I have been reading all the posts regarding the above and found them very interesting. Just a bit of reassurance for all those who are new to showing like myself (very new), Iv'e been going to shows for less than 12 months now and have always found everyone very friendly and helpful, at my first show the owner of the dog that sired mine came along to have a peep at him and now we are firm friends, he also brought mines Daddy along and we competed against each other in the ring! Guess who won? His was handled to perfection I thought I was involved in a wrestling match. And I have had a few more wrestling matches since but I think we are turning the corner on that one.
I have got to confess though that when ever possilble I con my daughter into handling him, I am always a bit daunted when it comes to watching the dog, my feet, where I'm going and the gasping for breath if its twice round. So any winning in my eyes if a bonus if I've achieved all the above.
Each show I bump into someone I met previously so slowly I feel like I am becoming a regular.
An elderly chap I met at one of my first shows told me to look, listen, learn and say now't and above all always remeber I was taking the BEST DOG HOME.
Works for me. Sorry for waffling on.
She

Sounds about right to me, and good advice, except I have never been known to say nowt. I have verbal diarhoe in a big way :D

I know exactly how you feel, She!!! Like you, I feel if I have to go round for the 2nd time, I'm gonna need oxygen!!

But isn't it addictive???

Margot

When I first started showing each class started with all the entrants doing 2 laps in one direction, immediately followed by 2 laps in the other. That really sorted out the fit handlers from the rest!

""But isn't it addictive???""
What! running round in circles, think I could learn to do without.
:P :P :P

Nooo - not the running round in circles bit - the bit when you've FINISHED running round in circles:D!
Margot

jeanie-------ive never done laps one way-then the other way-????? theyre always the same way around ????????????

Like the bit when your dog goes one side of the tent pole and you go the other. Like to give entertainment to the watching exhibitors. Or because you forgot your glasses you run through the ring tape and finish in the next ring.

You've been watching me in the ring then Jackie. :D

This was back in the 70s, dizzy, but one lady exhibitor/judge from those days still gets the classes doing that. It caused great amazement when she was judging in Australia, and everyone spent the time before their classes frantically training their dogs to move on the other side!
:D

Hi Jan

That wasn't June Longmuir was it? She had us doing that at LKA a few years back with the Dalmatians, only time I have seen it done. Completely threw most handlers, think we only qualified because we were one of the few that managed it. :D

No, Patches Silverstone. It was normal ring procedure when I started!
:)