Puppies And Champs

[Joanna]

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As a new-comer to racing, I would love to draw on the vast experience here and ask..............When do you enter a dog in the champs. I am not talking bends, but the straights. Pitfalls and positives, rights and wrongs, I want to hear all views so that I can make an informed decision on when to enter my boy.

Thanks in advance

Jo xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[peddermccoy]

Hi Joanna, how are you and boys?? :huggles: In answer to your question :* You will know when he is ready, ie: confident, trapping OK (w00t) running with other dogs with ease and happy with the situation . At the end of the day,they are learning at this age :huggles: and if they are ok with whats going on around them, then go for it :thumbsup: :thumbsup: .m Hope fynn is well and see you soon :thumbsup:

all the best shazxxx

 

[Scotty]

Most dogs will be ready to race at around twelve months old if they have had the last two months trialing, and getting used to the traps, racing with other dogs etc, once the dog is cleared, you should be racing. It depends on the dog, if it is good enough to race with the adults at twelve months old or not, keep looking at the times he does over set distances this should give you a good idea of how fast he is

at present. If his times are good then race him with the adults, if not then give him a few months in the yearling section, after that if he is not winning then you have a club dog ,or your training and feeding needs looking at. Hope this helps and good luck with your pup.

Peter Scott.

 

[June Jonigk]

I think the answer of when to enter the Champs depends on how serious you are. We entered the dogs we first started racing with (show bred) even though we knew they didn't have a chance of winning - we enjoyed watching them run, and also the faster ones winning - the other owners joy when their dogs won etc. We enjoyed the watching as much as the taking part, we had friends whose dogs did win and it was great to celebrate with them, and anyway our dogs didn't know that they hadn't won!! Of course you can still go and watch without running a dog, but as we used to live so far away from the Champs events, that wasn't really an option for us. Opens are great, but there's something a bit more special about a Champs event. One thing to mention though is that there's no consolation racing, which means if they don't come first or second - that's it for the day - so you could say it's an expensive trial!! :lol:

 

[Joanna]

Sound advice..................Little Fynn is a natural I think, he hasn't put a foot wrong since day one, and appears to be quite fast......As he is only a youngster, I can't really say how good he is or will be, that is in the lap of the Gods. I am not really worried if he excells, I just don't want him battered to bits (he's my baby). We have entered the Maiden at Gloucester and will be doing a couple of others.It really is the etiquette and the hows and whens we should. OK.............we'll see how we go, and thanks . Yes my boys are OK and being naughty so that is fine Shaz

 

[Vicky]

Sound advice..................Little Fynn is a natural I think, he hasn't put a foot wrong since day one, and appears to be quite fast......As he is only a youngster, I can't really say how good he is or will be, that is in the lap of the Gods. I am not really worried if he excells, I just don't want him battered to bits (he's my baby). We have entered the Maiden at Gloucester and will be doing a couple of others.It really is the etiquette and the hows and whens we should. OK.............we'll see how we go, and thanks . Yes my boys are OK and being naughty so that is fine Shaz

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I'd say you're going about everything just fine - obviously like Scotty says, go off the times others in your class are doing and make sure he is confident in running at different tracks, a track's a track to you but dogs do have their favourites - obviously winning would be a huge bonus but mostly you want to know your dog isn't going to be annihilated.

Good Luck with him Jo, he certainly looks the part :cheers:

 

[Joanna]

Thanks Vicky............It means so much to be given a bit of a boost and confidence from the more experienced. :cheers:

Let us know how that lovely fawn whippet is getting on won't you :wub: :wub: :wub:

 

[conway]

hi jo i have been following little fynn's progress and i think he is ready for it all now :thumbsup:

just run him when you want to he will love it all , most of all enjoy it

 

[BeeJay]

I haven't seen him racing. But I'm surprised that you aren't doing Weyhill with him Jo. That's from reports. :thumbsup:

You've just got to go for it sometime.

 

[*Lesley*]

I'm interested in this Joanna as I've entered Spry in the 1st Champs (w00t) it will be a new experience for her and us and I'm looking forward to it, and whatever happens I will enjoy meeting new k9er's and hopefully have a good day out in the process, so whoevers going see you there :thumbsup:

 

[Strike Whippets]

I personally think it depends on the pup and their ability and "head" ..........I know Erics ready to do opens as he can take being bashed about, were as Connie isn't quite there yet .........

