I have recently purchased a west highland white terrier and would like to show him but dont know anything about showing can anyone help?smile

You could ask at your local training club if they run "ringcraft classes". If they don't, they may know someone locally who does. This is the best possible way to get started, other than asking your pup's breeder (if they show) for advice.
:)

If you pop along to some shows then you will get a *feel* for whats involved. You can find details of shows on www.prodogs.co.uk or on K9 site .
Start taking your pup to ringcraft as soon as he is able to go out and you will recieve advice on how your pup should be stood , how to walk him and get him used to being handled by people . We were advised to let visitors handle him when they visit ( just going over his entire body ) and get people to look at his teeth so he is familiar with all this (always ensure anyone looking at his teeth has clean hands!!)
Good luck :)
Lel

do you know if there is a website to find local training clubs thankyou for your help

Sure, try here and click on your county.

thankyou for the help do you take your dog/s to shows what is it like?

You cannot take dogs to the majority of shows but you will get an idea of whether it is for you or not ( to some extent anyway) . You will see how people handle their dogs , what happens etc etc

what kind of classes would you reccomend for westies?

Every pup should be taken to puppy foundation classes whether you want to show or not - this teaches basics like sit / down/lie etc wereas ringcraft or handling classes only show you how to handle/show your dog .
Lel

we have enrolled him in a puppy training class ive heard of junior handling classes i am fourteen years old would i be able to enter him in any class(suitable for his age etc)

Hi Lel,

dont want to appear argumentitive, and agree about puppy classes for pets, but not sure of their value if you are serious about showing. I know this may be an emotive issue, because the dog will probably be a pet first and foremost, but for a novice to show handling it can be very confusing to make the switch from sitting /lying at puppy training, to standing and showing off at ringcraft. If you start off with the whole sit thing you can have a lot of trouble teachin stacking/show pose, similarly walking quietly to heel is not what is required in the ring. It can awfully confusing and difficult for pup and owner to switch from 1 to the other, and if they are attending both classes similtaneously only confusion will occur.

bye
Gwen

Gwen
you are quite right as everyone does have different views but for the novice dog owner I would still recommend puppy classes but I do agree it can be confusing fo the dog.
Personally we have taken Gus to both but I do know of people who have trouble with their dog wanting to sit in the ring etc .
:)

lel

At the 'general' puppy class I explained that the pup was destined for the showring, so when all the other pups had to "sit" when the handler stopped walking, my girl was encouraged to "show stand". Luckily I have a breed that is never 'stacked' so that wasn't a problem.
:)

I have done obedience and show training with all my Spanish and they have never ever had any problems with standing. Maybe it's because our training club trains the standing nearly straight away so maybe that's why there's no confusion!! I even did both with a Pomeranian once and he did brilliant at dogs shows and never got mixed up between the two.

I just mentioned it because I have seen quite a few newbies (with various different breeds) getting confuseed at ringcraft, having first gone to puppy/obedience classes. Perhaps the problem is they did not mention/did not know they wanted to show at the first classes? I am sure it wouldnt be a problem for an experienced handler/exhibitor, but for a novice it appeasrs very difficult to overcome the different requirements of basic traing over show craft.
bye
Gwen