Dog Show

[siemens716]

Anybody here show dogs?

[showpug]

Yes...I show pugs!!! :D

[greatdane girl]

yes i show great danes in Australia

[siemens716]

Great. Do you have a professional handler, or do you do it yourself?

How long have you been showing dogs?

My wife and I just started a few months ago, and apparently we have a great dog, because he keps winning. Frankly we knew he was beautiful, but there are so many great looking dogs in teh ring, and when he gets picked we get so excited.

[showpug]

I will never put a handler on my dogs...showing them is my passion and my hobby. When they win, it's going to be with me and only me :D I have been showing for a little over a year and I have had the time of my life ;)

[showpug]

Siemens716...do you show dogs?

[siemens716]

We have a professional handler doing all the work. We just drop him off and bring him home. He's been winning liek crazy, so no need to change anything. He's going to show in norther California this weekend in a major. He needs only the two major wins to get his championship now. He started showing in May!!!!

[showpug]

Good for you...I have the weakness or strength :confused: of never allowing my dogs out of my site...I have seen too many things go wrong with dogs staying with handlers, plus, my dogs are my companions first and pugs are really in to their family. I would hate to put them through the constant stress of being away just for the sake of a quicker finish. I love the glory of showing at nationals and taking reserve with a 7 month old pup over 80 other bi*ches if it was not me in the ring with her I would not have been so excited about how hard we worked together!!!!! Everyone has their way that works best for them...congrats on your pooches wins!

[siemens716]

Sounds like you are very successful with her. I'm still not caught up on all the lingo, and we learned about reserves just at the last show....

It is very exciting, many people do not understand until they have a dog in the ring...

It is hard to let him go and not see him for two weeks at a time. We just dropped off Whiskey today and we get him back on the 20th or 21st. But he likes the handler, and all the dogs he gets to hang out with. He has his own crate in the handler's trailer (with his name on it :) )and nice comfy bedding...

When we take him to the handler he pulls toward the kennel, so we know he loves it there. But he is also very excited to see us when we pick him up. We usually have a few scratches to prove it! lol.

[MizRight]

The first time Whiskey went off to "show camp", the week he was away felt like a year! I worried about him hourly and was constantly calling to check in on him. It's gotten easier tho, since it's become so obvious how much he loves his handler and how excited he is to show. It's only been a month since his first show, and now, he literally starts whining while we're trying to find parking at the dog shows and I get jealous because when he sees Mary, he forgets all about saying goodbye to us - he's so excited to see his show buddies (Mary usually shows seven or eight dogs per show so he has lots of friends). I do wish I could handle him myself - but I know I would make a mess of it. Maybe when I have more spare time!

[showpug]

You can totally show your own dog!!! Learn with him, there is plenty of time. If you want to show him, start now by finding a handling class in your area and go for it. Time in the ring between dog and handler is very exciting and special. They get treats and praise and gentle handling and they learn to associate the "good stuff" with whomever handles them. Don't think for one moment you can't do it...you can. There is so much to learn, but you have time and there is no rush. I warn you though, if you have an interest now, just wait until you feel the adrenaline of stepping into the ring and actually winning...there is nothing like it in the world because you know that you trained the dog and you did it with them. If it is not for you, then it;s not for you, but I bet you would love it ;)

[poeluvr]

The first time Whiskey went off to "show camp", the week he was away felt like a year! I worried about him hourly and was constantly calling to check in on him. It's gotten easier tho, since it's become so obvious how much he loves his handler and how excited he is to show. It's only been a month since his first show, and now, he literally starts whining while we're trying to find parking at the dog shows and I get jealous because when he sees Mary, he forgets all about saying goodbye to us - he's so excited to see his show buddies (Mary usually shows seven or eight dogs per show so he has lots of friends). I do wish I could handle him myself - but I know I would make a mess of it. Maybe when I have more spare time!
you have a giant snauzer too? before this week i never heard of them now i heard of 4 ppl having them

[siemens716]

you have a giant snauzer too? before this week i never heard of them now i heard of 4 ppl having them

MizRight is my wife. And we share a Giant schnauzer! :)

[showpug]

Is your giant hyper? I really wanted one, but could not convince the husband!! Then I was concerned that I don't have the energy to keep up with one ;) I still have them at the top of my list for dogs I adore. They are so noble and stoic looking...I really like them :D

[siemens716]

HYper? define hyper.

