HAS ANY ONE ELSE NOTICED HOW BITCHY AND AGRESSIVE THE SHOWING WORLD IS BECOMING,MY FRIEND HAS A TOP SHOW DOG THAT HAS WON JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING HE GOES TO,HE HAS RECIEVED DEATH THREATS TO HIS DOGS AND FAMILY,AND MOST OF HIS SO CALLED FRIENDS WITH THE SAME BREED NOW IGNORE THEM DUE TO JEALOUSLY.MY FRIENDS ARE DOWN TO EARTH DECENT PEOPLE AND I AM HORRIFIED AT WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH.my BITCH WON HER CLASS IN HER FIRST OUTING AND THE OWNER OF THE RESERVE IN THE CLASS,MADE SOME NASTY REMARKS ABOUT MY DOG AS I PASSED HER YET EARLIER IN THE DAY SHE WAS AS NICE AS PIE!! I FEEL THAT SHOWING IS SOMETIMES JUST FOR THE OWNER AND NOT THE DOG AND AM SERIOULSLY GOING TO RECONSIDER MY SHOWING CAREER NOW!! I AM NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO TAKE ON THESE HORRID PEOPLE !!! ANYONE ELSE THINK THE SAME!! REGARDS

I completely agree with you Kane people can be bitchy and petty within the show world, but hey you were like it with me when I said I don't like a particular line. :) and I don't even show it was just my personal opinion.

Within the dog, world people like what they like simple as that. :)

Well, this is only our 3rd year showing, and maybe it's because we are still a small (in numbers) breed - but personally, as absolute and utter beginners, I can only say that the Aussie people have been welcoming and helpful to us! We look forward to the shows, hoping to do well, but happy to be there, making up the numbers, learning more about our chosen breed, seeing the best specimens of the breed, and cheering on the winners, dreaming that one day, we'll be up there!

As many of you will know, we had our first litter in November last year, and one of our puppies, Milo, went to a young lady who wanted to start to show. She has taken Milo out, and she too has been thrilled at the help she has received from others more experienced in the breed, at at Bournemouth said how happy she is to attend Champ shows to learn more!

We have had some successes too!

Margot

I can give you a fine example of somebody being horrible about your dog, this person in question was saying how my dog was horrible and it was lame and it was this and it was that to another person while i wasnt there and my dog was sitting in her cage, her name was in the catalogue etc but still this woman decided to go on and slate her, until the other person turned round and said, well thanks very much for that, i bred her!! which in that she swiftly shut up, but did say no you didnt and it was pointed out to her the name in the catalogue, have to say i never speak to this person and never would i dont have time for people that dont give the new exhibitor a chance to be part of there breed.
So the moral of this story is dont slate a dog off, and always help and share info if the new show person needs it.

I've heard that people only slate off a dog they think is genuine competition for theirs! If it's really an "also-ran", they don't bother as there's no point. So if someone really seems to have a downer on your dog, it's really a compliment! ;)

Unfortunately , in showing as in life in general , you get nice and nasty people :) It is up to us to be as nice as possible IMHO and show the baddies how to behave :D

Please can you not post all in capitals Kane? It makes reading the post difficult and is considered shouting on the net ;)

Hope you carry on with your successful showing :)

Melody

Think that depends on what breed you have and to a certain extent if your wins seem justified. Must say in my own breed there is very little unpleasantness, of course, you get on better with some people than others but in general the people are caring and very friendly and helpful to newcomers. Think that may be because we are moderately small in number, we care so much for the breed that we forgive the hounds their owner ;)

PS Can you locate your Caps Lock please.

Kane
I wouldnt stop because of that . If they are jealous, petty and small minded then thats their problem !!
If you stop showing then they have won - I would carry on and ignore them all !!
Lel

kane, id not let it get to you-but if it becomes ridiculous then send anything you recieve to the kennel club, -i have all my "strange" mail . also the 'threatening" mails sent to the kennel club and my solicitors, and theyre all noted, so theyre fully aware of the situation, therefore will know what its about if anything kicked off,
a lot of shar-pei exhibitors are shocking, you dont need to take my word for it, many on this board have come across it too, !!!!!! but are they really worth bothering about,???????
the ones behaving this way arew probably the sort that lay down or stamped there feet until there parents got them the sweets that they "MUST HAVE NOW" !!!!!!!
its really easy to understand-where you getting any of this before you started winning?????? did whoever was winning before get the same treatment????? forget them, theyre really not worth it,

I'm shocked - I only know two people in Sharpei's but they are the nicest people!

