Hi Gang!

Some of you may know that I have my first show coming up soon, 5th August Over the past few months I have had some sound advice from you for which I am very grateful. As I am now feeling apprehensive & a little excited I thought I would try and lighten up my worries by asking you all how you felt at your very first show, what happened, how you got on, how your dog behaved and how much preparation had you done beforehand i.e. ringcraft classes, practising etc. That's if some of you can remember that far back :D

For those of you who don't know me I have 2 Weimaraners and it will be my weim dog who I will be showing.

Look forward to hearing from you.
Claire.
x

When I first started showing, it was handling my parents GBGV bitch 'cause I was desparate to start showing something so they let me show her while my dad showed their dog. Her first show was the Hound Show last year and I was SOOOOOO nervous I felt sick, but when we went in the ring my nerves settled. Maisie performed beautifully although unplaced (there were a lot of puppies in the class as it was dogs & bitches together). We went to ringcraft classes before hand (and still do) which helped a lot. Now I have my own dog, an Australian Shepherd, who's first show is in September so I am starting to feel all aprehensive again.

Good luck at your first show & enjoy it

Hi Claire
My first show was an exemption show just 2 weeks before my GSP's first champ show. I was soooo excited and overdressed for the occasion!!!! LOL Well I didn't have a show clip or a safety pin even so didn't have anything to clip my number on with. Do you know how much stress this can put you under!!! LOL !!
I lined up with the other puppies and my boy behaved immpeccably. When it was my turn with the judge she looked a bit puzzled. She asked me what colour they call my dog ( He is a solid liver GSP ). I said liver to which she replied you don't see them in this colour do you? I was the puzzled one now but said his dad was solid and his mum liver and white. She looked even more puzzled then. Well he moved like a dream and I was really proud but I didn't make ther shortlist. I came out of the ring and suddenly had several people come over to me saying how well he went and that he should have been in the line up. I wasn't worried until I was telling a lady my conversation with the judge. She suddenly said she thought you were showing a weimaraner!!!!!
It all made sence then!!!LOL!!!!!!
Not an auspicious start to his showing career but I am still hooked and still get the odd butterfly in my stomach everytime I enter the ring.
What show is your first one perhaps there will be other posters there that could cheer you on.

Well you've all given me a good laugh. Thank You! My first show is a local open show, I then have another 2 open shows before SKC at the end of August.

I think it's good to hear that you still get butterflys even having showing for years, but if you get butterflys I must have a tropical forrest full in my tummy

Speak to you all soon.
Claire.
x

I show cocker spaniels. My first dog show was a exemption show and I didn't know how to stand my dog. She was my first dog and I didn't buy her for show. She isn't suitable for showing but I came home with a first for the dog the judge most like to take home. But I was very nervous.

I don't show my dogs, I was sat beside the ring at the Flatcoated Retriever Society's Championship show when a "Friend" stuffed a lead in my hand and said, "I'm busy, take Molly in for me!" That was my first!

Don't loose sight of the fact that your doing it for fun, so nothing matters except having fun!

Have a lovely time, John

Been showing now for 7 years and I'm still scared when waiting to go into the ring, but it goes when you get into the ring and all your concentration is on your exhibit. And when you come out of the ring, it does not matter if you have been placed or not, if your dog showed well you feel on top of the world and at each show you and your charge become closer. Don't worry too much just enjoy.

First Time at a dog show I'll tell you quite plain
I'll never,no never go near one again
We arrived at the ringside to find we were first
In the puppy class(this part is the worst)
We marched in together as fast as were able
Arrived at the judge who said(up on the table)
This really suprised me as my skirt was quite tight
and I just couldnt make it try as I might
The Judge looked quite worried he said listen here
put your dog on the table,not you my dear
By now I was trembling I felt such a fool
But I said to myself,play it cool lay it cool
How old said the Judge I heard it quite clear

Well really ! I said Thirty next year
The steward poor fellow threw a kind of a fit
he spluttered he coughed and his eyes ran a bit
Id have that cough seen to I said to him when
he'd finally stopped,then he started again

Once round the ringdear as fast as you can
So i did I just ran and ran
But when I arrived (Out of breath I admit)
The Judge said With your dog dear I felt such a twit
We came back to the judge who said with a frown
Stand your dog please I said Sir hes not lying down
What a Job I had getting that stand in the car!

Writer unknown

Last verse should read
you can take first place stand he said and I said ta
what a job I had getting that stand in the car!

Thats brilliant Mattie:D Can I cross post this? Gillian

yes please do I found it in my collection of poems theres another called training which is quite funny I'll post that if I find it

Love It Glenys!

Best wishes, John

Good God, I can't remember my first show it was 20 years ago. I still get nervous now though, but it's a bug once caught that you can't get rid of.

Good luck and I hope that you enjoy showing as much as I do. As long as you can take the good and the bad results and still keep smiling you've got no problems!!

I still go to ringcraft once a week with my dogs, especially my youngsters, but my 9 year old still comes and loves it.