Ok,we have owned for 9 years and have just bred our first litter and are showing newbies.
Its a hard business to get into as everyone is a bit stand offish.
So some help would be MUCH appreciated.
I have been on my breed clubs and written down all my show dates etc - but at ring craft class noticed some not on my breed lists - I have a pup who will be 6 months old on 15th Sept - In one of the shows my breed only has 2 classes - open and limit - does this mean i should enter one of these classes with my 6 month old?or should i enter A.V puppy?

You have been unfortunate if you have found people unhelpful and standoffish they usually fall over themselves to help. Would suggest you ask the owner of the stud to help you they will know how your particular breed is shown and once you make a start I am sure you will find they to be helpful.

Do not enter a 6 month old pup in either limit or open, would wait for a show that has a class for pups or enter as you say AV puppy, but if you are a complete novice it would be far easier to start in breed classes.

If the show only has limit & open, these would be too high for a 6 month old puppy & it is possible (depending on the show) to have a champion in the class & deffinately far more mature dogs than your pup. Yes you need to stay with the puppy classes for the time being, at least until you have been to a few shows & see if a) you like showing & b) your pup is of show quality.

Thanks - we have always cncentrated on working our dogs,so this is all new! some people have been great.

Can you explain the pro's and con's of entering more than one class ? for example,why would some one not enter minor puppy,puppy and junior ? I would have thought it would give you more chances - and than you would simply not go into the next class if you got a first ( so you could remain unbeaten) - am i correct?

The reason some people do not show in more than one class is they fear they may win the first class and then be beaten in one of the others and then will be unable to challenge for Best of Breed or Best Puppy in Breed.

Other people just enjoy showing and are not worried if they are beaten by a better dog so they may enter 2 or more classes just for the fun of it.

Still others, me included, will enter more than one class but only under a different judge so for example I may enter the Breed puppy class, the AV Puppy and perhaps a Puppy stakes, I enjoy the showing and the company of others and although I like winnings I am not that bothered and think it is good for a young dog to get lots of practice under different people.

> and than you would simply not go into the next class if you got a first ( so you could remain unbeaten) - am i correct?

You can not withdraw from a breed class to remain unbeaten, so if you enter 2 breed classes & win one you have to go into the next.

I personally think any more than 2 classes is too much for puppies, particularly if you do well, as even challenging others for best this or that, is still tireing. It is rare for me to enter more than 1 class, particularly at a champ show, as we quite often get close to 200 dogs entered.
I do understand some folk with breeds who generate far less entries, go in more classes, it is sometimes down to preference but you dont want you pup to tire of showing, as they are adults much longer than they are puppies. I have seen time & time again pups who are heavily shown become 'robots' as adults & loose that all important sparkle.

Must say it does depend on breed, entering my breed in half a dozen class would be unlikely to bother a pup and if it did it would just go to sleep once it left the ring but most love it and are happy to do 3 or 4 classes during a day. Have found my breed are not too keen on showing once it is dark so evening shows are not for them.

You can withdraw from a AV or Stakes class but you have to do all the breed or AVNSC classes you have entered.

Just realised what your breed is and they are very immature at 6 months so I would not enter in any but a puppy class they would not look good against adult dogs at all. As I said in my first post have a word with your stud dog owner I am sure they will offer you all the help they can.

> You can not withdraw from a breed class to remain unbeaten, so if you enter 2 breed classes & win one you have to go into the next.

I know this is what is supposed to happen - but if someone withdraws anyway what happens then?

I was at one show this year where the winner of Puppy withdrew from Junior, but then was allowed back in the ring for the challenge. Should the steward have refused to let them enter the ring?

>> You can not withdraw from a breed class to remain unbeaten, so if you enter 2 breed classes & win one you have to go into the next.
> I know this is what is supposed to happen - but if someone withdraws anyway what happens then?
>
> I was at one show this year where the winner of Puppy withdrew from Junior, but then was allowed back in the ring for the challenge. Should the steward have refused to let them enter the ring?

The matter should have been reported to the secretary on the day, who in turn would report the matter to the KC. This in turn could & should have lead to a disqualification of any further prizes & possibly a fine to either, if not both, the exhibitor & the club.

> The matter should have been reported to the secretary on the day, who in turn would report the matter to the KC. This in turn could & should have lead to a disqualification of any further prizes & possibly a fine to either, if not both, the exhibitor & the club.

The show was Crufts....!!

In my breed you are fortunate to get breed classes,let alone puppy classes.However in any breed classess including AVNSC best puppy must be declared.Then you can go up for best puppy in group.Even in my more popular breed there is not always puppy classes.The first show with my youngster there were post grad and open.Consequently we had 8 or so pups in a PG class.I always enter in the lowest/youngest breed class occasionally it has surprised me that my pup has beaten mature dogs - but again depends on what the judge likes.I have found people are usually helpful,especially when my breed was less popular.It seems the more popular the breed sometimes the less helpful some people can be.I rarely enter A.V.
Good luck,relax and enjoy.

Are you sure they weren't just challenging for Best Puppy? Shocking lapse from the steward if they were allowed to challenge for the CC or BOB, specially at Crufts!

> Are you sure they weren't just challenging for Best Puppy? Shocking lapse from the steward if they were allowed to challenge for the CC or BOB, specially at Crufts!

Non-CC breed but they were definitely challenging for Best Bitch. My own bitch won Junior (the puppy was entered in Junior but withdrew after winning Puppy), and I was surprised to see the puppy come back into the ring for the Bitch challenge.

thanks everyone - I was not intending on entering the two classes on offer - but wasnt sure of the wording regarding AV - & whether I could enter AV Puppy - or HAD to enter Open etc if my breed had classes -albeit just 2.
Our first show will not be until Septmeber - at Driffield,GULP! Yikes! but we are taking her along to have a look tomorrow at one of our club open shows.

I have a breed that has only gained CC's this year and we have no puppy classes, ever, at any open shows (except our breed club ones).  Most open shows generally have two breed classes for us - usually post graduate and open - but one open class is not unusual.

We would expect to put our puppies in the lowest breed class classes and hope to compete with other puppies for Best Puppy in Breed.  We do struggle for numbers so I'd always enter the breed class for preference.  If it's a different judge I might also enter an AV puppy class.  Depends on how old my pup is and whether he can be counted on to stay awake!!  Both of my boys were real sleepers and my oldest used to nod off in Puppy Group and needed to be slid into position :)

Good luck with your new pup xx