Shame, that.

Wendy

Hi Kane,

I used to show my boxer several years ago. I found most people to be very helpful. Ok there are the odd few that think they are better then everyone else but I just ignored it. In one ear and out the other! I am quite happy to listen to other people opinions after all we can't all like the same thing. If someone doesn't like my dog then that's fine , Its mine!!!
I do feel very sorry for your friend, no-one should be threatened, it's really sad.
I'm collecting my new puppy on the 7 th Sept and will be in the ring in no time. Wish me luck

Debbie

I tell you one thing that bugs me. People who can't say well done to the person who has just beaten them. :-( I ALWAYS say Well Done. Even if I don't think their dog deserved to win ;-) I will never be a poor loser and at the end of the day, if nothing else, it is simply manners :-)

I rarely leave the ring without congratulating the winner and if I am lucky enough to be in the line up of the 5 placed dogs I always say well done to the others and make sure I thank anyone who says it to me. If I don't get the chance when I am in the ring then you can be sure I'll find that person who won out of the ring and congratulate them.

Why not ?? Maybe because I'm a nobody my congrats don't mean much to them but hey treat people the way you would like to be treated. :-)

Same thing goes for people's dogs. There are loads of dogs in my breed that I don't think much of, but at the end of the day, don't insult the poor dog just because it didn't turn out the way you would have preferred and certainly don't mouth off about it with the potential of the owner hearing. I'd be gutted if I heard someone slagging my dog off. I'd feel it was me being insulted :-( Ded easy to fault judge :rolleyes:

Lokis mum, glad to hear you have had such a welcome in your breed. I was round the ringside at WKC yesterday - but watching Labs for the first time - not WHWT. I was almost dumbstruck by the outgoing friendlieness of everyone I met. I am really enjoyng being involved in a new breed. I found some of the WHWT people, reserved, to put it kindly. :-) However it was simalar in WHWT when I first started - wait til you start heading the bill often and see what happens then!!! I know I'm an ol cynic!!

If you can it is best to get thick skin although I guess it can be hard sometimes if you have been lucky enough to be around normal behaved people all your life.

I think maybe it becomes peoples life when it shouldn't it should be something enjoyed and ONLY in the best interest of the dogs.

My own experience so far has been very good. maybe one or two I would maybe say not my cup of tea but what I found are these are the ones who do not do the winning. The ones who do most of the winning in my breed have been excellent to me, more than welcoming and certainly a lot of help pointing me in the right direction and steering me from the wrong. You quickly learn I guess in any walk of life who to distance yourself from.

I guess when standing with leads it appears people are all the same but as someone rightly said it is really all different types of people , from different cultures, up bringings etc etc.

Good luck to your freinds I hope things settle down for them.

Pamela

I've already decided that the day I come out of the ring, muttering that "we woz robbed", the day that I drag a reluctant, unhappy dog around the ring, the day that I can't enjoy chatting to my fellow competitors, the day that I come home feeling "that was a waste of time" means that it HAS become a waste of time!:D

To us, our dogs are a very important part of our lives - and showing is a different slant on owning dogs. A show day (or weekend) takes a lot of time out of busy schedules, and is supposed to put a lot back in!

Therefore - if one no longer feels like that, what's the point of it all?? So, we carry on, enjoying the day out with our dogs, talking to like-minded people, enjoying watching other people's dogs, seeing different parts of the country, a little retail therapy that isn't Lakeside or Bluewater (Southern joke :D :D :D!) and if other people agree with the undisputed fact (in our minds) that we have the best dogs that ever were - then we have had a good day - or weekend - and it certainly ain't a waste of time!:D :D :D

Margot

Well said Margot :-)

Pam

PS I hear Argos are selling thick skin on the roll still £9.99 , it thickens while you wear it :-)

Hi...

I have never shown dogs, my pup will be the first... however... I have shown Koi Carp - there is a principle in showing, evaluating koi that would maybe transfer well.. the philosophy is that FIRST you look for what is GOOD and admire it.

The 'faults' come very much at the tail end and this is the essence of how those wonderful creatures are judged - to world class level. It is an ethos I have tried to use in my everyday life, and will for certain be using when I show - however long that show career lasts.... if you hear someone recommending that philosophy to someone that is 'sniping' at some other dog then it may just be me ;).

