Hello to all.
I have just found this board and after reading a few of the posts I'm pleased that there are other people out htere who suffer some of the jitters I feel at dog shows. I am a novice also, I began showing in Dec of last year when I got my first Dobe. Things are slowly improving, at first I did think that we were only there to provide the cabaret, I have had quite a few wins (some by default ie third out of 3) but who cares! I am totally addicted now and am looking forward to getting a little girl Dobe at the beginning of Dec.
Will continue to read posts and put my two penneth in occasionally.
She

Welcome to the board, and well done with your show success's :)

Good luck with your future in showing

liberty :)

Hello all!

I've got a Staffie 15 month bitch. I'd like to show her. I haven't a clue where to start. I'm on Anglesey but will travel! Any hints??

HI SARAHBEECH,
AS I SAID A AM A NOVICE,I ONLY BEGAN LAST YEAR, INITIALLY I STRUGGLED WITH MY DOBE AS I HAD CONCENTRATED ON TAKING HIM TO OBEDIENCE CLASSES THINKING THIS WOULD BE PREPARATION ENOUGH, I SOON FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. FIND YOURSELF A GOOD RINGCRAFT CLUB, THIS WAY YOU CAN WATCH OTHERS AND ALSO SOCIALISE YOUR DOG AND GET HIM USED TO BEING HANDLED BY STRANGERS.. I ALSO BOUGHT COPIES OF THE DOG PAPERS, AT FIRST THEY APPEARED TO BE IN SOME STRANGE FOREIGN LANGUAGE BUT BEAR WITH THEM AS THEY HAVE SOME VALUABLE TIPS IN THEM, ALSO DETAILS OF ALL SHOWS COMING UP. GET SOME SHOW SCHEDULES AND HAVE A READ THEY A PRETTY SELF EXPLANATORY THEN JUST GO FOR IT... MY FIRST FEW ATTEMPTS OFTEN ENDED UP WITH MYSELF AND ZAC HAVING A WRESTLING MATCH IN THE RING HIM USUALLY WINNING, BUT NOW IT ALL SEEMS TO HAVE CLICKED INTO PLACE. BE PREPARED TO LAUGH AT YOUR MISTAKES AND REMEBER EVEN IF YOU DONT WIN YOU ARE TAKING THE BEST DOG HOME. MY BEST WIN TO DATE WAS AT THE BORDER UNION CAHMP SHOW, I FELT COMPLETELY OUT OF MY DEPTH WHEN I SAW ALL THE OTHER WELL NAMED DOBERMANS BUT I GOT IN THERE AND CAME OUT WITH A RESERVE (DID I SWEAT TO ACHIEVE THIS) I JUST KEPT TELLING MYSELF THROUGHOUT THAT EVERYONE ELSE IN THAT RING HAD BEEN AT THE SAME POINT AS ME AT SOME TIME IN THEIR SHOW CAREER. SO BEST OF LUCK AND GO FOR IT,
SHE

Hi and welcome to the Forum , can you turn CAPS LOCK off please? It makes your posts very hard to read and is considered to be 'shouting' on the net :)

Melody :)

Hi Sarah
we show Gus who is a 10 month old Staffy. And we are new to the orld of showing too .
Does your breeder not show as you can get lots of advice from breeders .
I would start by taking your pup o handlingclass (Ringcraft) and get him/her used to being handled . They will show you how to walk your dog in the ring , how to stand your dog etc. It is slightly harder for an older Staffy but it can be done . I know of one person who didnt start to show until their dog was 4 years old and he has lots of wins .
Try contacting SBT Club of South Wales John Holle 01792 542606 for further info .
Hope that helps
Lel