This peice was written by a friend of mine, Sue Benyon, and published in the Newfoundland breeders gazette.. Sue holds original copywright, but has very kindly given me permission to use this... Sue shows and breed Newfoundlands.. the only changes I have made to her work is changing the breed (and removing grooming tips)
Many thanks for this Sue..
HAVING FUN WITH YOUR DOG – SHOWING part one
Dog showing has been around for a long time; it generates millions of pounds in entry fees, petrol, clothing and other products. Yet dog showing is largely a self taught skill. It is one of the few places where rank amateurs must compete against seasoned professionals and the skill is that imperceptible something that enables a good handler to make the most of a dog. A lot is made of face judging and tit for tat placings and I do not intend to enter the debate. We put a lot of effort into presenting our dogs to the best of our ability and if we are doing our best we are working our dogs in the show ring the same way as those who practice water and draught work. It is part of developing the bond between dog and handler as well as a good day out. Winning isn’t everything it is just the icing on the cake. However, disheartened by what sometimes seems a mysterious club, with a secret path to success, new exhibitors who cannot find the help they need to get started, instead give up.
So to unravel some of the mysteries that don’t appear to be in most general books this will be a look at various aspects of STARTING to show that can seem puzzling. How to find a show, fill in the forms, which class to enter, where to stand, what the judge expects, how to move, and when to leave…….
The starting point I was told was to go to ringcraft. OK where is the ringcraft class? Can I just turn up, what happens? So go back a step. The national dog papers are Dog World and our Dogs. W H Smiths have them both and they come out on a Thursday or Friday by the time the shop gets them on the shelf. They are newspapers not magazines so look around, Farmers Weekly, Motorcycle News and the like. They are full of dog news but in the back few pages you will find the list of shows due to be held over the next couple of weeks plus adverts for other upcoming shows. Look for a venue near you, often a sports centre and go along. Anyone can go in and watch. Around the hall will be schedules for upcoming shows, like the one you are at they are hosted by canine societies who also run ringcraft classes. These are open to all but if you want to join the society all you have to do is pay the membership, no proposers or seconders like a breed club. Usually once a month and often in a local church hall they have their ringcraft/match, anyone can turn up and there will be practice first when those who want to can have a go. Someone will explain what to do, how to stand, how to move and you and your dog will enjoy meeting all the other dogs and learn valuable skills along the way. Unlike other events under age puppies (less than 6 months) are very welcome once their injections are finished and if there is a match meeting with an invited judge the babies get their turn too. No one is criticising some will be novice handlers and some more experienced with novice dogs. Pay close attention to the junior handlers who are often a joy to watch.
So now you know where to start and if you have fun and want to enter a show look down at you hand. You picked up a schedule to find the ringcraft and in the middle of it is an entry form. This looks scary but don’t worry you’ll do far more terrifying things before you have finished. I am talking to the novice so will ignore those of you who have champions! The form confirms that the show is held under KC rules be aware that in September of this year a North West society is staging the first show NOT held under the auspices of the Kennel Club. The outcome is awaited with interest. A Novice aiming eventually for Crufts should stick to KC licensed shows and the licence should be displayed at the show. Even judges have fallen foul and been fined for judging at a show where the Secretary forgot to apply for the licence. Also a dog may be disqualified from ANY award if proved to have been exhibited at an unrecognised show F(1)30a1
It is not a bad idea if you have access to a copier to make yourself a blank since at some point you will make a real mess of an entry and have to do it again. You should use a separate form for separate owners but different breeds can go on the same form. This is because ALL the owners should sign the form. A recent innovation is internet entry when of course the form is not signed at all although the person submitting the form should be doing so with the permission of all the owners. I still find it easier to write out the form before tackling the internet.
