Any Chance????

[*Lesley*]

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Callie and Sienna are the most gorgeous dogs in the world to me :wub: :wub: and I got them as pets but how do you think they would fair in the show ring,not this minute, I am still trying to find a ringcraft class there is nothing where I live :angry: ( that's why I'm moving next year)

 

[*Lesley*]

Sienna she has got feet son took the picture

 

[*Lesley*]

And one for fun. No publicity please :*

 

[chelynnah]

They look very nice. I still have so much to learn so others can be more constructive. You have them stacked very nicely and to the 'new' eye they look very good.

I would certainly give showing a try. We bought Savannah as a pet, and Dawn and Richard talked us into giving showing a shot. We figured we'd do it for a few months and then pack it in. 3+ years later we're still doing it and bought another 'show' dog. We have met some absolutely wonderful people.

Certainly try the Open shows and get some experience. Shame you don't live down our way as we have 2-3 very good ringcraft classes.

Wendy

 

[*Lesley*]

Thanks Wendy, their lovely to me, :wub: :wub: I am assuming by the number of replies that they are not show material but that's not a problem to me, I didn't get them to show just didn't want them to miss out if they were, it is hard here as we are so far away from everything

 

[~Sarah~]

Look lovely to me - but as I don't show, I can't give you a constructive reply. I used to show many years ago (Salukis). I would still give Ringcraft a go or even take them to Dog Training Classes as this is good for socialisation. You can encourage them to stand instead of sitting. I would be interested in others' opinions about going to obedience classes if you want to show but can't find ringcraft classes.

 

:luck: :luck: Good Luck if you do start to show. I am still not sure yet if I will show Dolly - I think she is immature at the moment so I will wait until she 'bodies' up a bit.

 

[bardmand]

I think the reason people are hesitant to reply is that it is really hard, not to say impossible to judge whippets from photos. They cannot tell anything definite about size, substance and movement. Markings (particularly brindles and particolours) can also be very deceptive.

That being said, they both certainly look like very nice whippets to me, so I don't see why you should not give it a go. They both look quite young, am I correct? If they "fill out" a bit more as they mature, that would make them look even better, at least in my opinion.

Of the two (and still judging by the photos), I think Sienna looks the most promising from a show point of view. She looks to have a better shoulder, slightly longer lines and a bit more hind angulation than Callie. Other than that, they look quite similar. Are they from the same litter? What is their breeding?

Good luck whatever you decide to do!

Bård

 

[*Lesley*]

Thanks for that Bard, :cheers: I know it must be hard to tell from a photo but thought I'd just see what people thought, Callie was very small when we got her last of the litter, they are just 6 months so still only young, litter sisters, mum Courthill confetti(toffee) x Rivarco classic Jazz(Jason) so good breeding but like I said pets first, if they didn't show I wouldn't be unhappy, I love them to bits :wub:

 

[~JO~]

If you think you might enjoy it give it a go I agree that Sienna does look the more promising at the moment. If the girls enjoy it then why not? You don't need to have a promising champion to show - anyone can do it (not saying your aren't promising champions!!)

You have done really well to get them standing so nicely I have that trouble with ringcraft too - i have to travel just under an hour each way to go A right pain up the old botty

 

[*Lesley*]

Thanks for kind words every one, I have been in touch with a lady who runs an obedience class in my area and she has given me the address of a ringcraft class that is not too far from me so i have emailed her to get some info, so here's hoping I am biased obviously she already a champion to me, but I think callie may be a bit short in the loin( like I know what I'm on about) :- "

 

[Esthermax]

Your dogs look fab to me :cheers:

 

[bardmand]

Just goes to show how hard it can be to tell sometimes - I would have thought they were a few months older - there you go, as I said - not an expert at all... To my defence, I do think that whippets from different lines mature differently, and also what colours you are used to might fool you when looking at other dogs. Both of mine were high whites (and even fairly substantial for bitches), about as different from Sienna and Callie as you could get - and at six months they still looked much more puppyish as far as I can recall.

As for length of loin, I agree with you - Sienna looks very well proportioned. However, I do feel "length of loin" can be overdone - I believe it was a Danish judge that described the look you then get in whippets as that of a "dachshund on stilts"...

