Question about novice (me) & showing

**Quita** · 08-31-2007, 11:46 PM

Hi, everybody. I currently placed a deposit on a litter. I met the breeder a couple weeks ago, and it appears that she really likes me. She keeps asking if I would be interested in showing conformation. I originally planned to get a companion dog, but I do have an interest in showing. I've never shown dogs, but I have shown horses. Here's my question... What are the chances of a novice showing and finishing a dog? I really like the whole idea of working with a trainer and learning how to show my own dog. I really don't want to pass her off to a professional handler and would love to work with her myself. However, am I just digging myself into a hole if I am completely new to showing and hope to finish my own dog? I'm willing to take classes, visit shows, study, find and learn from mentors.... I'm almost 38 years old. Wish I had started this sooner! I'm just wondering if this will be a completely uphill battle. Any advice from those of you who have shown and finished your own dogs??? Both my puppy and I would be learning this together... not the ideal combination (e.g., two beginners learning together). I HAVE trained dogs and can do basic obedience. I just don't know much about conformation showing.

Thanks for any and all feedback!

**Quita** · 08-31-2007, 11:47 PM

Oops! Now you see how much of a novice I am! I posted this on the wrong forum! This was supposed to go on the training/showing forum and not the breeder forum. So sorry! Will repost now....

**Quita** · 08-31-2007, 11:49 PM

Hi, everybody. I currently placed a deposit on a litter. I met the breeder a couple weeks ago, and it appears that she really likes me. She keeps asking if I would be interested in showing conformation. I originally planned to get a companion dog, but I do have an interest in showing. I've never shown dogs, but I have shown horses. Here's my question... What are the chances of a novice showing and finishing a dog? I really like the whole idea of working with a trainer and learning how to show my own dog. I really don't want to pass her off to a professional handler and would love to work with her myself. However, am I just digging myself into a hole if I am completely new to showing and hope to finish my own dog? I'm willing to take classes, visit shows, study, find and learn from mentors.... I'm almost 38 years old. Wish I had started this sooner! I'm just wondering if this will be a completely uphill battle. Any advice from those of you who have shown and finished your own dogs??? Both my puppy and I would be learning this together... not the ideal combination (e.g., two beginners learning together). I HAVE trained dogs and can do basic obedience. I just don't know much about conformation showing.

Thanks for any and all feedback!

Rosamburg · 09-01-2007, 02:53 AM

What have you got to lose? I have shown at ADA Euro style shows, though that is a LOT different than AKC. I felt like a complete idiot the first time, but what the hell I was out there. Every time I did it since then I was better. I am still far from good at it, and I know a lot of people could do a better job showing my bitch's good traits and masking her negative ones but its still better than being on the sidelines. I could not afford to pay someone to do it anyway. Same thing with Schutzhund, which is what I really like. Everytime I'm out there I make mistakes but every time I learn more and make less of them than the time before. It amazes me there are people (armchair quarterbacks) on the sidelines who have never titled a dog but are ready to critique those that are actually out there doing it. Screw em! I say if you have a desire to do it then do it. I have a friend that started showing Afghans when she was older than you are now. She has become pretty successful at it. A lady at our club has a rottie that does very well. She shows her most of the time but when it is a bigger show she hires a handler to do it (as does my friend with the Afghans at a big event). Her dog was at Westminster this year. You can do it. GO FOR IT!

Bizzy & Howie · 09-01-2007, 09:42 AM

I'm with Rosamburg... What do you have to loose? You may find this is a wonderful hobby for you and your dog. Win or loose, it's bound to be fun. Besides, I would go into it expecting not to do too well because you are new! This way, any positive is a huge positive!

dobebug · 09-01-2007, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quita

Hi, everybody. I currently placed a deposit on a litter. I met the breeder a couple weeks ago, and it appears that she really likes me. She keeps asking if I would be interested in showing conformation. I originally planned to get a companion dog, but I do have an interest in showing. I've never shown dogs, but I have shown horses. Here's my question... What are the chances of a novice showing and finishing a dog? I really like the whole idea of working with a trainer and learning how to show my own dog. I really don't want to pass her off to a professional handler and would love to work with her myself. However, am I just digging myself into a hole if I am completely new to showing and hope to finish my own dog? I'm willing to take classes, visit shows, study, find and learn from mentors.... I'm almost 38 years old. Wish I had started this sooner! I'm just wondering if this will be a completely uphill battle. Any advice from those of you who have shown and finished your own dogs??? Both my puppy and I would be learning this together... not the ideal combination (e.g., two beginners learning together). I HAVE trained dogs and can do basic obedience. I just don't know much about conformation showing.