 

[jue332]

No advice for you Joanna but that is a cracking picture of Fynn :thumbsup: :wub:

 

[June Jonigk]

I personally think it depends on the pup and their ability and "head" ..........I know Erics ready to do opens as he can take being bashed about, were as Connie isn't quite there yet .........

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Hannah, I'm intrigued as to why you consider a dog more likely to get bashed about at an open - surely that's more likely at club racing where you're more likely to encounter inexperienced dogs? :wacko: (sorry, just like that smiley)

 

[Joanna]

I'm interested in this Joanna as I've entered Spry in the 1st Champs  (w00t) it will be a new experience for her and us and I'm looking forward to it, and whatever happens I will enjoy meeting new k9er's and hopefully have a good day out in the process, so whoevers going see you there :thumbsup:

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It's a big step when it is your first, a bit like leaving your child at playgroup or nursery for the first time. Lesley, it will be intersting to know how you get on at the first champs, I was considering the one in August as a starter. I really don't want to rush things. I have just posted off my entry form to Judy for the Gloucester Maiden as I thought it would be a first go with a little bit of cushioning as it is maiden not main. I think I am quite protective and just still call Fynn a puppy.

I'll look at the dates for Weyhill and see what's what Barb.

Thanks Dave and every-one, I am glad I asked the question :thumbsup:

 

[Judy]

I'm afraid your never going to be able to avoid some bumping - its just par for the course when you have a number of dogs all chasing the same thing. I think Fynn looks just fine though Jo. I'm sure he can take it :thumbsup:

There's a maiden at Andover to on April 23rd. The Closing date is 9th April. That would be a good one for Fynn.

 

[Joanna]

I'm afraid your never going to be able to avoid some bumping - its just par for the course when you have a number of dogs all chasing the same thing. I think Fynn looks just fine though Jo. I'm sure he can take it  :thumbsup:
There's a maiden at Andover to on April 23rd. The Closing date is 9th April. That would be a good one for Fynn.

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Thanks Judy,

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm, food for thought.

He might be able to take it, not sure about me (w00t)

 

[Judy]

Thanks Judy,Mmmmmmmmmmmmm, food for thought.

He might be able to take it, not sure about me (w00t)

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:lol: Remember that he will be running in a weight group so all the dogs are pretty much the same size and they are running in the same direction at roughly the same speed so its not as bad as it might look. Better than when they hit each other when free running I think.

 

[Joanna]

Thanks Judy,Mmmmmmmmmmmmm, food for thought.

He might be able to take it, not sure about me (w00t)

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:lol: Remember that he will be running in a weight group so all the dogs are pretty much the same size and they are running in the same direction at roughly the same speed so its not as bad as it might look. Better than when they hit each other when free running I think.

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Yes and tracks don't have trees on them...........He ran straight into one the other day and got a black eye :- "

 

[Strike Whippets]

I personally think it depends on the pup and their ability and "head" ..........I know Erics ready to do opens as he can take being bashed about, were as Connie isn't quite there yet .........

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Hannah, I'm intrigued as to why you consider a dog more likely to get bashed about at an open - surely that's more likely at club racing where you're more likely to encounter inexperienced dogs? :wacko: (sorry, just like that smiley)

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I personally think that club dogs get used to each other ........At most clubs theres only normally 20 odd dogs running that day ......they are used to the track, traps, other dogs etc .......When they go to opens they are "normally" running at a strange place, with strange dogs etc .......and as alot/most races there are 4-5 dogs running .....plus there can be "green" dogs racing .........I know of a few dogs already this year that if either of my pups drew at an open I would withdraw mine, but theres bound to be other "dodgy" ones out there ........just my personal opinion though :thumbsup:

 

[IanGerman]

An interesting thread Joanna and one that proves only that different people have different views!

The 2 choices seem to be either A) enter him - he's got to be tested sooner or later or B) bring him along more slowly by doing maidens and opens first.

On balance I'd have to throw my hat in with group A ... there is no real difference between an open or a championship except that the weight spread is usually narrower at Champs. A maiden open will include dogs not having won an Open before mainly because they haven't been good enough but also because some are young upcoming dogs like yours - and therefore inexperienced. Personally I'd rather race my young dog with a seasoned racer than another "newbie"

Yes you will encounter the very best in the sport at a championship meeting, but you will also meet the same dogs at opens - and if they belong to YOUR club at club level too! And as someone already said - your dog doesn't know the difference between the varying competition - just that it's chasing a fake bunny! (It also doesn't know if and when it "loses" so any disappointment felt is purely the owner's :- " )