WRITE AS CLEARLY AS YOU CAN a printer will have several hundred forms to decipher and bad writing can lead to some hilarious mistakes. Start at Registered name of the dog in the body of the form. Get out your Kennel Club registration. When you are an old hand you will know the details by heart but to start, have them in front of you. It is an automatic disqualification if having won it is noticed that the dog is entered in details other than those recorded at the KC and this includes date of birth KC Rule F(1)30a3. NAF is name applied for and TAF is transfer applied for. These mean the forms have gone to the Kennel Club but the registration has not yet been returned. Should this be the case enter the dog’s name and write NAF or TAF or both after it. The ATC No is for foreign-bred dogs that require KC permission to enter and is probably of no consequence to the novice. The breed is self-explanatory but it is rare to find a box big enough to fit Newfoundland in. Just do your best. You should know whether you have a dog or bitch. There is nothing to stop you showing a neutered dog providing you have applied for Kennel Club permission to show although it is still easier to show a neutered bitch than a dog because the judge should check all dogs and at present all standards require males to be entire. Some judges will put you last, some will not penalise you at all and some I must admit will not notice!! However if showing a neutered male it is a good idea to carry your permission to show on your person. Getting permission these days takes less than a week and the form to do so can be copied from the KC internet site. Date of birth should be easy! Then the breeder’s name, the dog’s DAD then MUM. If one of them has been made up to a champion since your registration it is fine to use their current title. Now comes the tricky bit, which class? Firstly puppies under six calendar months are not eligible and more important are not allowed within the precincts of a licensed show.(Recent rule changes allow puppies from 4 months not for competition if the committee approves) Look at your schedule and see if there are any classes for Newfoundlands. If there are you MUST enter the breed class unless you have a puppy and there are no breed puppy classes when you can enter the AV puppy instead.F(1)9J1. The top of the form says this show is not on the group system but be aware that in group shows only the best of each breed plus the best Any Variety Not Separately Classified (in our case AVNSC working) is eligible for best of group. F(1)27b so in this case don’t go for the variety classes judged just before Best in Show, instead of AVNSC working. You can enter them as well as, to get the opinion of the best in show judge as well as the breed judge.
The classes are defined in the schedule so take care that you NEVER enter a class for which you are over age or over qualified which means keeping records. There is here a copy of my blank record sheet. Devise you own to suit yourself. It also helps to keep your points for the club trophies, which will make our trophy steward very happy.
Can you enter a higher class? Yes, of course you can. However, puppies are babies and will struggle for place against older dogs. Should you be entering a Championship show the only qualifiers for Crufts are places 1 to 3 in Minor puppy, puppy, junior, post graduate, limit or open. As the bands stand for this year 1st in limit or 1 to 3 in open give you a stud book number and a lifetime qualification for Crufts. So you have to consider which class to enter. I will discuss the etiquette of Championship shows in a later article so now consider open shows. If you want to move up say to the open class decide by looking at the dogs in your class and then look at the maturity of dogs in higher classes and when you won’t look out of place it is time to have a go. Not all the dogs in the higher classes are there because they CANNOT enter the lower classes but because they chose not to. However bear in mind that puppies and to an extent juniors are forgiven some waywardness as babies. In the open class you and your dog are expected to know what you are doing. Can you enter more than one class under the same judge? Again, yes, but in second or later classes you are a seen dog and will be stood to one side and probably only asked to move up and down the mat which isn’t a lot of practice for either you or your dog. Try to avoid going through all the classes from puppy to open. Try instead one breed class and one or two variety classes under the best in show judge. Should you get best puppy in breed you can withdraw from the variety classes to remain unbeaten for best puppy in group/show F(1)27e F(1)26d. YOU CANNOT WITHDRAW FROM A BREED CLASS unless you do not intend to take any further part in the show. (i.e. if your dog is lame or unwell)F(1)20 Now you have chosen your class put the number in the end column. It is not a bad idea to write puppy or PG or open next to the class number in case you have made a mistake or the number cannot be read. Looking at the breed name, the declared age and what you have written against the number should help the show manager or printer sort out which class you meant to enter. Don’t worry we’ve all done it!
To quickly finish the entry form, READ the declaration and sign and date it. Fill in your name and address and confirm if they should be printed or not and finally fill in the top of the form with no of entries etc., order a catalogue if you want one and make out your cheque to the SOCIETY not the secretary. Make sure you post the entry before the closing date as late entries can be refused. In practice, some societies are lenient about closing dates. There are instances where you arrive at a show and they have no record of your entries and unless you can prove they were sent and in time you may find you have to go home. It is a common practice to send a s.a.e. to championship shows due to the distance involved. Open show being local it seems overkill. When you get to a show always check in plenty of time that you are in the catalogue and in the correct class. Borrow a catalogue if you didn’t order one. Any problems should be referred to the show secretary and if your entry was correct on the entry form and therefore a printer’s error there should not be a problem. I’ll discuss what to do in more detail next time because if, dear reader you are not losing the plot, I am!!
Any specific questions can be sent to the editor and if we don’t know the answers we will find out for you. The references in the text starting F(1) are referring to Kennel Club specific show regulations printed in the Kennel Club Year book and if you want to see a copy EVERY show secretary will have one available for reference at a show.
