:smt002 I love socialising with other dog owners even if mine's just a Jack Russell shorty and not a pedigree- quick- wash my mouth out with soap LOVE going round the shows- LOVE obedience training- yes we have our KC Gold Good Citizen Award. If I had pedigree dogs I would probably be showing for the fun side

Right that said, I have a prospect for you my friend. We have a show up here that you and Toby can enter. My dogs arent allowed but you will love it as will Tobes & Minnie. 30th September!

Thanks for the education, people. I'm a tad wiser today than yesterday, but not as wise as I shall be tomorrow, as a result. Thanks again.

Sounds interesting !! Id love to enter a Companion Show but haven't really looked into it. Minnie's overweight so shed probably win "Porkiest Bitch" even tho she would be the Prettiest !:smt002

Ive told Janet, she's up for it, I will take my two for the open dog bit, but its a really old fashioned show, dates back to the 1800's, wouldnt be surprised if they invented the whole thing. All cream cakes & leeks!
Happy Birthday for tomorrow! :smt002

hi all,

can't believe it i was just going to start a thread when i spotted this one!

i have quoted miss p for a reason(she owns setters like me!! JOKE!)

I have recently emailed a very well known breeder and exhibitor of irish setters for some advise - thinking (very wrong of me!) that because of their knowledge and passion of the breed that they would be willing to offer some advise.

i was truely stunned by the email that i recieved back from this lady. she was extremely rude and very blunt. Please bear in mind that this woman didn't know me or anything about my dogs or their blood lines etc.

Obviously their is a very nasty streak in some people who show - of course not everybody!!!!

sorry, i am just absolutly disgusted!!

D'ya know after reading your original post I really had to think why! It's just something I've fallen into I guess.

When I got Isla I got her to work her. She is show bred, but with working lines. Now the working Springers are lovely, but just not for me especially the lines in this area. So that's why I went for this particular kennel. They've worked hard to breed English Springers to breed standard but with the ability to do a days work (some say it's impossible, I know!) It was her breeders that got me interested in showing as I went to a few to see them and their dogs.

I guess for me it's something I can do that will involve my dog, I'd rather spend time with her that way when I'm not at work. It's also something to do when the shooting season isn't running.

The final reason is I'd like to breed her and continue the dual lines running through her pedigree. I don't personally believe in breeding unless it's to better the breed and the only way you can find out if your dog is anywhere near is to show!

I think that's it!

for me taking my dogs to a dog show is just another way of enjoying the company of my dogs, and other like minded people.

As for (not) doing things othe dogs might do because they are show dogs, mine are as likely (and very often do) work on a shoot one day, and stand in the show ring the next.
But they are all house dogs/companions and we are just as happy curled up at home!

I cant say I have ever used a show as a means of networking to make money - however, as breeder it does give me a good insight into as to what is being produced - good and bad, which might help me decide on where/where not to go for future breedings.

We are all (we should be!) breeding to a Breed Standard, which is a blueprint or a breed. The dogs should be judged to the Standard...but dont get me started on that
In exhibiting a dog, it is being held up to scrutiny against that standard, but while it is nice to recieve a bit of card and rossette, it isnt the be all and end all, and dont we all take the best dog home in any case?

just my ten penn'orth

thandi

Bearing in mind the rules for this section - which I have just re-read - shouldn't this thread be moved to "discussions"?
After all, this section is for those actively interested and not for debate on why......or why not.
Just MHO.

I tried 'pedigree' showing once and hated it, so did my dog. Most people in my breed were in their late 40's early 50's and very ignorant. I got placed once at an open show because my dog was the only one entered. I know that she is a good specimen of her breed physically and i would like to see more of her breed like it.

The people that were winning were always at every show and they knew the judge or friends of the judge or stewards, most of my breed are overweight and could never do what they were bred for. At one show a dog got BOB, it was very overweight and it was limping badly on a backleg.

Pedigree showing got on my nerves, IMO and mo only, the kc are ruining breeds by following stupid standards, look at the GSD and their hips, the english bulldog??????? Im not slating any breeds, but i think to a degree dogs that can still do what they were bred for should and dogs that can no longer do what they bred for, should still be bred for it and their instict tunneled to something else.

My breed was originally bred for wolve-hunting, obviously no longer but she would if she could, so then used for hare coursing 'now banned' unfortunately as it was a great sport, so she goes lure coursing and i hunt rabbits with her, which she excels at.

The dogs looked bored 99% of the time and most stuck in crates with just the ring for exercise.