Top Tip #27
Remember to respect your dog, respect other exhibitors, respect the judge, respect the stewards/officials!
Remember to think about everyone else at a show. Although you are there to show your dog off to it’s best, please think of others at the show. 🙂
Junior Handlers at Richmond – Jessica Horler
Jessica Horler is 13 years old and owns and shows Gordon Setters. At Richmond 2012, due to the Junior Handling Gundog 12-16 class clashing with the breed judging, Jessica handled a Pointer called Face (Sh Ch Afterglow Bare Face Lie at Kanix) owned by David Alcorn.
“I didn’t get anywhere in there but I had a great time”.
Jessica started handling about five years ago and really enjoyed her first class. She started junior handling because her mum was in dog showing and from then on as they say it was history.
“My favourite thing about handling is meeting new friends and doing different things with your dogs as well as enjoying it. I love Richmond because the atmosphere is great and shopping, but I mostly enjoy because of the fantastic showground and the JHA semi-finals competition.”
Jess wasn’t able to show her Gordon in the breed as she was in the JHA semis but her mum showed him and didn’t let her down! Bently was second in Yearling. Jess did take him in the Yearling Stakes and they made the first cut.
She also handled a Flat Coated Retriever and came was 5th in Junior Bitch.
Jessica’s thank you’s:
“I would like to thank David Alcorn for letting me borrow Face and taking him in JHA, he was a super star. Also, I would like to thank my trainers Jenny and James Thornton for all the help and advice they have given me. To Chris Louks for letting me show Brooke and all my friends I have made in handling and Gordon Setters. My biggest thank you is for my Mum for getting me started in showing and paying for all my handling classes and breed classes!”
Well done Jessica for your fantastic attitude around dog shows and I wish you all the best in the future.
Junior Handlers at Richmond – Jess Andrews
Jess Andrews is 15 years old and has two Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers called Toffee (Fallowfen Foxy Vixen) and Mollie (Fallowfen Faithful Yoko).
At Richmond 2012 Jess handled Toffee and was shortlisted in the JHA 12-16 Gundog which was judges by Jenifer Fairhall. Toffee was unfortunately withdrawn from the breed classes this year after going lame after the handling but it was Mollie’s first show. Mollie was 3rd in the Toller Junior Bitch and 1st AV Rare Breed Puppy Bitch and Best AV Rare Breed Puppy.
Jessica started handling only four years ago with Toffee after attending a local companion show and finding out about Ringcraft classes.
What Jess loves about handling is working with her dogs to show them off to their full potential, and to have fun whilst doing so.
Jess trains at Stevenage Ringcraft and attended the Winning Paws training day. She says “I would like to thank Ray, Debbie and Roxanne McDonald for all their support and guidance over the years”.
A huge well done to Jess for the handling and for qualifying her Toller puppy for Crufts 2013 at her first show. I know that is what you wanted. Good luck for Crufts with Mollie and in the handling.
Junior Handlers at Richmond – Nathan Hartfield
Nathan Hartfield is 11 years old and at Richmond 2012 handled his Border Collie Moshanta Moonlight Fantasy JW ShCM (Tallis) to second in JHA 6-11 Pastoral. This was judged by Jo Gordon. Nathan and Tallis also competed in Border collie Veteran Bitch and came 4th. A huge well done to them both.
Nathan started Junior Handling three years ago when his mum asked if he would like to do some shows. He said yes and started training with his Mum and his older sister (Danielle).
Nathan is lucky to have an older sister who has already been though the Junior handling ropes with much success herself including runner up handler of the year and he would like to thank her and his mum for training him, as well as the judges who have liked his handling.
When asked what his favourite thing about junior handling is, Nathan replied “spending time with my dogs and friends”.
When asked if he would like to mention anything else, his reply was “to a good site of Winning Paws”.
Thanks Nathan, it’s handlers like you that this site and blog were set up for, I hope you enjoy it and best of luck in your handling for the future and your next big show, Crufts!
Top Tip #26
Keep a note of all the judges you have been under and how you did for your future reference.
Learning curve
You will never stop learning when it comes to showing dogs (or anything else!) but is there such a thing as learning too much? I don’t think so.
Talking about purely show ring training/ handling, you can never learn too much. Try to go on as many workshops as you can with different trainers. Each trainer will have different handling and training styles and each day your dog may perform differently, as well as many other factors.
Be careful though as you may get conflicting advise. This is where you need to use these different styles to find the one that best suits you and your dog and to develop your own style of showing.
If you find a trainer you like and enjoy their sessions, go on the same one a year or two later. You might pick up on something you missed previously.
Enjoy the training sessions as use them to your advantage.
Happy training!
Which class to enter? Part 2 (Crufts qualifiers)
When entering a champ show to qualify for Crufts there are two things to consider. 1) does your breed have CC’s on offer and 2) which class is a qualifier?
Breeds with Challenge Certificates (CCs) in the UK
If your breed has CC status (I.e dogs can become UK Champions) then make sure the show you want to enter has CCs on offer for your breed. If the show doesn’t have CCs for your breed, only Best of Breed and Best Puppy in Breed can qualify. If the show does have CCs on offer for your breed, then you can qualify by winning first, second or third in a qualifying class. Qualifying classes for Crufts 2013 are;
Minor Puppy
Puppy
Junior
Yearling
Post Graduate
Limit
Open
Veteran
If your dog gains it’s Stud Book Number, this qualifies them for life.
Breeds without Challenge Certificates (CCs) in the UK
If your breed does not have CC status (therefore can’t become a champion in the UK) then all shows are qualifying shows if your dog wins first, second or third in any of the above listed classes or a Best of Sex or Reserve Best of Sex. You can also qualify in AVNSC or AV Rare Breeds if you win a first, second or third in one of the above listed classes.
Other ways of qualifying for breeds with or without CC status include;
Import Register Breeds
For the first time, breeds on the Import Register can also qualify for crufts by winning a first, second or third in Puppy, Junior, Post Graduate or Open, or has been awarded Best of Sex or Reserve Best of Sex at General or Group Championship Shows in AV Import Register classes.
For full information on qualifying, including overseas dogs and other (rarer) ways of qualifying, all information is available at www.Crufts.org.uk and the Qualification rules for Crufts 2013 can be found here.
Top Tip #25
Make open shows a social occasion with friends of different breeds. ‘Setting up camp’ together can make a long wait go quickly!
Tip Top #24
In handling classes there is rarely a right or a wrong way. As long as what you do is neat, tidy and seamless.
For example, showing teeth can be side, side front or side, front side. Neither should be marked incorrect. It is more important to show the teeth clearly to the judge without blocking the dogs nose or poking their eyes.
Top Tip #23
When showing your dog, you are asking (paying) for one persons opinion of your dog on that day, against the competition you have that day. Tomorrow is another day and another judge.
Just remember, you always take home the best dog (your dog).