Showing Advice

[granny-mo]

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Could anybody please give us some show advice?

We have a 4 month old whippet bitch who we'd like to begin to show. We are complete novices at showing ourselves :- " , although we have been going to shows to watch for years :blink: . We need any advice or tips that the pros could give us please.

This is our dog PATELEYPRIDE SHIRAZ ROSE (Rosie :wub: ). She'll be 6 calendar months old on 14th July 07. She has been going to obedience classes since 14 weeks old and we've just started ringcraft classes with her, although there's no other Whippet showers there so we'd like some advice from those in the know.

Does she look like she could be successful (please be honest)?

We are going to enter her into a open show at Snaith on 15th July as we feel that a smaller show may be best for our first attempt.

Can anyone reccommend a good book that could teach us the basics of the showring?

Can anyone advise on where we can get a nice show collar from (we live in West Yorkshire)?

Can anyone think of anything else we should purchase for her first show?

Can anyone think of any other questions that we should be thinking about but I haven't asked?

 

[saraquele]

its hard to say off a photo but she looks nice .

first tip , cut her nails :thumbsup: i normally clip the tips off with clippers then file them down the rest of the way so you dont cut the quick .

secondly she needs to be "stretched" out more , look at the SKC thread , some tips on there on how to stack her :thumbsup:

most ch shows have whippet show leads but the best ive found are from whippet rescue 01453 731659 they are quite pricey , think they are £24 now but last for YEARS !!

a good book is by J P Moran Healy " the whippet" a lot of tips and advice in there

hope that helps and best of luck with her , im def not a pro so others may be able to help more :lol: :luck:

 

[zilloot]

Her front feet should be in a straight line, ie. parallel, not one in front.

Whippets are shown on a thin lead/collar one-piece which is placed high on the neck behind the ears and kept with a gentle tension (not enough to choke the dog). Look at as many pictures as you can of dog shows in any of the whippet books. Try amazon.co.uk for books and http://nationalwhippetassoc.uk.com/traders/venture_coat.html sell show leads (show lead don't cost much but look very professional)

No-one can ever guarantee winning at any show level. You might, you might not.. I think the lottery of the whole thing is how people get addicted :lol:

But to me she looks good enough to put in the ring. Just don't expect to win all the time. Don't give up if you don't win to start with and don't get too confident if you do win! Just don't give up because you feel cheated or you've missed the whole point of the game. We all feel cheated some of the time :lol:

I think smooth handling is important. I was taught by the mother of a World Champion Junior handler and it was great training. The junior has written an excellent book 'Handling the White Way' by Marina White. OK a lot of it is about 'junior' handling but the principles are excellent. Good manners, smart dress, unfussy handling, lots of preparation, relax and enjoy... in a nutshell!!

Always look the judge in the eye, after all you have the best dog in the world!

Good luck - let us all know how you get on :thumbsup:

 

[dolly]

Peggy Grayson wrote a book, all about showing in general, very useful hints

 

[granny-mo]

Thanks for the replies. The embarassing thing is that we had clipped her nails but didn't know about the filing.

Will look on Amazon for the books suggested, and we'll have a look at the lead sites.

And thanks for the tips about her stacking.

 

[nina]

Remember...........EVERYONE HAS TO START SOMEWHERE :- "

Go & enjoy, learn by your mistakes :sweating:

You have a very pretty girl to start with so get some experience at a few companion shows to ease her into it then enter some open shows & progress from there.

Whatever the show, go, have fun & remember win or lose YOU ALWAYS TAKE THE BEST DOG HOME :thumbsup:

 

[saraquele]

Thanks for the replies.  The embarassing thing is that we had clipped her nails    but didn't know about the filing.
Will look on Amazon for the books suggested, and we'll have a look at the lead sites.

And thanks for the tips about her stacking.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

sorry its just me :b im obsessed with nails

they are ok but filing really neatens them up IMHO that is :b

ive only been showing 4 years but luckily i had a great mentor round the corner to help me , which area are you in , prehaps someone local to you may be able to help :thumbsup:

go and enjoy her , as already said no matter what YOU ALWAYS TAKE THE BEST DOG HOME :huggles:

 

[whippetmad]

Good luck with showing your girl,she very pretty :luck: :luck:

 

[doris]

I'm in similar situation to you, been going to shows for years and had dogs for years but Monty is the first one I've got to show myself :b

If Rosie's breeder is a show person they'll be able to give you some advice or could help find someone in your area - my Monty's breeder has been most helpful :thumbsup:

You've obviously been doing some great work with her already, what a good girl she is to stand on the table without jumping off for a start! :cheers:

If you visit K9 regularly (or obsessively like the rest of us :- " ) you'll soon get to know people at shows, when you see someone you recognise handling their dog really well catch them on their own afterwards and ask them for tips, its so much easier when someone shows you 'hands on'

:luck: with your pretty girl

 

[Juley]

Where abouts in the country are you. Lots of shows going on at the w/end, you won't be able to take Rosie along yet but you could go along to watch.

 

[FoxyDog]

The biggest thing I find is not getting nervous yourself. I had never shown a dog before I got my pup (I'm a Flyball/Agility nut) and really wasn't that interested but my breeder thought I should give it a try given his good confirmation, so I did. And you know what? I LOVE it!!! Our first couple of shows were a bust due to some unrulely "flying ears" but his last show he did REALLY well and beat a few really good pups including his brother who belongs to the breeder!

The point is we had a lot of fun hanging out with all the LHWhippet people and it didn't matter who did what 'cus we were all cheering each other. And the dogs had fun too.

If you just go in telling yourself it's all just for fun you might be more relaxed.

If it 'aint fun, it 'aint worth doing!

FoxyDog