She seeks attention, yes. All the time.

[showpug]

Hyper....all over the place, always playing and running around, and needs frequent walks etc. You know, active??? :D

[siemens716]

Hyper....all over the place, always playing and running around, and needs frequent walks etc. You know, active??? :D

No. She is not hyper. She just loves being near you and loves being touched by us. She gets very excited at first but settles down quickly. Doesn't pull at all on the leash.

[showpug]

She sounds very sweet. Maybe someday I can get hubby to reconsider ;) I love dogs that want to be with their people, that is why I have pugs....my first and #1 passion :)

[MizRight]

No. She is not hyper. She just loves being near you and loves being touched by us. She gets very excited at first but settles down quickly. Doesn't pull at all on the leash.

Hehe... here's where I beg to differ. :) I think Schnapps very hyper relative to most of the dogs I've encountered (especially in comparison to our RR Whiskey). She definitely loves to be around you and is EXTREMELY affectionate. In fact, she rarely sits still unless he's petting her or touching her in some way or another. The moment physical contact ends, she's up and moving again. I'm small (5'2") and usually, I need hubby's protection to keep from being pounced on. If she doesn't get her daily 3 mile walk, she becomes very active and even a bit destructive. You can tell whether she missed her walk the previous day by the state of our yard. :p She's best when Whiskey's home to wear her out, and when she's had her walk and plenty of petting and affection and play. Then, in the evening, she slows down.

[MizRight]

You can totally show your own dog!!! Learn with him, there is plenty of time. If you want to show him, start now by finding a handling class in your area and go for it. Time in the ring between dog and handler is very exciting and special. They get treats and praise and gentle handling and they learn to associate the "good stuff" with whomever handles them. Don't think for one moment you can't do it...you can. There is so much to learn, but you have time and there is no rush. I warn you though, if you have an interest now, just wait until you feel the adrenaline of stepping into the ring and actually winning...there is nothing like it in the world because you know that you trained the dog and you did it with them. If it is not for you, then it;s not for you, but I bet you would love it ;) :) I think I might try it! Once our handler is done finishing him, I'd like to keep competing with him. Hehe, Madison Square Garden, here we come!

[Nyyti]

Could you tell me a little bit of dog shows in U.S.A? I have allso showdogs but i live in Finland and we have different rules in here.
Why you have a professional handler? I have always showed my dogs by myself. One of my dogs is Finnish Champion and Luto would be too if she had (i don't speak english wery well.. how could i explain this??) obedience test (??)
I allso groom them myself.

[moe]

I show my own dogs and handle them, I would like to think they get what they get for what they are not because of who was handling them, I love handling my dogs, and am proud to say my ***** got Best ***** in Breed at Crufts last year, great feeling I must admit.
http://www.icescapealaskanmalamutes.com/mediac/400_0/media/PROFESS.PHOTO~WILLOW~CRUFTS~WIN.jpg

This is after her win at Crufts. not a great picture I'm afraid

Mo

[MizRight]

Could you tell me a little bit of dog shows in U.S.A? I have allso showdogs but i live in Finland and we have different rules in here.
Why you have a professional handler? I have always showed my dogs by myself. One of my dogs is Finnish Champion and Luto would be too if she had (i don't speak english wery well.. how could i explain this??) obedience test (??)
I allso groom them myself.Our Ridgeback Whiskey has only been showing since the beginning of May so my experience is quite limited, but we have a terrific handler who does an amazing job with him and so we've learned quite a bit just cheering him on from ring side. I'm not sure how it works in Finland, but here in the US, we started Whiskey by sending him to "show camp" with his handler where they got to know each other and she trained him on how to act in the ring. Whiskey was away from home two or three times, for about a week each. Since show camp, he's competed in five shows (each spanning over several days of competition). We usually take him to the shows ourselves and watch from the sidelines (camcorder and digital camera in hand!), unless the show is too far to drive - in which case Whiskey goes on the road with our handler. He's already won 8 of the 15 points he needs to win his AKC Champions title. In the AKC, six of the 15 points required for the title must be from "majors," and each major must be awarded by a different judge. We're keeping our fingers crossed for this weekend and next as he's competing in a couple majors over the next two weeks! :eek:





Although I would LOVE to learn how to handle Whiskey myself, for now I'm content to watch and learn from our handler Mary. There are many positives about having a professional handler (although there are I'm sure even more positives to handling yourself if you can). I read a great discussion in a book on showing just recently. Here's an exerpt:The US has become the nation of professional handlers. Most champions these days are presented by professional handlers, and 90% of the dogs winning Best in Show every weekend have a professional paid suit on the human end of the leash... Are professional handlers bad for the sport of dog showing? The answer is a resounding yes AND no. Professional handlers in the US (and Canada, too) have elevated the playing field, making competition even steeper and the quality of presentation and grooming superior to anywhere else in the world... The best professional handlers make a career of conditioning, grooming and presenting dogs and they know their business well. Many of these professionals have been "in dogs" for their whole lives, having begun as Junior Handlers and raised by parents who also are breeders, exhibitors and/or judges. We should not underplay the expertise required of these individuals. Proper care, presentation and conditioning require 24-7 commitment and hard work as well as knowledge and education.







Dog owners interested in showing their dogs have to compete with these professionals in the ring, thus requiring owner/exhibitor to learn more about showing dogs and become as competent as possible. To finish a Champion in an AKC show, much less campaign one, costs thousands of dollars, and who can compete with owners who are paying high prices on a weekly basis to have their dog professionally exhibited. It could be disheartening to newcomers unless one is completely motivated to excel in the sport...-From "Showing Your Dog" by Juliette Cunliffe




Anyway, as I said earlier, I would love to learn how to show and might even enroll myself in a handling class when I have a bit more time, but for now, we feel very fortunate to have Mary our handler working with Whiskey and are completely satisfied with clutching our camcorders and cameras from the sidelines, waiting with baited breath for that blue ribbon! :)

[ShepherdGirl123]

I show German Shepherds!









No Handlers ever touch my beauties! :) :D

[ShepherdGirl123]

I sometimes show Cardigan Welsh Corgis or Pugs but usually GSDs! :)

[showpug]

I agree, I could never put a handler on my dogs, but I got into showing dogs for the sole purpose of being involved and accepting the challenge of handling and training my own dogs. A handler can finish almost any dog, crappy quality or not, but when an owner/handler finsishes a dog, you know the dog is a good representation of the breed. On the other hand, some people buy a dog from a reputable breeder and the trade-off is that the breeder may show the dog...in this case, the owner was never interested in showing in the first place, they were just interested in buying a good quality dog, therefor I can understand the desire to use a handler. All of my dogs will always be owner handled to the championships, but that is just me and my preference :)

[showpug]

In the AKC, six of the 15 points required for the title must be from "majors," and each major must be awarded by a different judge.


A little note on the statement above about the point system....there are 15 points that are earned that make a champion. It is not 6 points that have to come from majors....you have to have at least two 3 point majors which = 6 points....although, you can also can aquire your total points from three 5 point majors which = 15 points or two 4 point majors etc. There are so many different combinations that can make a dog a champion. Majors are wins that = 3 points or more. When it is less than 3 points, the win is considered a "minor" Major and minor wins are determined by the number of dogs in the same breed that you beat in the competition. Usually, minor wins are very easy to take and that is why some people have dogs that "minor out" where they can accumulate all their minor points, but have trouble getting their majors....on the other hand, there are dogs that win with a weekend of 3 majors and they are done :) Just depends on the competition, the dog, and luck!!

