Hi All – We have got a new show cocker spaniel male puppy. And I am really excited as he is growing bigger. He is 4 months now, and would like to research more as I am really interested to participate him in dog shows. But as being a new owner, I have no clue as were to start from. How to train him and what all goes into preparing him for any such competitions and also if he can participate in such shows. It's a new dog world to me and any information would be very useful. So thank you, in advance.

The breeder of your puppy will be able to help you best, they can show you how to prepare him (if they're reasonably local) and they would know the best ringcraft training classes to attend. If your breeder is too far away they can still help with advice and will hopefully be able to recommend or put you in touch with local people who can help.

Start now though socialising, as you do with all new puppies anyway, a show dog needs to have a superb temperament and be pretty much bombproof. As for everything else I would normally be practising setting him up, into a show stance and standing on a table and grooming but you need actual help in person to do this at first to show you what to do.

Have fun, it's a great hobby and you'll make lots of new friends along the way.

Your puppy's breeder is the best person to help you. I'm assuming he's Kennel Club registered? What colour is he - I love the show-type cocker spaniel. Get him used to being handled all over - his feet, and his tail, and very gently lift his lips to look at his teeth (although at the moment he'll be teething and you don't want to hurt him and put him off having his mouth looked at). Also teach him to stand still with all four feet on the ground - just getting him to wait for a second or two, standing still, before you put his food down for him, is a good way to start!

It is so hard as since Covid, all the shows(assuming you mean KC organised shows) have been cancelled at least until the end of this year. Otherwise I would say go along to one & see what happens.

Most ringcraft training has also stopped, but there are some outdoor classes. Worth checking out in your area?

round here in Birmingham there are now some standard puppy socialising classes starting up again - some outdoors and weather dependant but at least better then nothing and will give your puppy a grounding in behaving sensibly around other people and dogs.  ok its not ring craft but it is the first building block he will need.  Your best bet is to ask on your local facebook pages who is doing puppy classes

As already advised here.  We always took our hopefully to a local Obedience class, as there were no reasonably close Ringcraft classes only.   The lady running the Ob class let us stack the puppy, and go over them, as would happen in a show.   The surroundings alone helped prepare them for shows.   Unfortunately shows have been cancelled or I'd have suggested you go to a few without your pup, to sit ringside (his breed) and watch.   Alternatively you could use show photos to get an idea about stacking, for now.   I'd speak to his breeder too to get her opinion on how he's developing (re showing) as showing can be expensive and although you may feel he's headed in the right direction, fact is there's no point getting into showing unless you have a top quality animal.

Your breeder should also be able to help with the grooming and coat prep, it's quite intricate for cockers, with handstripping/carding the coat, they mustn't be clipped.

The Cocker Spaniel Club has a booklet you can buy (http://www.thecockerspanielclub.co.uk/merchandise.htm) “The Trimming and Presentation of a Cocker Spaniel”.