The KC seem to go some way along that route with the motto that you are taking the best dog home... maybe it should be written in capital letters ;)

Dave

I have owned Labs for over twenty years and shown when I felt I had a good enough dog but in all my years in Labs I have always been impressed with the friendliness of both dogs and owners only once did I encounter a completely ignorant woman who I spoke to and she turned her back on me I was quite shocked then hurt then very angry and wouldnt ever speak to her again but when you consider the sheer numbers in labradors then one ignorant woman is nothing.

There is bitching going on in every breed, there are people who are ignorant and prople who are down right rude. I particularly dislike one person in my breed because "it" is rude, obnoxious and very big headed, even when it wins!
Dawn.

thanks to all of you for replying, especially jeangenie on her comment about compliments .Maybe the lady was like that coz she knew my dog was better, i did try to shake her hand but she spun on her heels and stormed off.My aim is to enjoy a day out if i win then so be it if i dont i dont mind.i also wanted to meet other people who have my breed and get some tips etc.my bitch is spot on to the breed standard but i have been astounded by a small number of people in our breed that want to change the breed standard themselves and they want excessive wrinkle to bred in as much as possible, that as most people know will start to cause skin problems.why do people want to breed in problems?? some breeds already have terrible inflictions due to skin problems,breathing etc why breed in other problems??? also one lady i spoke to says that a speaker at a seminar had suggested that you can do a D.I.Y job and remove your dogs cherry eye!!! is that shocking or what?? take care everyone and best wishes

Hi Kane
All that matters on a show day is what the judge thinks really, and if he/she thinks you have a good quality dog you'll be placed if not you won't. But like the other posters have said don't stop doing something you enjoy doing.
As you know I have a Neo, and the shortness of my previous post, was because of the down right rudeness you showed the last time we had contact.

Good luck in your showing and hope you do aswell as your friend, I went to Leeds champ show and met some really nice and friendly breeders/exhibitors, at the Neo ring all of which were happy to welcome someone new into the breed.

Alison :)
P.s read the italian breed standard (where Neo's originate from ) and you will understand why breeder's want excessive wrinkle

Crikey. Reading all your threads is making me nervous. I'm taking both my boys to an Open Show tomorrow, we've not done very many so nerves are a-plenty and am considering Bach's Rescue Remedy by the bottle! Someone recommended brandy for the dogs but I'm thinking any kind of alcohol is not to be wasted on unappreciating dogs!

We had a horrid experience at our last fun show from a nasty lady and it's playing on my mind loads today. I don't need that kind of person putting me off when I've got dogs to concentrate on. I notice that the beagle people seem to be really friendly - we had a lovely long chat before and after the class, dare I venture that a certain type of person owns a certain type of dog? i.e. friendly, inquisitive, affectionate people own dogs like beagles because they're similar?

My other breed is dobes and I noted that these peeps just stood silently watching everyone else from the sidelines not chatting at all - but then, they might do this because they're dogs would bark at others and put people off. I know mine does!

Lady G

Lady G - which show did you have on the 20th? And how did you get on?

Wendy

Hi Wendy, it was the 'something & Shaftesbury Agricultural Open Show'. Hugo got second and Bert got fourth, bless their socks. But more than this, it was a good day and Hugo was a complete angel outside of the ring, on his best behaviour! A breakthrough!

Lady G

I wondered if it might have been (name you were looking for was Gillingham).

I was there with Savannah (whippet) - we got 2nd in Post Grad, so good day for us. Shame I hadn't seen you were going ahead of time or I'd have looked you up.

Was a very nice show (the dogs and the agricultural bit) - will have to try and get hubby to take the day off next year and come with - he'd have been a happy camper.

Wendy

Sorry Dawn 'every breed' bit of a wide statement, in every breed there will be those who you get on with and those who don't, but that surely is life, not anything to do with showing or breeds. I insist that in my breed, and no doubt others, there is the usual mix of those who you get on with and those who you don't but they are all pleased to see a good hound win well and are happy to say so.

Lady G you will be fine, and I am sure you have a find in your Beagle, now you know what he is ;). go get them girl and enjoy yourself. Treat any one who behaves in any way you dislike, the same as you would at the Supermarket, ram them with your trolley. Good luck and hope you have a good and successful day.:)

The Dobe people are probable really interested in the judging and watch and admire the dogs rather than sit and pull them to pieces.

Maybe, but there is always someone who says that hound is rubbish behind their backs!

I have never spoken to the person I referred to, so getting on with them is not an issue.
Dawn.