[Nyyti]

Thanks MizRight! Dog shows are not business here.. maybe that's why i don't get the idea of handlers. Well, there you have to have professional handler if you want to win? Am i right?
So many dog breeds looks so different here than America and i have just used to watch our "Finnish looking" dogs. Some breeds, i think, seems strange like english springer spaniel and german shepherd. I like more the Finnish style. I don't mean that your dogs are ugly, i just aint' used to see springer spaniel with cocker spaniel hair.. :p
Maybe our dogs looks strange to your eyes..?

[showpug]

Nyyti....It is absolutley NOT correct that you have to have a pro handler to win, that is just not true at all. Many owner handlers show their dogs to their own championships and move on to greatness like the Eukanuba Tournament of Champions, Westminster etc. Pro Handlers at times can make it easier for dogs to finish quickly, but I never let a handler lay a finger on my dogs and almost all my show friends are the same way and all our dogs get their championships and it is usually before they turn 2 years old. :)

[Nyyti]

Thank you, ShowPug, for your information! I have always thought that in america every champion has a pro handler.
Is there lot of shows/year? And is there smaller dog shows?

[showpug]

Nyyti- There are a ton of dog shows here in the states. Some are very big and some are very small, and there are many in-between. I could show my dogs every weekend and on some weekdays if I really wanted too ;) I choose to show about 2 weekends a month because I don't like to over do it and I like to keep it fun for my dogs. The dog shows here range from very laid back to very serious and we also have breed specialties which are shows that only certain breeds can show at. It is a lot of fun and there are a lot of fun shows to choose from. How is dog showing done where you are from?

[Nyyti]

Well, we have lots of shows, but maybe not as much as in states, i think now. Most of the shows are small "group-shows" and only some breeds can come. We have allso very big shows like Winner - show, where you can get Winner of a year -title.
I'm not even nearly every weekend in dog show, but it is much to me if i go 20 shows/year. I have to say, Finland is a small but long country (from head to head is over 1000 kilometers), and winter lasts almost 7 months, so i don't have an opportunity to show my dogs more..

[ShepherdGirl123]

Pro Handlers are stupid! Why would you want some stranger touching your dog?! I can do better than a stupid Pro Handler! :D :)

[showpug]

Shepherdgirl...I know what you mean, I have NEVER put a handler on one of my dogs ;)

[siemens716]

Pro Handlers are stupid! Why would you want some stranger touching your dog?! I can do better than a stupid Pro Handler! :D :)

lol. we have a Pro Handler so we can whoop your butts!

[Renee750il]

Thank you, ShowPug, for your information! I have always thought that in america every champion has a pro handler.


Guys, correct me if I'm remembering wrong, but didn't a dog (I think it was a St. Bernard) take Best In Show at Westminster a few years ago, owned and handled by a guy who was just a regular joe - an auto body guy or something unbelievable normal like that?

[siemens716]

Guys, correct me if I'm remembering wrong, but didn't a dog (I think it was a St. Bernard) take Best In Show at Westminster a few years ago, owned and handled by a guy who was just a regular joe - an auto body guy or something unbelievable normal like that?


Are you thinking of the Bloodhound in the movie best in Show?

[Renee750il]

No, this was an actual show . . . it was one of the big ones - may have been the Philly show. I think at actually pre-dated the movie. It was a fun moment to see - the guy was just so proud of his dog but you could see that at the heart of everything, the two of them were a pair of regular guys.

[showpug]

Renee...what you are talking about seems very familiar. It actually happens all the time. I feel that people that breed dogs should be educated enough to know how to train and properly present their breed to a judge. To me, it is part of the whole package. I have yet to breed a litter, but someday I will and it will be with a champion that I finished, not someone else :) Last year at our national specialty which is one of the most major competitions one can compete in with a breed my b*tch took best puppy in show and Reserve Winner's B*itch over about 80 other b*tches. She was just a pup and we smoked many pro handlers!!! :D You just have to have the heart for it and put work and effort into being the best you can. You have to become one with your dog. It was a blast :)

[Renee750il]

It's been interesting to watch Shiva. Her father was an imported show dog and she's completely different from the working dogs. She always wants to stand in the middle, be in front of the camera, 'vogues' :rolleyes: , and just wants everyone's eyes on her at all times. She's also fiercely competitive.