Also - if someone were ever to comment that your dog was short in loin - you might want to read this and learn why they don't know what they are talking about : http://www.lhasa-apso.org/articles/loin.htm - the length of a dog's loin is always in proportion to the rest of the dog - so to get a longer loin, you would also get a longer back and neck.

Their pedigree would certainly not prevent them from turning into big show winners, so good luck again!

 

[*Lesley*]

Thanks again for that info Bard, have you got any pics of yours I would love to see them.

 

[bardmand]

Hi! Thanks for your interest. This is the only one I have digitally. It doesn't show their show qualities, but it is still my favourite - doing what they loved the most. Luka is the "hare" - she was the first, and lived to be 13 - Thale is chasing her - she lived to be twelve. Luka was Norwegian bred from mainly Dondelayo lines, Thale was out of Lukas litter sister by Ch Statuesque Personalised (Aussie import).

Even though they were closely related, they had very different personalities - Luka was rather reserved, kind of aloof, slightly nervous around other dogs (which might in part be due to the fact that I lived in the country with not many other dogs around), whereas Thale was a lot more outgoing, active, talkative and affectionate.

Luka was shown to her Norwegian championship, whereas Thale never fulfilled her early promise as a show dog (she was three times Best in show puppy at small, local all-breed shows), but remained the most loving dog you could ever imagine.

Sorry for ranting about them... Still miss them.

Bård

 

[*Lesley*]

They look really lovely, sorry if I opened up any wounds, I didn't realise they weren't with us any more Sounds like they had a very full and loving life.

 

[aslan]

Hi Lesley

I think they both look like show prospects from the pics, but naturally they do need to mature a bit more - but of course they will be in a class with other dogs of the same age so the others could possibly be at their 'gangly' stage too. Also, as Bard said there's a lot we can't see from a photo.

However before you venture into showing you must do the breeder the courtesy of asking first, unless of course the breeder gave you the showing option when you bought them. If they were sold to you as pet quality pups the breeder needs to see them in the flesh now and give you the go ahead to show. If, say for example there is an imperfection in movement (that you can't see but the breeder can) then they may prefer not to have the dog in the ring. Also the breeder - if they are a show experienced person - is probably your best critic.

 

[bardmand]

) No need to apologize, Lesley - if I were that sensitive about it I would not have mentioned them in the first place. But yes, I like to think they had good lives, they certainly enriched mine.

About Aslan's cautionary remark, she is probably right. I don't think it is customary here in Norway for owners to ask permission of their dog's breeder to show them, but I think it might be a good idea.

I never thought of asking permission, but kept in touch with their (very supportive) breeder throughout their lives, and would certainly have refrained from showing them if she thought they were not good enough.

 

[*Lesley*]

Hi! Aslan, Thanks for that also, Even though we bought Callie as a pet(Sienna came to us a few days later through people wasting Breeders time, luckily for us) anyway we talked about it and he told us if the time came and we wanted to show if they were up to it it was our decision, he lives a very long way from us but gave us contact of someone we could go to have them looked over for showing.

I think the mistake I have made is giving people the impression that I want an official judging, this is by far not the case, just wanted to show them off standing nicely and see what people thought.

I'm not wanting to go to crufts just would like to be at the open shows with everybody else whether I'm showing or not.

I think I am just a bit overly proud in a novice sort of way.

I think there is a lot of etiquette I don't know about

 

[Ridgesetter]

I would agree with Aslan on speaking to the breeders first. Each pedigree grows and matures differently from someone elses breeding. Your breeder should be able to give you an idea if the pups have promise.

My only advice to a novice handler wishing to compete in any breed is to try and have the breeder close by to support you. I realise this is not always as easy as it sounds. Other exhibitors may not be so forthcoming with helpful hints - after all, you are competing against them so many will not give you a tip that might help you beat their dog. That's human nature.

If your breeder is not close by, maybe they can suggest someone who can help you.

As for the pups show quality, who can really tell? Each week we go to shows because judges choose different dogs. If the one dog won all the shows, the rest of us wouldn't go.

Good luck and have a go.

 

[aslan]

Yep, by all means have a go! Especially if the breeder said he would be happy for them to show. Open shows are by far the best to start with. No pressure - just fun - and you will surely learn heaps even if it's just by watching others when you're not in the ring.

There will be those people who would never give you a handling tip (and there are quite a few of them in the dog world, but there will be others who will only be too glad to help (thank heavens that is part of human nature as well). So go on, get out there!