I have not yet shown a dog in UK although I am from there. It is shocking, for me, to hear of such play ground style behavior. I have been to a few shows and watched and talked to exhibitors and have not yet met a person like this. The poodlies may have made comments to each other, but in a nice manner, and at no point did I hear any one slag of another dog. It saddens me to hear this, but it is not half as sad as the people you beat in the class. SOD THEM! Walk with your head high and ears closed and never worry about talkers.
I live in Indonesia, and I am showing an Afterglow S Poo. All started well and I quickly made friends who would email with show news and dates. I feel that winning the group at my last show was a mistake. As the shows are advertised, with three or four weeks notice, and it is difficult for me to get the information as they are in Indonesian and tends to be "needs to know" basis. My old friends have now stopped telling me the dates and times of the events. I received an email from one of them last week, and there was no mention of the show I have just missed. People can be funny, especially when they know they are out of contention. I will be at a show next week, with my dog, competing against the breed standard and nothing else. I will let you guys know how we got on.
. K.

I would keep at it even more just to show these people !! ;)
At the end of the day its what the judge thinks - not any of us .
Every person at the show will put forward a diffrent line up when it comes to placing so why do idiots behave like this . Not everyone in the world is going to have the same opinion of your dog for gods sake .
:(
People like this are pathetic . If they have opinions they should keep them to themselves .
Just ensure you dont give up for them !!!
You should only give up when you stop enjoying it or when your dog stops enjoying it .
lel

I've heard that somebody I won't name in the import register had complained at a no. of companion shows that I'm taking my old Spanish Water Dog who is a Spanish Champion and that I shdn't. be showing her (she doesn't have Spanish). Seeing that my old girl came into this country before she was one I wd. love to know how she became a champion, it's not even possible, but people have told me on a no. of occasions about this woman.

I was even told by a judge once that they didn't place her as they'd seen her win at a no. of champ. shows. I don't mind because it's just a fun show but seeing that I can't go any further than the import register shows it's a shame that people have to say incorrect things to stop me going any further at companion shows.

Oh well that's life, but it doesn't bother me because I only go because I like to enjoy myself and have a good day, whether I win or lose.

Thanks Jacs! :) I'm going to try and enjoy this one and I'm sure I will in Bertie's class now that he's an old pro! :)

But I'm SO nervous about Hugo! His breeders have looked at how he stacks via photos and have stated he's got lovely lines so now I KNOW that it's all upto how I present him on the day & how I control him! Aaaaargh! The pressure!

Have you any experience with this recue rememdy stuff - I'm reading all sorts of conflicting info about the dosage size and how often to administer it etc. If I fed him enough vodka perhaps he'll lick his competitors and tell them he loves them instead?

Lady G

What is 'recue rememdy stuff' and what is it used for. Off topic, I know, sorry guys!

It's one of Dr Bachs flower based remedys, there's a whole host of them, all listed in a book of the same name, which details their specific uses. The Rescue Remedy is classed as a general all rounder, espescialy for nervousness, stressful times (hubby takes it when I'm driving :D ), can be given to dogs too.

If you do a search for Bach Flower Remedys (sp) you should get all the info you need.

liberty :)

Rescue Remedy? Its basically grape alcohol with some herbally stuff muddying about in it :D Personally I prefer my brandy a little purer than that ;)

Lady G, now what are you worried about, the only thing you should concern yourself about now is that you enjoy yourself and so does Hugo. It matters not one jot if you are placed or not, the only thing that matters is that Hugo and you think showing is the best way to spend your day. Sure Bertie will have a great time and may well win a place, just to show Hugo how it's done. IMO people who are in showing to win, and only to win, are going to be dissapointed if not to day, tomorrow, so are not worth worrying about, but those who are into showing for the love of the breed will always enjoy their showing.

I rest my case Keith, almost everyone was friendly until I started winning, then you find out who your friends in the breed really are. But as other have said find an invisible set of armour, chin up and dont listen to the troublemakers, but know who they are. I spent an afternoon once at a CH. club show, (a rare event as I could hardly ever go to one) in the kitchen collecting dirties and washing up to help and was happy to do so.

I was quizzed mercilessly, up to my elbows in suds and dirty cups, by some committee members on how many dogs I had, how many litters I bred a year etc and lots of personal questons that I found extremely rude because of the tone and way in which they were asked. I thought it may be a good opportunity to meet and make friends with them-how wrong can you be!! A puppy I had bred and sold went BPIS that day , so that cheered me up a bit and was one in the eye for them!! all a very long time ago now as I have not been able to show much for several years.