Her work ethic and the ojeriza, unfortunately, suffer as a result of the show line . . . She also doesn't have the overwhelming confidence that Buffy had and Kharma echoes.

But she's learning. Her herding instincts are getting sharper, and she is a good guardian and she's death on vermin, and she is getting more reserved, although she will never have the classic temperament. I think her competitive nature is goading her to learn to do the things that Kharma does without even thinking about them, and I'm working on building her self-confidence.

Shiva's given me some good insight into the psyche of the show dog - definitely a 'different breed' lol!

[showpug]

:rolleyes: Renee...I have to say that when it comes to certain breeds, such as yours perhaps, that you are completley correct with the "show dog" being a different breed. I think it is sad actually...I don't like it when the shows become soley a competition of beauty and grooming. The whole purpose of a conformation dog show is to evaluate the conformation of breeding stock, but the whole point behind "proper" conformation if so a dog can carry out it's task that it was meant to do in the first place. I think that there is a very fine line on this isssue. I show pugs, and they have no purpose other than being a good luck charms for royalty and a lap warmer for their human companions. They need to be compact enough to be picked up and sit on a lap and they need to maintain certain features that define them as pugs i.e. curly tail, heavy nose wrinkle, trace down their back etc. Pugs are indeed a "toy" and carry out their purpose well. On the other hand, when you get into working and herding and sporting breeds, they have a purpose that requires instinct and at times, athletic ability. I think it is horrible that some breeders house these breeds and only pursue conformation with them and then breed. If one truly cares about bettering and preserving a breed, then they must breed for the whole dog and protect that very instinct and nature that makes certain breeds unique and capable in carrying out a certain job/task....something the conformation ring can't prove or display. When you breed these certain breeds for conformation alone and ignore their special natural gift then you end up breeding the true spirit out of these breeds and are left soley with a pretty face, solid body, and nothing between the ears. It is sad really, and that is why I will stick to the toys!!!

[Renee750il]

In our case, some are actually purposely breeding down the temperament - and with it the unique drives - that make the Fila what it is so that it will be more easily handled. The really horrible part is that most of this is being done in the breed's native Brazil! They are very brazen, and will even breed in Bull Mastiff and Great Danes to get a more tractable - and mass marketable - dog.

We've seen the decline of so many breeds: German Shepherd, Doberman, Rottweiler, Labrador, Irish Setter, Dalmation. The Great Danes are so health-challenged now that the owners of their ancestors wouldn't recognize them as the boar hunters they loved and depended on. And I barely recognize the present-day German Shepherd as compared to the German Shepherds I knew as a kid.

I am dreading seeing what happens to the Neo now that it has been recognized by the AKC and is being shown . . .

I think you are being very honest to stick to showing toys, and a dog has no less value because it is breed-determined to be strictly a companion! I think the Pugs are charming - your very own living, breathing, snoring, mischievous Kamashishi :)

[showpug]

It is sad. I see it all over the place, the downfall of certain breeds. Pugs are climbing AKC's popularity list as we speak and you know what that means...I am so upset by the mass breeding and destruction of popular breeds. I pray that there won't be anymore movies with pugs in them because that leads to everyone wanting a pug and in tern everyone breeding their pug for money. I don't like to be a snob and I think all dogs have great value even if poorly bred, but it is so hard to see your average pug on the street, because it looks nothing like the way a pug is suppose to look. They have snouts, practically a straight tail and now people have taken it upon themselves to breed brindle pugs and sell them for top dollar when it is NOT a pug color. The general public has no idea what a pug is truly suppose to look like, because even the ones in the movies look terrible!!! I hate it, I want people to know and want the true pug, the pug that loves everyone and is truly a clown at heart. They have a soft coat and curly tails and when you look at their face from the side it should be completley flat....this is nothing like what I see out and about around here. Many pugs now day have become bossy, territorial and yappy....these are characteristics that should NEVER be acceptable in this breed, true pugs adore everyone and are never fearful or aggressive. When I would put Mabel up on the table for the judge to examine, her tail would wag out of control and she would even attempt a kiss on the lips!!!! That is the true spirit of the pug. All I can say is that it is my job to take the time at the shows to answer questions and speak with the public. I point out the good and the bad and just hope that someday, pugs won't be as popular and that we can get them back to where they need to be :)

[siemens716]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Hoooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Whiskey wins AGAIN!!!! This time a major!!

