How much knowledge do you need to attend a breed specific seminar? I have only been in my breed for 3 years and am really keen to learn more about the breed. Today I spotted a Seminar being run by Yorkshire Golden Retriever Club, so I have rung the Secretary up who was really helpful and encouraging and I have taken the plunge and booked a place. I am really worried that I will be out of my depth and look a complete numpty. The lady running it has been lovely and said that if I want I can just watch and not complete the questions/judging assessment if I don't want to. On one hand I want to have a go, but on the other I don't want to look a fool. Is it normal for people attending such things, to have loads of experience?

You don't need any knowledge and well done you on attending one.  I'm sure you'll have a great time and they are usually done in a way that everyone understands.

Where do you think people get their knowledge?

You will find a varity of people there from CC judges in other breeds, who want to start judging the breed, to experianced judges who don't know the first thing about this breed or compleat newbies, breed specilists who are just starting out in showing and want to progress into judging so start with a seminar.

I went on a GSP seminar last year.  I don't know much at all about the breed but always admired them.  I went along with a very experianced judge who judges many breeds over 3 groups.  Myself who judges justthe main dogs I handle and a novice, never judged before but owns the breed and has shown lightly but more intrested in working.  None of us look out of place. :)

Well I braved it and am so glad I did. Most of the people there seemed to be very experienced, but everyone was very friendly and once it got going it wasn't half as scary as I thought it would be. I must admit when I was given the paper with the 20 questions, I simply went blank, but hopefully once the shock wore off, hopefully I managed to get a few questions right.

In the afternoon each candidate had to go over 5 dogs, take their own notes, and then do a critique on their first three placings. After assessing the dogs we were then "interviewed" by the Assessor and had to tell her what we had found and explain why we had placed the dogs in that order. At the end she told me that I had given very good answers and made some excellent observations, so I was really pleased (I bet she said that to everyone though).

I now have to wait and see if I have passed, but at the end of the day I feel I learnt a lot and will not be too disappointed as I know I am just starting out. Roll on the next seminar...

So very pleased that you enjoyed it.  Bet you're glad that you took the plunge.  Well done  :-)

Glad you enjoyed it.

I remmeber my first breed seminar and when I went in to the pannel (3 judges) to go though what I had written about each dog and where I had placed them they were really crawle and set it up to make it sound like I had failed.  i was only 14 at the time...Evil as they seemed it was typical TV quiz show act and I had passed.  They were really pleased to see someone my age doing it and happy with how I handled the situation.

Never forget how they made me feel though upto the point they said I past... :-D

Well, I received my results today and i'm on cloud nine. Not only did I pass, but I got a Distinction.

I have managed to borrow a KC video on Conformation and Movement, so I will get busy watching and learning.

Well Done you!

Love Kay

Well done, onwards and upwards.

Well done you on being so brave!
I attended a breed seminar a year ago but I only sat & watched and looking back i really wished I'd taken part in the hands on, even if i'd failed it would of been a great experience to go over the dogs but we all live & learn! Next year i'm going to take part though :)

Thanks, I still feel quite chuffed with myself. To anyone contemplating attending such a seminar, I would say go and have a go. I know that I might fail the next one I sit, but if I learn just something from each event, then it has been worth attending.

Gemma, at least you attended, I found that bit the most scary, as I was worried I would turn up and people would think "who does she think she is" and I would look a complete numpty. Good luck in advance for when you do your next one.