Hi fellow cd'ers!

I was recently at an ob show with my lab when I was approached by a lovely lady who said that I should show my Henry at a breed show.  She posted me an entry form and I have sent it off.....now for the scary part.....I have no idea what to expect as I generally just do obedience shows with him.  I have done the odd companion dog show but not a proper breed show.

Can anyone give me some tips/pointers on what I need to do?  My friend and I have both entered and we are treating it as a bit of fun and a change from obedience.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Em x

I would pop down to the nearest ringcraft club for a few lessons before the show.

You need to remeber that when moving your dog you do not want it doing heelwork, and it should be looking strqaight ahead and not up at wyou, else it will spoil it's front movement.  You want a brisk trot, so practice moving your dog at various speeds, and use the speed that gives the most even movement.

You may find that going to and from the judge you may want to go a little slower, but when shoing the side gait (the top of the triangle and when going round the ring) a little faster to give best effect.

I think that somw people still show Labradors freestanding, so just get the dog watching you with all four feet square to give a good outline.  A gently wagging tail is nice too.

Of course your dog should stand nicely for examination, to have its entirety checked and teeth looked at, but if yiou have entered the pedigree classes at Companion shows I am sure he is OK with this part.

IWould expect the classes to be quite well filled, so aim to not be first and watch the other handlers, and hwo the judge is asking them to move.  Keep your dog looking smart and alert then the judge is looking at whole class, but alow him to relax when he does each dog, bearing in mind to be able to get him on his toes should the judge glance dowwn te line.  When the last dog has been seen get your dog up and standing well, move it around in a small cirle if it isn't stood right until it is.  Make sure not to stand too close to the dog in front, so that you have room to manovere, and watch other exhibitors do not box you in oor have their dog masking yours from judges view.

Oh goodness me ha ha

Henry is obsessed with heelwork and I don't think he will be looking ahead as he has had it drilled in to him to look at me!

well I think it will be an experience to say the least.

thank you so much for all of the information ,........ i wonder whether i should withdraw now whilst the going is good!! ha ha

I would use a different collar & lead & commands

It he is doing obedience heelwork, the breed heelwork is a lot easier. Try holding a very small treat & the lead in your left hand & holding this hand in front of him with a command like walk or head It should get him to look ahead & you could practice with a friend acting as judge so that he will have someone to look at when moving

I do my show training first & then obedience because the show training is easier apart from the free standing still which is like teaching the stand stay on lead

Good luck

I will just give it a whirl and see what happens. 

Perhaps I could get a stick and a piece of meat and dangle it in front of his nose to make him go straight!! lol!

Standing - mmmmmmm now Henry is the dafest labrador ever...I know exactly what he will do.  He will turn his ears inside out, wiggle his bum and do helicopter impressions with his tail and then proceed to lick/kiss the Judge!  Not very professional really ha ha

Well, it is meant to be fun and it sounds like you will have lots of fun with Henry! Even if he doesn't behave well just laugh it off and don't take it too seriously, you can tell the people who do and it can't be much fun for them or the dog. (No offence to anyone who consistently shows at a high level and does take it very seriously-most people do it for the fun IMO)
Judges do take character into account as well..........so a few licks for the judge might not go amiss!!!!!
(from the dog not you!!LOL)
Emily

Yes we all like to enjoy our showing, but it is a good idea not to let a nice dog down by poor handling :D  With just a little effort, adn seing how it should be done Henry's chances will be much better if he is as nice as the person who se eye he caught thought.  It can also take a little while to gell as a showing team, so do not take too much notice if he doesn't place highly.

I say this as a dog I bred was shown at his first breed club show where he didn't place well, and the owners were not going to bother again.  This was in September when he was 19 months.  They tried at an all breed show the following January when he was almost two years old, and he was Reserve Best In show under one of the top allrounder judges.

At the breed club champ show in the April he was second in his class.  Then a month later at Birmingham National he won his class, the CC and Best of Breed, their fist all breed Championship show.  they continued to show from then on getting good days and not so good days, winning another CC last year and a RCC, and this year he had another RCC and won his third CC and his title on Monday at Leeeds.  He is 4 1/2 years old about the average for Champions being made up in our breed.  Most Champions are made up at 3 to 5 uyears in our breed.  The CC winning bitch at this show was also getting her crown, and she was 7. 

so you see you and the dogs do have to enjoy it, as it takes a long time, and for most never happens :D