Well, we have only been showing for a few months, but i have to say i am hooked!! friends think i am crackers, getting up at silly O clock to go to dog shows, travelling around the country!
I love that nervous excitement you get before you go into the ring, and watching the judging and more experience handlers....and where i am going wrong!! LOL
We are  starting to get more familiar with the lingo, which seems so confusing when starting out!
My neighbours must think i have lost the plot, running around the back garden!! lol.

We enjoy our day out whether we get placed or not and of course we still think he is the best one there we have also met some great people, and made a few new friends
Just wanted to share how much we are enjoying are new hobby!

Glad you are enjoying your new hobby.

I`ve only been showing a few months too and I`m another one hooked just like yourself

I know exactly what you mean about silly o`clock and friends thinking your mad and neighbours thinking you`ve lost it running round the garden lol

I love the nervous bit too, weird I know lol

Again like you  have made new friends and met lovely people and been to some lovely shows and long may it continue.

Good luck with your showing xx

ive been showing 2yrs which isnt really long. i still cant believe im doing it sometimes, its a very bizarre hobby!
i find i cannot talk about showing to friends and family they look at me in disgust. then they come to the house and see all the rosettes and say  arnt you doing well we are so pleased for you!

i sometimes use the road in front of my house, i walk the dogs in the middle up and down the lines. its not a busy road, the postman has seen me a few times goodness knows what he thinks of me!!

I've only been doing it 3 weeks and love it!!  Most people I know think I'm mad (but apparently everyone in work cheered when we qualified for Crufts ) I've made sooo many silly mistakes already, but feel a bit more confident about it all now.  AND people have been very friendly, which I am quite surprised about, there's a person who shares my surname who I've been benched next to a couple of times who even helped trim Melvin's twizzle for me!!!  I'm already dreaming of when I can add to my clan... Are you a Lab person, Dexter? 

It is a great hobby for a newbie

> Are you a Lab person, Dexter?
>
>

I have Labs but i don't show them I have a Vizsla.

I started showing small animals (guinea pigs, hamsters etc) in 1978, dogs in 1984 and cats in 1989. I often wonder what other people do with their lives -they must have so much spare time! And wouldn't life be boring? I've never known life any other way really and would not change it. Nor do I really know any people at all that aren't show people other than family and puppy/kitten buyers -and they all understand. I only show dogs and cats these days  but I still judge small pets now and then -have got an all expenses paid for trip home to Sweden this month to judge mice.

> I started showing small animals (guinea pigs, hamsters etc) in 1978, dogs in 1984 and cats in 1989. I often wonder what other people do with their lives -they must have so much spare time! And wouldn't life be boring? I've never known life any other way really and would not change it. Nor do I really know any people at all that aren't show people other than family and puppy/kitten buyers -and they all understand. I only show dogs and cats these days  but I still judge small pets now and then -have got an all expenses paid for trip home to Sweden this month to judge mice

I so envy people like yourself that have been into showing and around animals all their life, I remember seeing crufts on the TV when I was about 8 years old and said to myself I`d love to do that one day! Bit difficult growing up in a family that hates all animals and wouldn`t even have a goldfish in the house! But 30 years on here I am showing till my hearts content and yes life was pretty boring before showing lol xx

PS good luck with judging the mice hope you have a great trip x

I started in Showing with Rabbits, in 1982.

Showed my first dog in 1989, and first Elkhound (my foundation bitch) was born 1992, and because of baby didn't start showing her until 1994.

I am now into the 6th generation down from her.

We'll have to meet up some time soon H!!!

Welcome to the showing world!

I know what you mean about it being a weird hobby, and not really being able to talk to friends about it.  I'm convinced mine think I'm crazy, especially when I leave a night out early because I have to leave for a show in 6 hours time!  (And religiously remind people of the Crufts date when an engagement is announced!)  Although they dont understand it at all, I find everyone to be supportive.  Especially my long suffering non-showing boyfriend.  When my pup took BOB at Crufts last year my work brought me a bottle of wine, my boyfriends office still has the newspaper clipping on the wall- as does my vets, and my other friends havent a clue what it all means, but are quite sure my dog is fameous! 

I'm sure you're friends will support you, no matter how crazy you become, and the rest of us will welcome you with open arms!

know what u mean ive only been showing since may this year and am totally hooked having a great time

Don't show anymore, but love going out to watch my breed, and every single time, I wish I had a dog there!  It's a very addictive hobby!!

We enjoy our day out whether we get placed or not  and of course we still think he is the best one there  we have also met some great people, and made a few new friends 


That's exactly the way it should be IMO

I handled my very first - owned soley by me- dog in the early 70's ( poss late 60's ) - a Cocker spaniel called 'Happy'.
He was bought for me because the boxers were too strong and back then Mum's boxers were pretty lively (didn't go much on training my Mum!)

At his very first ch show at 6 months he won his class and BPIS and that was it ----- no going back
Up until them I remember finding dog shows boring, all that waiting around - but with my very own dog and then winning .....it took on a whole new complexion. 
With a break for Uni and then another cooling off when my son was little, it was back to my addiction...well it may be habit forming but not as bad as smoking!

Four years ago this summer I took my then 4 month old puppy to a 'Dogs Day Out' which included a fun dog show.   A went into cutest puppy and won it.  A couple of weeks later I went to a companion show and that was it - hooked!

I have since bought a foundation bitch who had her first litter 9 months ago.  Two of these puppies qualified for Crufts first time out and one even managed a reserve best puppy in show at an open show a couple of weeks ago.  Never been so stunned in my life - absolutely delighted with that. 

Through all the ups and downs I have met some wonderful people (and a few not so wonderful), made some great friends and thoroughly enjoy myself most of the time.   Life would certainly be very boring without the dogs and the shows.

Thanks for sharing everyone, you all make me feel quite normal!! LOL

Another newbie here.  We'd gone to a few fun shows in the last 3 years (only had dogs 4 years) and then last year, August bank hol, we thought we'd give an Open show a shot.  My daughter entered the Junior handling and was 3rd so qualified for Richmond!

Well it would of seemed rude not to keep going wouldn't it?!?  So we've carried on, not doing huge journeys but daughter did her first Richmond this year and as the dog we've started with isn't ever gong to be the top dog in her breed, we've just bought a new puppy who'll be in the ring in November.  Sadly we don't have room for lots of dogs and since we now have 4, it's make or break time.  Don't think we're tough enough to pass a dog on if it doesn't make the grade in the breed classes.

Daughter now starting stewarding and hopes to move into JHA judging in due course.  Not bad for a kid who was terrified of dogs.

Dexter, I just can't believe how addictive it is!  I started ringcraft for puppy socialisation and really didn't expect to actually do a real show! Fozzie Bear and I had our first show in March this year -I've made a lot of friends, spent an absolute fortune, and even feel all left out now if I have to miss one!!!  I'm up at 5am tomorrow to get to Powys, people think I'm bonkers, and maybe I am, but as long as Fozzie and I enjoy it I can't think of a better way to spend a day!