Finally The true winners are the ones who go home from the show without a rosette but with a true canine friend Enjoy your walk in the park or a swim in the river, look at your dog sitting at your feet (or for the brave on your knee) and imagine what life could be without the best dog in the world. The winners cannot imagine deserting such a friend because it has cow hocks, light eyes or its bite isn’t great or it doesn’t move with a level back. The winners know the true worth of a dog is not the ribbons it collects but the love it gives and elicits from you. Your dog knows its job is to love you and be part of your family don’t let it down.
Starting to Show - Part Two
OK! Having found a show and negotiated the entry tomorrow is the big day, your first Open Show. Is everything ready? Is your dog clean? Every exhibitor has their own idea of when and how to prepare a dog so you will have to try various programmes and see what works for you. We do own a working breed after all. I have never found my dogs coats to suffer from getting wet either swimming or in rain
Before it became automatic I used to keep a list in the grooming box of must have’s for showing and I checked it before leaving the house.
Schedule with directions and map if needed.
Any entry tickets/car park passes/removal orders issued
Dog – I know one Papillion exhibitor who took the bitches and forgot the dog!
Collar & lead – proper set with tags and show set with spare in case of breakage
POO Bags – have some everywhere, car, pockets and bag
Grooming bag – essentials for the day only I am not a pack horse
Water bowl & Water – spray bottle in hot weather
Blanket or vet bed – my dogs are taught to settle on their bit of blanket anywhere
Bum bag – I am often alone so need to keep car keys and credit card close – I like to get home!
Dog treats (food if the journey is long or the dog is young)
Showing clothes with ring clip – spare fastened to show bag
Spare pair of trousers – A dog peed down my leg at Crufts before I went in the ring
Waterproofs –We are a working breed and we can stay out in the rain in summer.
Umberalla – to keep the rain or the sun off the dog.
Food and drink for me – It is thirsty work!
Sense of humour – it is after all FUN!
You can add your own ideas to the list but especially to start with write it down and check it. I have forgotten my show jacket and pants. They were in a suit hanger and I left them hung on the bottom of the stairs. I am not alone in this confession.
It is best to sort it all out the night before so that you can have a relaxed start. Give yourself plenty of time but DO read the schedule. If you entered in AVNSC and it says a not before time it does mean it. Other than that the schedule order should be followed but usually the show management reserve the right to change the order. This is not arbitrary but if you were 7th breed in the ring and your ring is slow you can be changed to a ring that has finished. After all they did not know when they sent out the schedules what the entry would be.
The Show at last! Having found your way and parked let the dog out to relieve itself, then if it is an open show it can be a good idea to pop him back in the car and go and collect your catalogue (make sure you are in it). If you are not speak to the show secretary who will sort you out. It is the Secretary who does this following the Kennel Club rules so don’t bother the ring steward. If you got a proof of posting when you sent the entry this could mean the difference between showing today and going home. Check where your ring is and where the judging is up to. You can also check the lie of the land and look for any hazards. Narrow passages, cages in the way, lack of space near the ring. Don’t leave your baby too long they get hot very quickly. When you take your dog into the show use the same sort of collar and lead you would use to go to the vet. Keep the dog close – scything down the opposition with an exuberant Labrador will certainly get you noticed! Always be aware of what is going on around you. Some dogs of any breed can be having an off day and if puppies are frightened they take a long time to forget. Adolescent males are quick as lightening to leap on the back of a likely female who will be just as quick to snap her disapproval.
Having found a spot near the ring take your time to watch a couple of classes. You will then see how the ring has been set out and what the judges routine is. Is he moving the dogs in a circle at the beginning of the class? Is he then having each dog stood so he can go over it? Then moving them? How? A triangle or up and down twice? These are the most common patterns but there are others. The trick is to let the judge see the dog moving away and towards and allow him to assess the side movement. Try to move directly towards the judge. The trick here is to take a deep breath, hope your dog will behave and look at the judge as you head towards him. This is a guaranteed way to keep straight! The handler should never get between the judge and the dog so you may need to change sides. With a young dog don’t bother. If he is not used to it he will just trip you up
Now it is your turn. The steward will call the class. You should have changed leads by this time and given the dog a final brush. If there are several of you try to be second. It will give you time to settle yourself. The only exception is a variety class where most judges will ask for table dogs first. A Labrador is not normally assessed on a table. It gives the exhibitors hernias. Check your ring number in the catalogue, walk up to the steward and tell him your number. If you mind goes blank, ask to look at his catalogue rather than yelling out your name and the dog’s name. The judge is not supposed to know until after the class. Take your ring number, clip on so the steward can see it and line up on the mat.