Thanks for any and all feedback!

Hi Quita,

I'm going to answer this question on this forum because it really is as appropriate here as on the training forum.

I sort of have a problem with breeders who lean on novice owners to show in conformation. I don't know who your breeder is but unfortunately a lot of the newer breeders really don't have the ability to grade their litters properly and determine what they have by way of potential show pups vs nice pets. So it makes me nervous when I hear about puppy seekers who are being encouraged to buy into the idea of showing in conformation when they actually started out wanting a dog for conformation/agility/tracking or whatever.

As for the actual questions. Yes, a novice handler with a novice dog can compete successfully in the conformation ring. However it usually takes an exceptional dog for complete success which I would describe as being able to complete a championship.

If you can view the process as a step rather than a goal and be happy with what you learn rather than ending up disgruntled after a couple of years of showing to no avail I'd say go for it. But over the years I've seen a whole lot of novices in the conformation ring become quite bitter about the fact that thier dog doesn't win (and probably shouldn't realistically) and abandon the whole idea of shows.

If you have experience showing horses it's likely that you could learn to show a dog--most folks that I know who come from horse venues either halter or performance have enough talent to learn to show dogs and actually I know several who have become more than proficient at it.

Ultimately you will have to make your own decisions about what exactly to do but it takes both a good dog and a decent handling job to compete successfully in the conformation ring. But all of the good handlers you see in the ring today started somewhere as a novice too.

StarlaineK9 · 09-01-2007, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobebug

I sort of have a problem with breeders who lean on novice owners to show in conformation. I don't know who your breeder is but unfortunately a lot of the newer breeders really don't have the ability to grade their litters properly and determine what they have by way of potential show pups vs nice pets. So it makes me nervous when I hear about puppy seekers who are being encouraged to buy into the idea of showing in conformation when they actually started out wanting a dog for conformation/agility/tracking or whatever.

Excellent post, Bug.

I too have the same concerns when I see someone who only wanted a pet being given "a show dog" then being asked to follow through. Now don't get me wrong....I am all for new folks getting into showing as long as they have a clear understanding as to what they are comitting to, and they have a realistic goal. If there is a contract on this deal, please make sure you know what is expected of you...and is that a reasonable expectation for you?

The reality is, the doberman ring is very competative. New owner handlers will have a harder time finishing a doberman than some of the less competative breeds. Sheer numbers required to defeat for a major is one reason. It can be done if you have a good dog and you train so that you have a great act.....you don't have to be a professional to present a dog like one.

Over the years I have seen many sucessful new owner handlers and I have seen many new to the shows be bitten by the bug and continue on. Showing can be rewarding and fun as well as frustrating....but that's what keeps it interesting! LOL

My best advice, if you do plan to show is go to some shows and find someone who's style you like and ask for some handling pointers. When I first started out I went to the professionals and asked for a handling lesson. I was willing to pay for a bit of their time....it helped a lot.

Good luck and welcome!

Elaine Hopper
Starlaine Dobermans & Whippets

sorthund · 09-01-2007, 11:15 AM

Does your breeder show herself? Have her mentor you working with your puppy while it's little, and then take some conformation classes together.

**Kratty** · 09-01-2007, 11:58 AM

If this thread looks funning, don't worry, I just merge the two threads together to make things easier.

robinb · 09-01-2007, 12:22 PM

Hi and Welcome to the Forum Quita.

Elaine and Bug have many years of success and knowledge between them as well as coming from one of the most competative parts of the country to show Dobermans in. You have heard from two of the best!!!

Now from a novice in the dog world, you and I have showing horses in common, I've done both halter and performance with Arabians with quite a bit of success. My circumstance with showing my dog however is different. I had asked for a good Obedience prospect and got a pup who turned into a very nice looking dog. So I've now had him in the ring myself a total of 4 times. My goal right now is to try to get singles on him and then have Carmen Ruby go for the majors.

My boy is sort of a mommies boy and doesn't hand off very good at ringside. Just little stuff, like looking over his shoulder for Mom, but enough to hurt him in the ring. I'm hoping that by the time he's ready to win a major this won't be such an issue. Who knows, time will tell, he will be loved just the same if he wins his championship or not.

I have been doing weekly handling classes now for a couple of months and have had a private by a professional and will take more privates. I've lots to learn and am making mistakes but that's how we all learn. Best of luck.

Robin and Rex