Lurcher Showing

[peony]

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Just for a bit of fun, I am going to be entering Basil into some showing classes this summer - I want to do something with him and after trying his hand at coursing, have realised I'd have to perform brain surgery on him before I could persuade him that bits of flappy plastic are worth chasing , so showing it is.

:blink: We go to a weekly Ringcraft class which is proving interesting and no doubt worthwhile, but the people there are really only used to swishy looking poncey pooches ( no offence to the owners of such, but you know what I mean ) I am sure the people at the classes have never been so close to a cross breed before, and freely admit they do not know the 'form' for lurchers when it comes to whats expected.

:teehee: After many years of horse showing etc, I am well aware how a different style of noseband/ thickness of rein/ cut of saddle , can affect the overall picture and wondered what I should be using on my lurcher to give him the best chance?

Also, the question is, do I run with him or walk? The ringcraft people are in two camps on this one as Basil is quite athletic on the lead and tends to bounce about, sometimes to my waist height !

At the end of the day though, we are only doing it for a little light entertainment, but I want to know that I have done all I can for my boy and am not going to let him down by doing something daft :wacko:

 

[stormydog]

Just for a bit of fun, I am going to be entering Basil into some showing classes this summer - I want to do something with him and after trying his hand at coursing, have realised I'd have to perform brain surgery on him before I could persuade him that bits of flappy plastic are worth chasing , so showing it is.
:blink: We go to a weekly Ringcraft class which is proving interesting and no doubt worthwhile, but the people there are really only used to swishy looking poncey pooches ( no offence to the owners of such, but you know what I mean ) I am sure the people at the classes have never been so close to a cross breed before, and freely admit they do not know the 'form' for lurchers when it comes to whats expected.

:teehee: After many years of horse showing etc, I am well aware how a different style of noseband/ thickness of rein/ cut of saddle , can affect the overall picture and wondered what I should be using on my lurcher to give him the best chance?

Also, the question is, do I run with him or walk? The ringcraft people are in two camps on this one as Basil is quite athletic on the lead and tends to bounce about, sometimes to my waist height !

At the end of the day though, we are only doing it for a little light entertainment, but I want to know that I have done all I can for my boy and am not going to let him down by doing something daft  :wacko:

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caroline

make him move naturally, theres nothing as bad as people tugging their dogs around the ring and whinching the dogs head in the air by his lead! if you were on the outside watching the dogs in the ring would you rather watch a dog full of his own importance with his head held high skipping along on his toes or..some poor bugger being dragged along and made to look like hes done wrong and is on his way to the nearest lurcher shelter ? i constantly make noises to keep my dogs alert in the ring, that helps. stand him well..all whippety..back legs out and parallel. front legs straight. when you get looked at by judge make sure the collar is right under his chin and relax! ..make him look noble and regal..all those elegant things !! worked for me ! when my "storm" walks into a ring he looks like its his and his only!! everyone has different tips, note them all in your head. good luck hope to see basil at a show soon. always rem its a fun day out and all judges are different. :thumbsup: by the way..before the big mouths with the "he never leaves the yard crap" step in...oh yes he does he has taken hares single-handed!

john

 

[juckler]

HANDSOME IS AS HANDSOME DOES :- "

 

[stormydog]

HANDSOME IS AS HANDSOME DOES :- "

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WELL... AGREED ON THAT ONE!

:thumbsup:

 

[fallenangel]

I stick my lurcher and greyhounds a non ped whippets in lurcher and pet dog shows they all do realy well I allways just show them naturaly the only think i did any work on was standing still not stacked and being handled by the judge si theres no messing about when there being checked over. I think with the lurchers the as theres no set leg leanth or hight you dont have to make them look anything other than what they are. just go along have some fun and relaxs and you will have a good time

 

[peony]

Thanks for the input ....... all of which has been noted. Wee Stormy, you make me chuckle ..............'skipping along on his toes ' hmmmmmmmmmm Basils idea of usual gait is to wriggle and bend, tail going round and round as well as up and down, Honest to God, that dog is a total clown :clown: . People see him and guess that he is a pup and not almost 6 years old!

One other thing, am I going to get penalised for him sitting down? He hasnt been taught to do the spready legged stand thing, but I am working on it lol. Collars...............is his usual flat lurcher one ok or should I have a thin one to show his neck? Gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh sooooooooooooooo many questions :blink:

All I have to do now is find a shavedy headed, stubbly chinned, dealer booted bloke with moleskins and attitude to do the parading for me and I will be sorted!!!!!! :thumbsup:

 

[J.T.]

I put Hebe into a lurcher show last summer, I thought it was a waggiest tail/ prettiest eyes sort of show but NO, it was a serious one (w00t) . She's never been shown before so it was a disaster. She dragged me round the ring at a run (she doesnt do walk) stood all crooked & when the judge touched her she went all silly as if to say "Excuse Me, but do I know you?"

Judge did say she had good muscle tone on her back legs & we did come 4th.....................out of 4 :lol: :lol: Think he felt sorry for me

Never again, I'll stick to the agility

Good Luck, hope this hasn't put you off :luck:

 

[bappit]

Peony, if you are really unsure just visit a few and observe :thumbsup:

As there is no breed standard for lurchers as such, it is highly subjective. :b

IMO a happy, confindent dog shines in the ring. Dont worry about what he does when the judge is 'going over' other dogs, let him relax, and relax yourself...it does'nt matter if you show him on a length of bailing twine (though personally i go for a thin slip lead :lol: ) I'd try to find a pace that suits him and shows him at his best (that can mean making sure your at the start of a line up...or if you must the end), he'll have his chance to move when he has the judges attention to himself anyway, with you taking him to ringcraft he'll also be accustomed to being 'gone over' which is a big bonus.

All the best :luck: Remember, regardless of outcome - you take the best dog home with you

 

[Loopy]

I took Lupin to a few shows last year (just cos I love her and think she deserves a rosette or 2) and thought they were good fun as long as you don't take them too seriously!

I can't show Lupe's paces off very well cos my legs are a bit knackered and I just can't run but altho we didn't get anywhere much in the serious classes she got first in scruffiest dog & we came second in dog most like it's owner

I will enter Zephyr as well this year as he's now old enough at 10 months to go in classes. He's a very handsome lad altho not terribly lurchery in looks (Dad is a Collie) and loves everyone (Lupin is more reserved - a real Mummy's girl).

Hope you have a good time and just enjoy yourselves! )

(PS Remember to take some water and a bowl)

 

[tinker*]

im off to selby tomorrow to show my three lurchers(4yr old, 1 yrd old and a 6month)

I have been trying! to get them to stand nice one of them will the puppy just spins round and the older dog lifts her paws up.

I have bought the leather slip leads and also going to give the racing a go.

My older dog has been showing before but because she is 19" she needs a rabbiting dog class luckily there is one or she looks silly at the side of other dogs.

 

[tinker*]

Well for our !st show we did brill!!

my 23" smooth dog got two 1sts and my 20" rough bitch got a 1st and 2nd

so my practice paid off

 

[bappit]

:cheers: Well done tinker :cheers:

 

[tinker*]

thank you