Saturday's results:

(3 Points)

1/W 29 FIREDANCE'S WHISKEY STRAIGHT UP. HP 04041110. 10-18-02
By Ch Firedance Remember Who You R - Firedance's Grande Latte.
Owner: Mary Sorosky & MizRight., Santa Barbara, CA 93103. Breeder: Mary Sorosky.
(Mary Dukes, Agent).

[siemens716]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Hoooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Whiskey wins AGAIN!!!!!

Sunday's results:

(2 Points)

1/W/BW 29 FIREDANCE'S WHISKEY STRAIGHT UP. HP 04041110. 10-18-02
By Ch Firedance Remember Who You R - Firedance's Grande Latte.
Owner: Mary Sorosky & MizRight., Santa Barbara, CA 93103. Breeder: Mary Sorosky.
(Mary Dukes, Agent).

[showpug]

Congrats....way to go Whiskey!! How many points do you need for him to finish? Are you going to special him?

[siemens716]

Congrats....way to go Whiskey!! How many points do you need for him to finish? Are you going to special him?


Thanks. We are always amazed when he wins. He needs just one more major to get his championship. He's entered in four shows next week and we hope one of them is a major, though on the Internet it looks like he might miss it (not enough dogs), then agaian we dont know enough about all this so maybe he will.

He has 13 points total and one major in there.

[Renee750il]

Sounds like Whiskey's one smooooooth pooch! :D Sounds like you picked a winner!

[MizRight]

Sounds like Whiskey's one smooooooth pooch! :D Sounds like you picked a winner!Thank you Renee! We're so proud of him! But we love him most 'cause he's such a hoot to live with. The ribbons are just an added bonus. :D Not sure if my hubby posted this one - but this is one of my favorite pics of him... relaxing at home!

[Renee750il]

LOL! Love it . . . I've got a matching pair of those myself:
http://www.chazhound.com/pictures/showphoto.php?photo=1275&cat=500&ppuser=148
http://www.chazhound.com/pictures/showphoto.php?photo=1273&cat=500&ppuser=148

[mightymitedoggear]

Pro Handlers are stupid! Why would you want some stranger touching your dog?! I can do better than a stupid Pro Handler! :D :)

I'm not advocating that you go get yourself a handler, if it were up to me, there would be no such thing, but the way dog shows are today . . . they do make sense, or at least, they are necessary. Of course, that is a self-fulfilling prophecy but it is the way its is.

First, have you noticed how MANY shows there are? I show a Yorkie. I can't tell you how many shows I've gone to where the most to be won was a single lousy point! The handlers can make the points, and they know where the points are to be had and have the time and inclination to drive long distances to get to them. Working stiffs such as myself - cant always do that.

Next, related to the above, handlers can show when (and to whom!) you can't. How many shows are Mondays and Fridays when working stiffs, such as myself, are in the office? There's a speciality this summer I really wanted to go to but I'm out of vacation time, so my dog doesn't get a chance to pick up a major! Plus, there's always the issue that judge x likes x type of dog - only the closest show judge x will be at is 400 miles away! The handler can get there but you can't!

Next, related to the time issue. There's a real advantage of having the time to devote yourself to the maintenace of a drop coated dog! My show ***** has a "break" line. Her coat is floor length and in beautiful condition, yes, but it also looks like a rat got to the bottom fringe. Why? Because I can't be changing wraps at 9 PM every night when I just got home from work. Worse yet, I can't play puppy police , making sure she isn't rubbing her wraps while I'm at work! A handler's ONLY job is to make sure that coat is in impecible condition. When I go into the ring against a dog shown my a handler, sad to say, the difference is obvious and there's not much I can do about it. Either send my dog to a handler myself, or learn to accept that there will be shows I'm going to loose because of a judge who is a stickler for grooming and conditioning - the handler will almost always win out!

