you, I know a couple of ringcraft classes, one near Wood Green and one in Crewes Hill, Enfield.

Hi

I have Irish Setters and will be at the south of England champ show in January if you wanted to meet up.  who bred your bitch? do they show their own dogs ?  I will second that it is very hard to make up a champion.  With regards to the hernia if it is only small I would leave it, one of mine had one as a pup, I used to poke it in everytime he laid on his back now its virtually non existant.

Claire

> In my breed umbilical hernias are pretty common

Does that not suggest that this is a genetic predisposition and perhaps the fact that loads of affected bitches are bred from may actually be perpectuating it?