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My First Year on the Dog Show Scene

By Ann Downs

I thought you might like to hear about encouragement from the audience to
the first 12 months’ dog showing from help them give it a go.
a complete newbie.
It started by a simple question,
I’m sat contemplating the past year; “Would you consider showing him
my 18-month-old boy ‘Steve’ aka Ann?”. I’ve previously owned a
Liefkees Assisi JW has managed to number of dogs including a Keeshond
get a CC (at the UK Keeshond Club and a Japanese Spitz but never
show), and his Junior Warrant*. He considered showing them; they were
has had 2 Best Puppy in Shows and members of our family, well-loved
1 Best in Show, Best Puppy in Breed pets, who had fun happy lives. I did
at Crufts, as well as a number of agility with the Keeshond, he loved it
placings in the Utility Group and but refused to do more than 3
placed well in a number of Stakes weaves, his attitude was ‘why would
classes too. It slightly blows my mind you zigzag when going in a straight
what he has managed to achieve in line is way more efficient’, he was a
his short life and for me, a little pat character. I work with dogs and had
on the back, as someone who didn’t been to Crufts a few times, never in
have a clue to start with. my wildest dreams did I think I’d end
If I can do it so can you. up showing a dog there let alone have
a puppy get Best Puppy in Breed on
Sadly, numbers showing in our breed my first go. My first response to the
seem to be dropping. I think this is question was “If he likes it, I like it.
due to a number of reasons; one of As long as he can be a proper dog
which is if you’ve never done it before first as well as a show dog I’ll give it
then it’s really scary to do something a go”.
completely out of your comfort zone
and in a show ring where you have
to control your pet whilst being
judged with an audience watching.
Are you breaking out into a sweat
yet?

Those who have shown for years or
have grown up showing, imagine: you
don’t know if you can sing or not and
someone has just wheeled you in
front of Simon Cowell with your dog,
expecting you and the dog to
entertain him and a small group of
strangers. This is how a person new
to dog showing feels. Anyone in this
situation needs friendly smiles and
Gotcha day.
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