Last but not least, there are the politics that we all love to moan about. Some breeds, like Pugs and Bassets are not pro-handler, others such as Pekes, Shepherds, and yes . .Yorkies are pro-handler. I had an occasion only recently where every open ***** scratched except two, mine and one other. Why? Because the "other" was being exhibited by a very famous handler and the judge was known to be political. OK, I said, I'm here and my dog is ready, what the heck . . .maybe the other dog will limp? lol. Fat chance. What killed me was that the other dog's nose was obviously not solid black as it should have been. But that didn't matter. The judge proceeded to chit chat with the handler while I stood there as the obvious outsider. The only thing she said to me beyond, "down and back" was "don't bend down, it will kill your knees. Hear that crack? See I told you so!" If her chit-chat with my competition hadn't been enough to put me ill at ease . . . guess who won? Now, I wont be showing under this judge again but God, how annoying to spend three hours grooming your dog only to come to a show and find that you have little or no chance of winning just because of the person on the other end of the leash?

I come from horse showing originally, and agility and performance events more recently. Getting used to dog showing has been a real culture shock. However, it is what it is. And since I'm throwing cliche's around here's another one: if you can't beat em, join em. If my dog wasn' t such a prissy girl and I thought she would do well under a particular handler, I would seriously consider handing her off to him/her.

[mightymitedoggear]

Take a look at this:

Handler or Owner - cross post (http://webpagetutor.com/mightymite/viewtopic.php?t=43)

[showpug]

MIGHTYMITE....Yorkies are a whole different story and I hear you!!!! I truly don't know how you, or the handlers do it with such a high maintenece breed. EEEEEK!!! :eek: I commend you though, because the yorkies in the ring look incredible to us pug people. I will stick to wash and go with my breeds. All we have to do is a bath, force dry, nail trim, wrinkle clean, whisker clip, and tail shave and off to the ring we go!!!! :D

[mightymitedoggear]

Yep. It is CONSTANT work. In fact, I'm not going to my agiltiy class tonight because Penny is up for a 4 point major this weekend under Ed Bivin (cross your fingers for us?) and she has some dandur in her coat right now from having been in oil. I want to bath her again so that I can spend tomorrow night packing for the trip down to PA!

[showpug]

MightyMite!! Good luck I will be wish'n and hope'n for you!!! :D

[Nyyti]

Congrats!! Good boy Whiskey!

And back to german shepherds, they look terrible on show rings! If you have show shepherd and "real" workig shepherd side by side, you wouldn't even know they are at same breed. Back and loin looks awful. And when i watch a video from Westminster, there was one young male who couldn't even run 'cause his back feets were so badly angulated.. sick.. eh?
I think that dog needs to look like a dog. And it have to able to do things which it is meant to do. Shepherds off from showrings and back to obedience and other wise activities! Those dogs are not couch potatoes!!

[Renee750il]

Ahhh . . . don't get me started on what's happened to the German Shepherd! About the only place you'll find old-fashioned German Shepherds anymore is from old-time breeders who haven't caved and don't show much - if any - and from farms where the farmers are just good stock-people and breed their dogs to get good working dogs, not to satisfy the show standards today. Those insanely sloped hocks are . . . insane.

[mightymitedoggear]

MIGHTYMITE....Yorkies are a whole different story and I hear you!!!! I truly don't know how you, or the handlers do it with such a high maintenece breed. EEEEEK!!! :eek: I commend you though, because the yorkies in the ring look incredible to us pug people. I will stick to wash and go with my breeds. All we have to do is a bath, force dry, nail trim, wrinkle clean, whisker clip, and tail shave and off to the ring we go!!!! :D


Thanks. We're at the point of make or break here. We're hoping and praying and very excited! I'll post on the mighty mite forum with the results, one way or the other, next week. ;)

[Nyyti]

I see a lot those "healthy" looking shepherds here in Finland 'cause i study at the canine academy, where we are training shepherds for police and army. our dogs come from Germany.. And none of them wouldn't have nothing to do in show rings! But all are good at what they need to be: protection, obedience, tracking, seeking..