I live in Wales and apparently everyone there is a puppy farmer!! Though of course when I asked the same questions (very politely) back, they were met with astonishment - how did I dare speak to such illustrious people in such a way!! Sorry I am feeling rather bitter about it all and do hope that I find more camaraderie in my new breed. I have to say of course that some (mostly the top breeders rather than the also rans) have been very helpful and friendly to me nd they know who they are and I am very grateful to them.

I've never shown dogs, but I thought that maybe...one day...till I read this thread. Too scarey, I'll keep my dogs as the non-showing variety, and me off the Gin!!

liberty

I show Whippets and Italian Greyhounds.
There are a large number of Whippet exhibitors (regularly the largest entry in the hound group), so it's easy to avoid any unpleasantness, and I would say that on the whole the exhibitors are quite a fair and friendly bunch.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the Italian mob, I think in a smaller (numerically) breed the nastiness can be more concentrated, and it's well known in the show fraternity that the atmosphere around the Italian ring can be a little unpleasant!
However, I still congratulate the class winners, even if I don't always get the same courtesy when I beat them! Sometimes the ringside is silent when the CC winners do their lap of honour, if it is 'our' lot who have won!
I love showing dogs, mine and other people's, and I will not let petty people who need to get a life spoil my enjoyment of my hobby, which after all is supposed to be fun!
My advice is... get a thick skin and go out there to enjoy yourself, win or lose, you always take the best dog home!
Liz

Oh Gawd, I didn't give the impression that I'm only showing to win did I?! I'm blimin' happy if my dogs just don't embarrass me totally inside or outside the ring! :D

My only concern is that Hugo's extended family are so posh and win so many of their classes that it would be horrid to think that it was my bumbling f**k up on the day that let them all down and made Hugo the veritable black sheep of the family.

Anyways, dogs are washed, scrubbed, cleaned, de-waxed, white toothed so now I must get some beauty sleep.

Lady G

I'd say 90% of the time you don't get any trouble at shows. Why let the few idiots out there put you off. I've shown for 20 years and done quite well, although still no champion yet (not quite anyway) and I've never ever had anyone say anything nasty to me.

I have to say though that in the past there's been new comers who come and go, who haven't started at the bottom and only wanted to show at champ. shows and haven't even been to an open show and wonder why they don't get anywhere.

I'm really looking forward to showing my new puppy in a couple of weeks and at long last my mum has her Pomeranian from one of our top winning dogs and I can't wait until she's shown at the end of the year, fingers crossed if she stays looking the way she is now.

Yep you'll always get some bitching but doesn't that happen everywhere in life?

No Lady G, I know you don't care if you win, but I think you may be suprised at your beagle, and I am sure that Hugo will do you proud, and if not, what the hell. Good luck and enjoy.

Liz, of topic I know but are you from Bedfordshire?

Hi Jackie,
No, I'm in Oxfordshire.
Liz

Oh you are not who I though you may be then, unless you have moved, Know a lady in LG's called Liz who had a dog called Alfie. Shows you should not put 2 & 2 together.

I do have a dog called Alfie! The Whippet who tried to commit suicide!
But I haven't moved- I've lived near Bicester, Oxon for 20 years!
Liz

Now I remember it well :) talk about a senior moment :) put it down to over work :)

It's Ok for us to complain about 'the low lives'" but it does nothing to help the sport. There are cheat and 'bad losers' in every game. This is the nature of some people. What the losers forget is they have lost any thing. The only person 'they' should be critical of is the judge, as it is he/she that makes the decisions and you, who entered the dog and paid the same fee, are only a participant in the sport. The funny thing is that very few people would directly challenge a judge as this would lead to disciplinary procedures. Chickens or is the word bully. While they can't shoot down the judge, they look for an easy target; the new guy!
I hope that people, who are interested in showing, are not put of by what we few have written. I'm sure, if we all had the time, we could write for days about the great times and the fantastic people who go to the shows 'week in, week out'. It is natural for us to always comment on the bad and not so on the good. So to all people who are interested in showing, go along to a show, make your own friends and have a great day out. Don't forget to ingnore the stupid few who try and spoil it for the many.

I went to my first champ show at the beginning of August and met some really friendly beagle people some who I had heard of through this Forum and were most welcoming. However, when I was in the ring I tried to make conversation with my fellow competitors but they didn't want to know, maybe realising that I was new to the showing lark. The point is that people are all different, some seem to be more jealous and not as friendly as others and therefore, you can keep away from these - it's their loss. I know that I had an enjoyable day and am not put off!

Some people like to concentrate in the ring and some are nervous, people are more likely to chat at an open show, but even then some prefer to concentrate on their dog.