how many of you go to ringcraft, i am having trouble finding a ringcraft class near me and wondering if just training at home and when i go to agility etc let people go over the new puppy she is very outgoing and just wondering if any of you never went to ringcraft and your dogs turned out ok

I havn't always gone but am doing this time as pup is so exhuberant!!!
I have had dogs fine with no ringcraft just home learning but if pushed would say it is better for them to have a taste of what a show is like and the match nights are good for that reason.
wherabouts are you someone must know of one near you.
Aileen

I know its a right pain if classes are thin on the ground but I would say in my experience they do better for going. Certainly you can get them to stand, be gone over and run the triangle etc at home and they can look little pros at it. But getting them to do it surrounded by a room full of dogs (which is what a show is like) is a different kettle of fish.

I don't as we don't have any near by- I do however go to a village obedience class where i just stand during heelwork etc and it gets the socialisation in. However with one pup he was so taken aback when the judge came to the table to examine him he was like a bucking bronco. He will NFC to the next few shows to be handled by lots of strangers. It's hard without a class but you can get around it

Aileen i live in northampton the nearest one to me in bedford the one at milton keynes on a monday night and i train agility then

I def. think ringcraft helps, doing it at home is not the same, when I practice at home with a puppy they are good and stand beautifully etc because there's not the distractions.  We used to have a 60 mile round trip for ringcraft before a closer one started up.

with the way petrol prices are at the moment i can't justify going to far .
That may sound awful, but i also do agility and flyball they are close , but then my show season starts up
and i am already having to pick and choose which shows to go to and how far away they are
it is only the petrol that is curbing my travelling

I would love to go to my local Ringcraft, even without a dog, just to learn! It's a pity I don't drive, and there's no public transport to the village where it's held.

I used to always take new puppies until one time there was a 12 month ols GSD who was left all day by a young working couple and was obviously a handful!  He would walk on his hind legs, standing taller than his owner who would just hang on to him by his collar, and would walk around the hall, baying!
My 12 week old puppy was horrified and it took me months to regain her confidence. 
From then on I would socialise her on my own, often looking silly with her in the middle of town saying "Stand and show" much to the chagrin of the locals!
I think that if you're learning about showing, then ringcraft is essential to learn the ropes, but if you know what you're doing, then there are plenty of other ways to train and socialise a your puppy. :)

There are many a ringcraft club that have ruined many a puppy sadly -but at the same time the one thing it is very, very hard to substitute is have somebody go over the puppy LIKE a judge. Especially if a dog. I too do stands in the middle of the town centre but I draw the line at stopping strangers to ask if they would look at puppy's teeth -and feel the balls! Thank goodness my current pups are bitches!

> but I draw the line at stopping strangers to ask if they would look at puppy's teeth -and feel the balls!

ROFL!!!!  :-)  :-)  :-)

Thank you for the graphic image!  I'm cracked up here.

I don't have loads of experience (only my second show dog) but I must say I do like the way my RC is run and managed, and we have a few regular 'judges' in rotation so the pups get quite a variety of people going over them.

The one thing that is very different between practising at home, at our obedience classes and whilst out and about is that my pup is a nosy boy - he'll often stand absolutely solid whilst beaking at everyone else's dogs!  At home he's more likely to get distracted.  Going to RC regularly also forces me to remember things like not blocking the judges view, look where I'm going not at the puppy etc.  All useful stuff for me!!  My class is also really good at handing out schedules for local shows - a real bonus :)

I know what you mean about not many rc around i travel on 2 trains and walk for half an hour(would carry her when younger)now she is bigger she walks a little more now and still carry her some of the way.
I know its along way but she is so confident on public transport(and on a bus as well)and everybody loves her,she loves it.
must add that i do get a lift home now,that i've made new friends.it has helped me with my pup and have learned so much.

nessa