Now that I have got some meat on the bones of my home bred lad I want to start showing him again, I stopped because judges kept saying he was too lean and implying I was starving him to keep him under the 5kg(11lb) show/ breed standard weight which I certainly was not.

Now my dilemma is which classes do I enter him in, he is 3yrs old and not won anything, I get confused after puppy?

His litter sister has had some lovely critiques from the judges so I am hoping they will like him just as much.

It depends on the type of show really. Personally at a general open show I suspect you get few breed classes & at that age he should be mature enough for open. At a champ show minimum of post grad.
We started showing again after quite a big gap & even though our eldest could have gone in novice she went straight into open(considered her not good enough for champ shows). A judge may consider that a dog of 3 in novice having not won anything(first thinking)& a fair few consider novice(& similar classes) as classes for puppies/juniors.
Others will have differing opinions I am sure

I'd go for Post Grad or Open at open shows, and Post Grad, perhaps Graduate at champ shows. :-)

Not sure that many judges would ask the age but some may, however if he is good then the fact that he is in novice would make no difference the judge is (or should be) judging the dog not the record.

I would enter him in more than one class to start with so that he polishes up his ring presence because it is that that may let him down in open.

Thanks for that, will keep that in mind.

In the past we have only entered breed shows.

Can anyone tell me which classes qualify you for entry to Crufts please?  Have searched the KC but soooo confusing.

This is off the top of my head but I think, puppy, junior, yearling, post graduate, limit & open you need to be in the first three and only if you have CCs on offer. Different rules for breeds that do not have CCs and those I don't know.

Hi this is the official Crufts qualification rules and just a few of the classes which qualify you. There are also other ways ie studbook etc but you will find details onthe website.

http://www.crufts.org.uk/crufts-2012-qualification

If it has won any of the following prizes in a breed class (as defined in Kennel Club Regulations for the Definitions of Classes at Championship Shows) at a Championship Show, including Crufts, where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed between 7 January 2011 and 9 January 2012.

i.    First, Second or Third in Minor Puppy Class
ii.    First, Second or Third in Puppy Class
iii.    First, Second or Third in Junior Class
iv.    First, Second or Third in Yearling Class
v.    First, Second or Third in Post Graduate Class
vi.    First, Second or Third in Limit Class
vii.    First, Second or Third in Open Class
viii.    First, Second or Third in Veteran Class

(5)    If it has won a first prize in any breed class at Crufts 2011.  (NB This is in addition to those dogs which have qualified in classes listed under 2 a (4) above)

Many thanks