Just wanting to pick some brains.... again!

Entering Mr. Pupster in his first few shows (I say 'few', I've got a busy schedule lined up for him :-D)  Anyway, I've generally entered 2 classes per show - a crufts qualifying and a non-qualifying (if available).  I'm just about to enter a breed club champ show, and in addition to MPD and ND I was thinking of entering 'Special Beginners dog' (for owner, handler or exhibit not having won a Challenge Certificate)  as I think the word 'beginner' makes it sound very appealing!  So... is it bad to enter 3 classes in one show?  I don't want to be greedy and hog the ring, and I don't want to bore pupster.. So just wondering if entering 3 is common or a bit silly!?

Wish I could find a book on 'showing etiquette' :-D

Clare

I would keep to just 2 classes, as you don't want to get your pup bored before you start. The Special Beginners could have much older dogs in the class too.

> Special Beginners could have much older dogs in the class too.

In my breed it would generally only be young dogs or real also rans in that class, and it is usual to enter pups in up to five classes.

A lot will depend on how big the classes are in your breed, if not very big then the extra experience is useful.

Also once you have been seen in the first class you will only perhaps be asked to move again for the judge to decide where/if to place you in other classes, so not that much strain.

I have been entering my youngster in up to three breed classes as we don't have large numbers and trying to get the required 3 dogs in a class for Junior Warrant points is a nightmare.

Hmmm... maybe I'll enter 3 (only an extra £2) and presumably I can withdraw if he's too pooped?  I expect the classes will be quite large as it's Labs, but like you say if he doesn't have to go through all the motions for each class it may not be too bad.

You cannot withdraw from breed classes.

Which show, and who is judging?

ooops, can't you!?  Sorry complete novice here (normally I put a disclaimer on my posts, but didn't this time :-D).  Think I don't mean 'withdraw' in an official sense... Don't know what I meant, but I didn't think you HAD to go in the ring even if you had entered.  So are you allowed to just give one a miss if you or your dog aren't up to it?  Apologies for the silly questions :-D

NWLRC champ show, and Mrs Heather G. Wiles-Fone judging dogs.  Just liked the sound of a 'beginners' class, it sounds simple hehehehe.

> So are you allowed to just give one a miss if you or your dog aren't up to it?

If you miss or don't go in for any of the breed classes any wins in the others are forfeit.

Have a look at the results for you breed at champ shows ans see what the average class size is for the classes your likely to enter.

If it is fewer than five I would do the 3 classes.

oooh flip, glad you told me that - thank you!  Had a look in some catalogues from breed champ shows and it seems to be 8 or more in Special Beginners.  Perhaps I am better giving it a miss if I can't pull out at last minute.  Soooo much to learn, really you experienced show folk should write a book, it's only fair :-D  

> NWLRC champ show, and Mrs Heather G. Wiles-Fone judging dogs

Yes.. go for MPD, Novice dog, and special beginners :-)

We were all green once.

10 years ago I stood in the ring with my BSD Groenenedael bitch like a lemon not realizing I actually had to do anything to show her off!!!

10 years on in my present breed I would only class myself as passably competent.

Today I was moving my bitch in the stakes ring which was a long a wall.  I was concentrating on her and didn;t realize there was a fire hose reel on the wall, bang cannoned into it with my right shoulder which brought me down on my knees.

The judge ran over to check I was OK, and there were gasps from ringside.  My girl looked down her nose at me for being so daft, up we jumped and continued our circuit round the ring.

We did get second so worth the lovely bruise that is forming.

Thanks - that makes me feel a bit better!  Think I'm so clumsy we're bound to have a few incidents like that.

