I have never shown a dog before and sort of fancy having a go with one, other or both of my young girls.

I'm not aiming high and see it more as a bit of fun, but even with my un-educated eye I can see that one of my girls maybe a little too big and the other has pricked ears and her coat is maybe a little too silky and soft.

Is it worth doing is even if I discover that my girls are just plain ugly (although not in my eyes of course)?

What breed is it? It would be a lot more disheartening to enter a class of 30 or so and not get placed, than in a less common breed where you may end up with a card as there aren't as many entries.

They are Shelties

Why not try some Open Shows and find out?     I rarely see many Shelties at Open shows locally ;) 

If you go not expecting anything, then any placing you get will be a result LOL

I still go to every show with the same attitude ;)

If it isn't FUN then it isn't worth doing, and going expecting to do well is likely to lead to disappointment.  Going to have Fun and meet people and their dogs you will enjoy the day regardless of whether you're placed :-D

Where do I start, they are only young at the moment, 7 and 8 months, we are going to classes for obedience and I would need to learn how to handle them in the ring, I'm going to see our classes teacher about that. Which magazines or papers do I need to get to find out what is on and when.?

What you're looking for is a Ringcraft class.  Your local canine society or club should have info for you ;) or you could ask on here for a local class ;)

I learned in the ring at open shows   We were known as the entertainment LOL  

Just been on Swindon and District Canine, it looks just the job lots of info so I shall contact them.

Ta

Dog shows are fun and a great places to be if you love dogs. It dose not matter if your dog is not really of show type, as long as you except that you may not be placed, and just go for the fun of being in the ring and showing off your best friend then there is no reason why  you cant show any dog as long as its KC reg and healthy and happy.  Just lean the basics , get your dog to stand for treats instead of sit , and teach it to trot in a triangle and up and back in a strait line. You also need you dog to get used to people going over it, and strange hands having a feel of his coat . :)

I go to Swindon ringcraft so maybe see you there!  There is a match night tonight & every 1st Thursday of the month which you could go to, even if you just wanted to watch, but normal ringcraft is other Thursday evenings - though I think it will soon be closed for Christmas break.

X

Brilliant
It's Tesco night tonight so if I can I will but it may be a bit tight, if I don't make it I'm sure I'll meet up with you at some stage. :):)

Hi
Could you not ask the breeders views on them?

Remeber that no dog is perfect and each have faults.  Then no to judges will see faults in the same order and given a selection of dogs, rarely will they always be placed in the same position (ok sometimes you have some which nearly always win and those which nearly always loose)  But why not, if you want, give it a go.

I always advise people who have a dog (kc reg or not) that think they might like to start showing, get to a ringcraft with their current dog and if KC reg have ago at a couple of shows.  That way you get a taste for it and see if you do want to do it, then look for a show quality puppy.  This means you already have met breeders and learnt more about the breed, and you have already started your training which will make it easier to train a puppy :) 

I'm with Lel.  if you can ............get the breeder to look at them at least you'll get an honest opinion. good luck. x

Yes, get the breeder to look at it, and try some open shows. Also next spring / summer try the companion shows - if you find your girls aren't getting anywhere at open shows, you can still enjoy the fun day out and the competition part of it in Prettiest Bitch class or a Best Long Coated dog class. As you've got two, there's Happy Families classes and Brace classes sometimes too. :-)

I have a pretty good idea of the breeders views on my girls. I'm going to have a go though I think. We'll complete our puppy good citizen then do some ringcraft and see how it goes from there, even if they're not good enough at least I'll be learning and may one day if I'm lucky I'll meet a breeder of good quality dogs that is prepared to let me have one, and then carry on showing.

Also don't give up if the first two or three judges don't place them - it might be them, it might be your handling, it might be just bad luck that you were up against better dogs, it might be that the 'fault' yours might have is a particular hate of that judge, eg in my breed some judges hate freckled noses or gay tails to the exclusion of all else. You need to try at least 20 judges before you have any idea if your girls are good or not. And even then they change so much as they mature - my girl was ugly as a puppy, but has now improved at 4 years old to the point of getting several BOB!

Thanks for that Lucydogs, I know I need to have an open mind and be prepared not to do well and just keep on trying, but whatever happens I'll be learning all of the time.

Case in point, yesterday my friend's dog was last under my other friend, who said the only nice thing about it was its colour, but in the AV class he won (though only out of 2, but still...). Just keep at it and have fun! :-)

And they are only still young - many times breeders have kicked themselves for selling a "lesser quality" pup only for it to grow from ugly duckling to beautiful swan.

> I have a pretty good idea of the breeders views on my girls.

Were they sold as show quality or as pets? If the  latter, the breeder may not be too happy to see dogs in the ring with her affix on that are definitely not show material.

I think Shelties are actually a breed with a strong level of competition, or certainly in this area, being one of the breeds that regularly raise super entries when most have half a dozen dogs.

To be honest, I would think that showing your girl with prick ears is likely to be a fairly dis-heartening experience - although how old is she? Perhaps they could be sorted? (Feel free to PM me for some tips.)

As for girl who is a bit big - how much of a bit? If her quality was good overall, judges may make allowance for the size.

M.

Hello Pinky

I was most interested to read your post as I too have a sheltie, a  bitch, who is 6 months old, Isla.  I wish I had heeded advice and had a better look around at show quality pups and attended more shows just to "get a feel" before I got Isla.  I did want a show quality and maybe Isla is, but her markings are not stunning.  She is very pretty and at 13 and a half inches she will probably be tall enough to show (the breeder who is vey successful thought she may not grow big enough so that is a bonus).  Her ears are lovely and her coat (shaded sable) is coming through quite luxuriantly.  However she only has half a white ruff, and also has a rather uneven - although pretty - white blaize and (tut tut) her eyes are too rounded, not almond shaped enough!  The whole picture is pretty though but I fear that pretty doesn't win shows!!  We are going in for our first show on Sunday, a jolly little local affair, and she is entering AV Minor Puppy.  Don't suppose we will get anywhere but it will be fun!

I think showing shelties is quite difficult.  As you say most breeders have several!  I think you have to cut your teeth and learn with your first one and obviously if later you want to get a real show quality one they you will look at puppies with a much more critical and experienced eye.  i know that if we never got placed (Isla and me) I would get disheartened and not bother any more. However she enjoys obedience so that is fun too. I must say I am enjoying going to ringcraft classes and have met some really nice people!

Snowflake

Hello Snowflake

I have 3 Shelties, a Blue Merle, a Tri and a Shaded Sable. My shaded is also called Isla she is 7 months. When we bought the younger two I had not even thought of showing it's only in recent months that my interest has been aroused.

Isla is the better looking of the two, she has a lovely shaped head with big almond eyes and a very full even collar, she is a vain little madam with a passion for the grooming table.

At the moment our main interest is at puppy school, both the younger ones attend classes, when we 'graduate with honours' ;) we are then going to do some ring craft, then I shall dip my toe into the showing pool with Isla, if we do OK then this is good if not it'll be a learning curve for me and prepare me for my next Sheltie which will hopefully be a better quality one

However she only has half a white ruff, and also has a rather uneven - although pretty - white blaize

The amount and eveness of a white collar isn't important in the ring.  Head qualities and conformation is much more important. 
In Shelties a white blaize is acceptable although wouldn't be looked on as favourable in a Rough Collie.