clothes – Winning Paws

What footwear is best in the ring?
Many people ask the question, what footwear they should wear in the ring.

It depends what you find comfortable and what goes best with your outfit. My main two types are worlds apart. Either ballet pumps. Comfy, look OK with suits and come in so many colours there is a pair for each suit. My other showing favourites are my Dubarry boots due to their extreme comfort, warmth, support and grip, plus I just love them and live in them anyway!

When your next at a show, have a look around to see what people are wearing. You will see a variety of different shoe and boot styles.

Think about something that is comfortable to you. Find a shoe that fits well and doesn’t slip off as you move your dog round the ring and that has good grip, you don’t want to be slipping. If you have a small dog and always wear heels, then find a comfy, non-slip pair, but consider what you would wear if you were showing on soft grounds.

Also get used to the idea of wearing wellies/waterproof boots. I have had, on a number of occasion’s worn wellies in the ring along with a majority of exhibitors due to the wet British summer and outdoor shows.

I do believe, gone are the days when you have to wear something unfashionable on your feet in the ring. You will find something that’s fashionable and practical if you look around, try them on and run up and down in the shop!

For men, as always there is less choice but try to avoid trainers. A smart pair of shoes will look good and will go with suit/trousers or help smarten up a pair of jeans. (Sorry men, I’m not up on the male fashion, maybe someone could comment on this blog to advise further!)

Happy shopping and remember, if you’re not moving properly, your dog is unlikely to either. So your shoes could be very important to your dog’s performance.

: simple, comfy, black shoes

What to wear to a dog show

What should you wear to a show?

This is something that often comes up in discussions, what should you be wearing in the ring, what colours are best etc.

So, here’s a list of guidelines to think about when choosing your showing outfit;

1) Comfort – You will spend a lot of time standing up so comfortable shoes and clothes that YOU feel comfortable in are a must.

2) Suitability for the weather – Good old British weather will never let us down and will give us a variety of weather, possibly in one day! So make sure you have something suitable for the hot, cold or wet!

3) Colour – you want the colour to compliment your dog. A black dog will get lost in black clothes. So choose something that makes your dog stand out from you.

4) Where to put the bait/toy/bags – Think about does your outfit have pockets or do you need a bait bag?

But what is acceptable and what isn’t?

Today I was at a show in freezing conditions. The show is half inside for small dogs and half outside for the big dogs. Knowing the temperatures and show I opted for many layers including thermal leggings and tops, nice thick 3 in 1 coat and my lovely thermal boots, designed for use in ice and snow! Was a smart today? No! But it followed my guidelines above!

Generally Champ shows are seen as smarter than open shows, and of course Crufts is the occasion many people will buy a new outfit for.

So, for smartness a suit, one that compliments your dog in colour and is comfortable to move your dog in. A smart pair of jeans with a jacket can look just as good and many people will feel more comfortable in this then they might a full suit. Others might prefer a pair of trousers with a smart blouse/shirt. This is where comfort really is important, not just how it feels, but how you feel in your outfit.

Another idea that many people go by when in the ring is wearing something that stands out from the other exhibits. Something the judge may remember to go “I really liked the dog whose handler had a bright pink jacket on.” However, these days you see lots of bright colour jackets/suits around the ring. The fashion is now turning to Swarovski Crystal to help handlers ‘sparkle’ in the ring.

What should you wear to a show?

This is something that often comes up in discussions, what should you be wearing in the ring, what colours are best etc.

So, here’s a list of guidelines to think about when choosing your showing outfit;

1) Comfort – You will spend a lot of time standing up so comfortable shoes and clothes that YOU feel comfortable in are a must.

2) Suitability for the weather – Good old British weather will never let us down and will give us a variety of weather, possibly in one day! So make sure you have something suitable for the hot, cold or wet!

3) Colour – you want the colour to compliment your dog. A black dog will get lost in black clothes. So choose something that makes your dog stand out from you.

4) Where to put the bait/toy/bags – Think about does your outfit have pockets or do you need a bait bag?

But what is acceptable and what isn’t?

Generally Champ shows are seen as smarter than open shows, and of course Crufts is the occasion many people will buy a new outfit for.

Remember, you spend plenty of time getting your dog ready, spend a bit of time on yourself too!

I will finish this blog with a list of what not to wear;

1) High heels

2) Low cut tops (think about what will happen if you bend over!)

3) Very short skirts (men too!)

4) Dangly jewellery

5) Anything see though