Stand your dog, and try to relax. The dog will be calm but you won’t be. The judge will be writing up the last class so keep an eye on him so that you are ready when he is. If your dog is messing about turn him in a circle and try again, don’t start fighting to make him stand as he will think this is a great game. Watch the first dog move, the judge should leave you room for you to stack your dog behind him whilst he finishes the other. Take this opportunity as it gives you a few extra seconds to get a good stand. You may be asked " How old?" Other than that don’t expect much chit chat as the judge has about 2 mins. to go over the dog and move you. Listen carefully to what he asks you to do and if you don’t hear or understand ASK. As you return to the judge on the final move stand the dog.
He will then say thank you. You turn and gait back to the mat you could well be being watched. In bigger classes don’t switch off. A lot of judges will run their eyes over the dogs they have already gone over to mentally keep them in order. You also need to be aware of what is going on so you don’t get in the way of other competitors. If you are stood like a sack of potatoes when the judge looks round you could ruin your chances at the last minute. Being second you will know when the last dog is being seen because there is only one in front of you. Be ready to stack your dog again as the judge will turn immediately back to the line to have a final look before placing. KEEP one eye on the judge. He will call out his winners and stand them in the middle of the ring with the 1st dog on his left as he faces them. Keep showing! the placings are not final until they are written in the judges book. When the winners are placed the usual signal for dismissal is ‘Thank you’. If you have been placed at an open show the first place only will have a write up. The others leave the ring hopefully AFTER congratulating the winner of the class. At a Championship shows it is the first 2 or more lately 3 for whom the judge writes a critique.
If you have got 1st in puppy the judge will want you again. When the steward calls all unbeaten dogs you return to the ring. The Steward should indicate how the judge wants his class winners lined up. You will probably be moved again up and down the mat. Then the Best of Breed will be selected and the Best Puppy. There may be a Reserve Best of Breed. Now back to the rules, if there was no puppy class there is still a best puppy. The judge will want all puppies unbeaten by another puppy. Another scenario is an owner who has 2 puppies and put one in the puppy class and one in the next higher class be it junior, yearling, novice, or graduate. This dog could have been 3rd or 4th in the class but if the dogs in front were adults he is still an unbeaten puppy and can challenge for best puppy. Be guided by the ring Stewards, ask if you are not sure but try to give them space to do their job of assisting the judge.
Assuming you win, your job is then over until best in show/ best puppy in show. You can withdraw from any variety class to remain unbeaten if you want to. If you enter the varieties remember to take off your winning rosettes before going into the class. You now have a long wait, so rest your dog, have a drink and watch what is going on. Best in Show is just a repeat of the ring class with more dogs, You need to know if your dog has been ‘seen’ by the Best in Show judge as new dogs and seen dog line up separately. The only class in which you can wear your Best of breed ribbon is the best in show.
DISASTERS IN THE RING
The only unforgivable sin is for your dog to ‘go for’ the judge. I don’t mean wriggle or be nervous I mean BITE. Such a dog should not be shown.
The dog leaves a big puddle or pile in the middle of the ring during showing—OOPS! It has happened to all of us. It is the responsibility of the exhibitor to clean up but in practice the ring stewards want to keep things flowing(no pun intended). Try to catch the eye of the steward for help to get the bucket and mop, if it is a solid offering use the bag in your pocket. It is polite to offer to clean up whilst they hold your dog not click your fingers and point to the mess then turn your back as if it is nothing to do with you. It happens unfortunately!
If due to excitement your dog resembles Zebedee (Magic Roundabout fans will understand) and will not move off at a trot circle him and try again. Any of you who have seen me in the ring with my Ollie, will know exactly what I am talking about
All exhibitors should be courteous but some will crowd you, box you into a corner, or stand in front of you. Smile and ask them to move over a bit, keeping your cool makes them look silly.
It bears repeating. This is a ‘for fun’ sport. Your dog will have done its best to please you all day. It is not cunning, malicious or out to show you up. It is a baby who is responding to your training. Patience and rewarding good behaviour will succeed in the long run.
You know you are taking the best dog home so whatever the outcome praise and hug is his reward even if you need more training!