I am taking my 1yr old border terrier to a dog show in september and i was wondering what i should expect?

Question

I am taking my 1yr old border terrier to a dog show in september and i was wondering what i should expect?

Answer 1

If you are showing Him/her you can pretty much expect to lose, Im sorry. If you have never shown a dog before you can take classes on sowing, or talk to a breeder about learning how to show.

If your just going to watch it will be so much fun! You can watch either jsut certain breeds, are all groups of breeds being shown for the ideal looks and conformatioN!

Answer 2

Rachael T, I like the personality of a border terrier. They are so sweet.

Answer 3

ARe you going to show your dog? Have you shown before? Are you familiar with how shows work? Have you handled dogs before?

It isn't guaranteed that you will loose if you have th best representation of the breed there. However showing is a very political game and many times the dogs that do not have professional handlers do not do as well as the dogs that do. Professional handlers tend to know the judges and they know how to display the dogs to only show the best picture and hide the visible faults.

The main thing is to enjoy your self and don't stress your dog out worrying about winning. Do you best and learn from every experience!

Answer 4

Dog showing is a fun hobby. I'm going to assume that you are showing in conformation.  Make sure that you and your dog are well groomed and that your dog is leash and crate trained.  Show up early so that you can find your ring, watch your judge and buy a catalog.  Take your dog for a walk around the grounds so that it gets used to the hustle, bustle and the noise. Don't let him go up to other dogs to "play".  Keep him close to you.  Do not over tire your dog before his class.  Place him in his crate with a little water so that he can relax.  Pick up your arm band from the steward.  Make sure that you are around your ring when it is your turn to go in.  In fact be ready to go in before your class is called as this makes the steward's life easier.  Follow the judge's instructions to the best of your ability.  Do not expect to win but be happy when you do.  Make sure that you thank the judge and stewards for their time.  Hopefully you have taken a class or two so that you know the patterns and how to stack your dog.  If not, you can sometimes wing it by watching other people show their dogs but that's a hard way to learn handling.  Many people may take pitty on you and may give you hints and help after they are done competing.  Above all have a good time at the dog show.  

Answer 5

Indeed, for the first time you will probably not win. But, the experience will be a great thing. You should get show coaching. Go ahead to the show in September. This will give you great experience and networking opportunities. Use those contacts to find a reputable coach, and get to know someone who can help you through the process. It's important to develop contacts. This can be someone showing a dog of the same breed, a judge, or an owner.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Most show people will take a dog to a show after they have had some training and exposure to the routine of a dog show.  Since terriers are rather fiesty by nature, you need to have your dog well trained to respond to you rather than easily succumbing to distractions of the other dogs, a stranger touching them for the exam, as well as the general level of activity and people.

More importantly, the judge and other exhibitors will expect you to understand ring configurations, the directions given by the judge, and also expect you to have a well-trained and clean dog.