hi there every body ive had a bullmastiff for 4 years now and have decided that i would like to show her now i realise i have waited a long time as  most people start showing from a young age

now i would like to go to a few shows but dont really know where any are or when they are on so if any body could help me out id appriciate it

and any advice for a beginer to showing dogs

thanks

Where are you? That way we can help you find a ringcraft club so that you can learn how to handle your dog for the show ring. We can also tell you where the most local shows are for you. Go along to a few shows and speak to the people showing their dogs - preferably once they come out of the ring, they will be less stressed then :-)

There are tips for beginners, and show rules etc here as well as dates for various levels of show: http://www.prodogs.co.uk/

im from liverpool thanks

Have PM you

Hi andy

I am also in Liverpool..the best ringcraft class for you I would imagine to be the boxer club Aintree http://www.merseysideboxer.com/Training/Training.htm

HTH

any advice for a beginer to showing dogs

hi and welcome--my advice is offered as a new person myself who never really considered showing till I got my third dog last year. I've been to several different training classes and ringcraft clubs with my dogs and all too often felt I wasn't getting enough out of it to learn how to improve--and now I realise it's because I never asked questions. The more you go the more people see that you are keen and the more likely they are to offer advice and help. Watch other handlers--it sounds really obvious, but watch the experts and see if you can spot what they're doing with their dog and why.

I try to go every week now and I am told I am improving, which is good news, although it's hard to imagine how much more clueless I could have been...my puppy was over a year old before he went to ringcraft (although he had been shown 3 or 4 times and had qualified for Crufts in spite of me), although we had been going to obedience classes. We have had lots of little challenges to get over that probably would never have arisen had he been going to ringcraft at an early age: sitting in the ring, not wanting to show his teeth, not wanting his tail handled. I need to practice more--it was suggested that I get him to stand before he gets fed, stand him in front of a mirror, etc.

All I can say otherwise is good luck and enjoy it, it's lots of fun :)

Hi Andy,
The British Bullmastiff Association is holding it's Championship show on the 4th Dec at Childwall Sports Centre, fiveways, Queens Drive Liverpool, L15 6XZ - Show Sec Jan Webster - 0151 546 1087 - Judging starts at 10.30am.
This would be a good place to go along to to see and talk to Bullmastiffs people and see the dogs inaction. It's a good friendly show as they normally also hold a Christmas party.
Regards Karen

spoke to the fella who runs merseyside boxers association and he said they used to do the classes in jacobs in aintree but as of last week
they cant go there anymore untiil they find new premises

which is a shame as it was only 5 mins away from me

anybody know of any more

there is Bob in Skem cant remember the details but if you want them PM me and I can find out as i have puppy owners who go there.

Hi Andyfoster10,
There are 2 "local" open shows coming up in January. 1 is at Sutton Leisure centre, St Helens called Heywood & Radcliffe Canine Society and other is at Clayton Green Sports Centre, Clayton-Le-Woods NR Chorley called Clitheroe & District Kennel Association. I don't think either of them actually have Bullmastiff classes so you would have to enter the AV (Any Variety) class but its good experience. Closing dates for entering the shows are 6th December and 27th December.
Good luck
Paula xxx

If you went to the breed show you could also enter your dog as NFC (not for competition) and that way you would be able to see if he was happy in this situation and all so how he shaped up.

That's a good idea, we have a new pup that will be hitting the ring in a few weeks time and he has been to a few shows entered as NFC just to watch the world go by as it were, and not hopeful get freaked at his first show.

> spoke to the fella who runs merseyside boxers association and he said they used to do the classes in jacobs in aintree but as of last week
> they cant go there anymore untiil they find new premises
>
> which is a shame as it was only 5 mins away from me
>
> anybody know of any more

Great news, the Merseysie Boxer club have been able to keep the same venue, it has just been posted on our boxershowlist!
Give them a call back to find out if the days/times have changed

:)

Could anyone PM me the phone number for the man that runs the Merseyside Boxers Association please?
Paula. xx

Hi Andy , yes the club did close due to a problem with jacobs , but it has re-opened as of the 17th november . I am a member and i had a confirmation email yesterday from Marion who is the secretary. :) Natalie

Hi Paula , i just sent you the details . Natalie

Thanks Natalie. :-)
Paula x