New to the dog show world!!!!?

Question

I am trying to get in to showing dogs and am trying to figure out what breed I should show first. I am also new to this site.

I still have not decided what breed to start with. I have already been to 2 shows to watch and to try to decide.

I just resently got my JR handler number and I know were the classes are in my area.

Abreeder is currently letting me use her dogs for the classes. They are German Shepherds. I want to learn some more about newfies though. I can't seem to find any newfie breeders to talk to right now. The Newfoundland is one of the breeds I am thinking about and yes I have read the breed standard.

Answer 1

Newfies are hard to show and groom for new comers. "Sculpting" has become popular for the breed, even though it should not be, and many judges put up sclupted dogs. They are large and can be a handful to handle. They have become quite a political breed also. I have seen it in juniors also. The "well known" juniors do a lot of winning!!!!!!

These are all reasons I pay a pro to handle my Newfs!!! Takes too long to do it myself!!!!!

Answer 2

The question is, what breed do you want to live with. Remember, you will only be spending a short time in the ring with your dog, the rest of the time he is your pet. So select your breed pretty much the same way you would select any other pet, with a few extra considerations such as:

1) grooming - does this breed require extensive grooming, trimming, or coat maintenance and are you up for learning how to do it properly?

2) ease of handling - some breeds are easier to handle in the ring than others. For example, Basset Hounds are considered "difficult" to show because of their unusual anatomy, making it more difficult to learn to stack and gait them properly, and the fact that they tend to "sink" in the rear when you hold their tail up. Would you be more comfortable with a breed that free stacks, or one you have to hand stack? Also make sure you are physically capable of moving your dog at the correct speed for the breed.

3) how competitive is the breed - if you go for a breed like Shelties, Shepherds, Goldens or Labs you will find the initial going pretty rough because there are so many of them out there. Even in breeds with smaller populations, some of them are dominated by handlers in many areas. Or you can run into the opposite problem with a rarer breed, in that you may not have ENOUGH competition to get your points and majors. This is where you need to be familiar with what the situation is in your particular region.

Good luck and have fun!

Answer 3

I honestly don't know much about showing, but I've got nothing better to do with my time than sit around watching dog shows on TV :)

I've been told that German Shepherds stack differently than other dogs, and might not be good for a first time handler.

If I were you, I'd stick with a smaller, short haired "natural" dog that doesn't require a whole lot of extensive grooming, specialized haircuts, and that sort of thing.

How about a Schipperke? They have longer coats, are a bit unusual, and are small dogs, so they won't take up as much of your budget.

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are also smaller, don't have any unusual grooming or showing requirements, and if my puppy is any example, they are very easy to train.

Just remember that showing is really a small part of owning a dog. You still have to live with him for the rest of the year. If you aren't up to the extensive exercise requirements of your average larger dog, then both you and the dog will be miserable. Similarly, if your temperaments clash (he's sedentary and you like to run, or he's standoffish, and you want an affectionate dog) then neither of you will be happy.

Hope I've been a bit of help...

Answer 4

Everyone has given you really good advice!
One additional thing you should do, once you get your dog is to sign up for handling classes. Find out where your local all breed kennel club meets & someone will definitely be able to tell you when & where the handling classes are held.
This is what I did when I started showing - and I still take my puppies to the handling classes. It will make you & the dog much more confident once you get to the real dog shows.
As far as what breed you would like, I would definitely stay away from the breeds that are very competitive - such as labs & shelties, as someone else suggested.

Answer 5

I would get a short coated breed that needs minimal grooming. You need to talk to some handlers at these shows and get yourself into a classes. It is a little difficult to become a handler unless you start at a young age. You need to find out sanction matches and Junior handling times a shows. Then you need to find a person that is showing there dog and ask if you can use there dog. Or you can find a breed you love (recommend short coated) and get your self a show quality pup. Take pup to classes then to shows, just keep practicing with your own dog.

Answer 6

First of all, make sure to talk to a lot of different breeders and research breeds online to find out which would be best suited for you. Dog showing is very time and money consuming but it very fun to do. Second, I would definitely make sure to find the book "Show Me" by D. Caroline Coile Ph.D. It is the easiest book to learn the how-to's of showing. It was a life-saver when I began to show! Third, welcome to the sport of dog-showing! It is a great way to interact with other dog-lovers and bond with your dog. I hope you put a lot of thought and consideration into which breed you end up getting. My perfect breed was the smooth collie, but each person has a match. I wish you luck as you begin your showing and I hope you find your perfect breed and have fun with them!

Answer 7

ok,, you need to go to tons and tons of dog shows,,, talk to the breeders/exhibitors of your chosen breed... find yourself a reputable breeder and they will hold your hand thru this... good luck and happy showing,,, you are entering a fun and exciting world. GO TO THE NEWFIE RING AT YOUR NEXT SHOW