Well its now Tuesday and pups got his first show on Saturday!! No problem!!!! only he has only had one ring craft lesson at about 14 weeks old and I've promised my daughter she can show him! Oh boy what have I let myself in for LOL.
Off to ring craft tonight...not sure its a good idea...if things go badly I'm gonna be even more nervous about the weekend.
Must be nuts....a 6 month old pup with next to no training apart from in the garden and a 10 year old girl...wish us luck...can't change my mind...Kimmi's been waiting for this since before the pup was even born.
Archer

You will not be the only one!  Andy's new pup has been to one Ringcraft at about 4 1/2 months, but did go to Evesham show where she was absolutely oveewhelmed at first, but by the time she gotin the ring she put on a reasonable performance, especially in the stakes at the end of the day.

I would advise you get there as early as you can, say two hours before judging so that he can gradually aclimatize, as I think we are first in the ring?  Have you entered any stakes?  I find these very good for settling them, as they take longer than the breed classes, and if you mnake sure you are in the last half of the class the dogf is settled and relaxed (if not bored senseless :D ) byt the time he is judged so wojn't mind the last bit.

LOL Nikki, thought I was the only one who trained their pups in the ring, and if you are going to it may as well be a breed group champ show ;)

Thanks you two.Have planned on going early...we're in at 10 apparently so going to leave here at about 7.Its a 1 1/2 hour journey so we should be there for about 8:30 which will give him chance to get acclimatised I hope. Hope to have time to give him a walk round and and get him to meet some people.
As for training in the ring Jackie....we're gonna do it in style...hope you all enjoy the entertainment LOL
Nikki. 

Brainless
no ,not entered any stakes classes...never done a stakes class at a champ show in my life....maybe its time to start!! When I filled out the entries for Houndshow I did think about it but then thought I'd like to see how he did in breed first.Hes very immature and still very much a baby so I'm glad I didn't. I think hes going to be a slow maturer like 'uncle Asa'..who didn't beat a single dog till he was 18 months old.Hes not as backward as Asa was but I can see a lot of Asa in him so we'll wait and see.Might enter a stakes class at Driffield or mid co's...we'll see.Just be glad to get an 'uneventful' day under our belts on saturday.
Nikki

Stakes classes can be fun, and it gets the dog used to other breeds and a posh ring, well sometimes its posh. :)

Think I'll have to give it a go...it'll be the only way we get in the 'posh' ring as you put it !!..Puppy stakes here we come.
Nikki

I love these4 variety classes, somehow you can relax more as it isn't your dog being judged against your own breed, and you don't feel that everyone is looking at your pup too closely, it is apples and oranges.  It also gives you the opportunity of seeing how people inother breeds show their dogs, and how different or dimilar the development and movement of other breds pups is which is fascinating and instructive.

Oh just spoke to Andy and you won't be alone with a brand new dog pup, as it will be the first show for the dog pup he bred with novice owners, so they'll probably be more nervous than you :D

Don't worry Archer - my present puppy is living proof that training doesn't always work!  He's coming up to 6 months, has been going to Ringcraft since 10 weeks - but get him away from his familiar settings, and he completely forgets that he can stand or gait properly!  We're entered for shows later this month - and I'm dreading it!! 
  Hilda

Well we've been...and wished I hadn't!! Oh boy what a little s###.
He barked at everyone and everything,refused to be gone over and refused to show his teeth.He backed off the judge since he was obsessed by the bait and couldn't focus on the bait with the judge 'in the way'.
So we're going to do some serious work over the next few days and get some people to 'go over 'him.
Well at least I know what we need to work on!!
Archer

He'll do brilliantly and so will your daughter :)

Puppies and children don't you just love 'em? ;)

Karen

If its any consolation mine have been going to ringcraft since 13 weeks until 7 months and my dogs are shown weekly at either open or champ shows and they still have the ability to show me up entirely when they are being gone over!  If he is only a puppy judges make a hell of a lot of allowances.  My youngest girlie bounced around the ring at gallop pace and still beat 52 other pups to get best puppy bitch so dont worry.

Personally I like to see a young puppy being just that -if they are standing like cardboard cut outs at 6 months then they're very likely to be bored with the whole showing 'game ' by 1 year. When I judge I always make huge allowances for youngsters especially in the minor puppy classes. Some breeds too take ages to grow up mentally and are still bouncing around the ring at 18 months !. the best show dogs often are the ones that are a litle fizzy when young because they are so interested in everything going on around them. Good luck with your babes !

Yvonne

Thanks everyone....I'm always up for a laugh so will be happy to provide the days entertainment.Should start the day off right!
I'm not too worried about him standing 'still' since hes always keen and fidgets and wiggles his tail when being baited but I will work on getting him to allow people to go over him and check his teeth.Will let you know how we get on.
Archer

Well keep at it Archer, as you know I am still working hard on Solomon to get him to have his teeth looked at and to stand still whilst being gone over and he is only 3. :D

Teeth are not a real problem but she is impatient to get it over with, but standing still, you must be joking and mine is ovber 4 and a half, her daughter is better!!!

Ummmmm....Elkhounds....who'd have em!!
Nikki

Well,we're back.Had a nice day.Kimmi showed the pup and my limit dog and had two seconds.I showed my 2 yr old in P.Grad and got res.so shes been laughing at me all the way home LOL.Loads of people complimented me on her handling and as my boys breeder said I will soon be redundant!! Just a taxi driver.
Pup was very green and showed like the 6 month old pup he is but I'm very pleased with him...and so was his breeder which is always nice.Got a telling off about his weight.....lives up to his nick name...Fat man Frankie!Told I must cut down on his food...wished she'd explain that to Frankie!!
Only complaint was the heat.....boy was it toooooooo hot!
Archer

See told you it would go well....puppies and children don't you just love 'em? ;)

Karen

Thougth she did very well and told her so :D  She seemed chuffed to bits :D

Thanks both of you. She was as pleased as punch and I'm hoping it has restored a bit of her confidence.Just got to work on Kas now and then I can retire gracefully and let her do ALL the hard work LOL.
Archer
P.S Have to say Barbara...you looked great...congrats on your incredible weight loss!!!

Just as well there is less of me with the ehat we had.  Am sporting a very strange colour on my arms and shoulders that are a nice shade of lobster with a big white patch on left arm where I had the armband with ring number!!! :D

thats lovely , bet u get very proud when ur dogs do well
bev