[ShepherdGirl123]

lol. we have a Pro Handler so we can whoop your butts!







lol. I could beat any stupid Pro Handler!

[ShepherdGirl123]

lol. we have a Pro Handler so we can whoop your butts!




lol. I could beat a stupid Pro Handler! :D :D :D

[MizRight]

Yep. It is CONSTANT work. In fact, I'm not going to my agiltiy class tonight because Penny is up for a 4 point major this weekend under Ed Bivin (cross your fingers for us?) and she has some dandur in her coat right now from having been in oil. I want to bath her again so that I can spend tomorrow night packing for the trip down to PA! Good luck MightyMite!!! Wow, being new to the dog show world, it never occurred to me how much work it is to show a Yorkie. I love Yorkies, never thought about how much work it must take to keep them so beautiful! Let us know how things work out with Penny!

[MizRight]

LOL! Love it . . . I've got a matching pair of those myself:
http://www.chazhound.com/pictures/showphoto.php?photo=1275&cat=500&ppuser=148
http://www.chazhound.com/pictures/showphoto.php?photo=1273&cat=500&ppuser=148 Hehehe! Renee, I love these!!!

[SouthernPit]

My husband is very into showing a few of our dogs. All of our dogs have been to "training school" and my husband works with them alot. We do have a few dogs that we do not show due to an over bite.......

[ShepherdGirl123]

No Pros EVER Touch my dogs I Show German Shepherds,Corgis, and Pugs! :D :) :D :)

[RD]

Nope, just a workin' dog here. See?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v372/Rips_Girl/77230002.jpg

Really, though, I considered showing Dakota, he has ideal structure, his rear is a bit on the large side but it's not severe, and it doesn't hinder his movement in any way. But, considering I won't be breeding him (his temperament is not absolutely correct for the breed - was a bit disappointing, because I had such high hopes for him.) I see no reason to spend my time/money on that.. He hates stacking, on top of it, so I'm comfortable with my decision not to put him in shows. I have a feeling he'll like agility much better.

[ShepherdGirl123]

Showing Rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D

[Sprout]

I show Sprout :) Hes a natural!
No, I groom, train, and show him myself :) Hes great

[mightymitedoggear]

You know there are a number of great topics running through this thread. Maybe we could ask the admin to split it up a bit? ;)

[Nyyti]

Shownews!

Me and Samba were in dog show last saturday, and Samba got her 2nd CC and she was allso Best Of Sex! I'm so pround of my liitle girl!!

http://personal.inet.fi/koti/vigoroso/kevat2005/samba%20seisoo.jpg

Picture is not from the show, but this was only photo i could found..

[showpug]

Shownews!

Me and Samba were in dog show last saturday, and Samba got her 2nd CC and she was allso Best Of Sex! I'm so pround of my liitle girl!!

http://personal.inet.fi/koti/vigoroso/kevat2005/samba%20seisoo.jpg

Picture is not from the show, but this was only photo i could found..

Awesome...way to go!!! Congrats!! You must be so proud. She is very beautiful. :)

[ShepherdGirl123]

This is one of My Show GSDs:D
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a85/Aimpup/Jim20vom20Fiemereck.jpg

[GSDMom]

we show our GSD's have now for 6 years, a very addicting sport!
Our First Show Girl, Minka has given us 6 Canadaian Champions
she was # 5 Futurity Bitch in Canada 2003

this is Dion our dark sable male at a specialty in Ottawa Ontario, gaiting his way to Winner's Male 2005/July for a 5 point major

we have a litter due end of November outa him and are very excited about this new litter coming

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c224/sunshinebonnie/camera099.jpg

[skyhigh]

Im going to start with Maddy(GSD pup). ATM im gonna her handled tho. When i have the time to learn ill show her. The nearest show handling trianing sessions are ages away...

[tessa_s212]

Samba is gorgeous!:D If only my cockers could look like that.:p

[Viz]

My first dog show is probably in Katowice/Poland.
I was eralier in many dog shows of course, but in Katowice I will be with my dog, longahaired dachshund ;)
It will our debut ;)
I can do some photos if You want ;)