Think I'll give all 3 a go for this one show (better had if Kay says so :-D), but shan't make a habit of doing so many so Melvin doesn't get bored.   It will be his 6th show, so we'll practically be experts by then anyway LOL

It is always a learning curve, if you realise that 3 is too many after that show then go down to 2, but checking on the entries from previous shows and also under that judge may help to gain a better idea as to how many dogs are likely to be in the classes.
I'll be doing only one breed class and 1 stake class for my boys first Ch show, as he gets older i'll be looking at more classes, though in our breed for Ch shows most people don't enter more than 1 with their dogs.
Though there is a lady who put her bitch into 3 classes, PG, Limit and Open i think, she qualified for Crufts in open as there were only 3 entries, so you just never know eh?

i enter as many as possible as dog showing is a hobby to me. but look ateh the judge i tend to only do it if teh judges are different, but then again if teh judge likes your dog.

In Labs, we can have upwards of 30 dogs per class.. I remember just 5 years ago.. minor puppy bitch classes had 42 entries and the stakes classes had 92 entries lol..

Its not as high as that now.. average class entry is around 15..depending on judge, can be more.   but the special beginners is a good class to enter.. usually they are youngsters.. from around 6mths to 24months(ish) and because they exclude owner, handler and dog who have won a CC.. you find its a nice evenly balanced class :-)

Seems like you best to ignore my advise, as every one else says enter 3 or more classes, never mind I've only been showing for 25 years.

> Seems like you best to ignore my advise, as every one else says enter 3 or more classes, never mind I've only been showing for 25 years.

I think we have all said it often depends on numbers in the breed classes.

I have found in a numerically small breed that entering several classes and stakes where possible gives valuable ring experience.

Also how boring to travel a long way for just one bite of the cherry.

Many years ago when all classes attracted prize money it was usual to enter lots of classes, as even the lower placings were worthwhile.

It now seems to have become the norm in many breeds to only do one class hopping to be in the 'challenge'.  If the dog is good enough ti will win all it's classes and knock out competition in the challenge anyway.

Seems like you best to ignore my advise, as every one else says enter 3 or more classes, never mind I've only been showing for 25 years.

Definitely depends on the breed -in my main breed you'd occasionally enter two classes but usually only one -and definitely only one with a puppy. :) Edited to say: as puppies would be unlikely to be able to cope with more in that breed -3 classes and you could potentially set yourself up for huge problems in future, it's just too much for them.

In numerically smaller breeds, and smaller entries, classes are pretty much over within minutes.. In our breed with an average of 15/20 dogs per class.. and 2 classes in between, a pup will pretty much sleep for an hour or so before going into another class.. alert and ready to go .. It also depends on the breed..

You also know your own dog.. I have a couple who would stand in every class, and one who gets bored very quickly.. so she is a one class girl..  but another who I entered in 4 classes (Hunter) and came home with the trophies.. Then went back in and  won the challenge and also came home with Best Chocolate in show..  it just depends on the dog, on the day..

> it just depends on the dog, on the day..

Also as in my case you have a very bouncy youngster, and they need more than one class just to settle.

My Veteran Jozi is a classic example.

The day she won her first CC at our club championship show she was a nightmare in Junior, had to re start her movement several times as she wanted to rush off etc.

She was forgiven this due to her age, and won the class, but I expect when it came to the challenge she would still have been OTT and not in contention.

As it was she went better in special Yearling, better again in Graduate, really settled in Post Graduate, and after a long rest was fine in special beginners one of the last classes before the challenge.

Also having won 5 classes and beaten another couple of class winners there were far fewer exhibits in the challenge so it was quicker, and the judge had fewer dogs to concentrate on :)

Now she is a veteran of 9 3/4 it is a nightmare showing as she is so OTT, she usually blows it completely in the breed classes, as she did yesterday only managing 4th, but is much better in stakes (bigger ring and more dogs helps a lot), she won the Veteran stakes yesterday.

Her granddaughter is similar and really needs to be settled before she will show at her best, so again for her 2 or 3 classes quickly followed by the challenge is ideal, also at last few shows it has also meant there were only 3 in the challenge.

Another reason for entering a higher class is to see how well your dog may fare against stiffer competition before they have to go up a class.