Tag: Seminars

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Handling training Show dog training

Winning Paws First Junior Handling Training Day

Winning Paws First Junior Handling Training session
Yesterday (Saturday, 18 August) was the first handling session I organised under the Winning Paws name. Having been a Junior Handler myself, I wanted to offer the chance for the juniors to attend a training session. I was so pleased I was able to offer this session for free and I enjoyed myself and learnt something, I hope the attendee’s did too. Numbers were kept to a minimum but allowed the handlers to train with a different group of people.

The weather was hot and this meant keeping the dogs in the shade and lots of breaks back inside where it was slightly cooler to allow dogs and handlers to have drinks and a rest. Lots of mini Q&A sessions did lead to some interesting discussions with parents getting involved too.

Well done to those who attended. You all listened well and wish you all the best for your future handling classes.

What’s planned next?
I plan to run some more training sessions in the future and already have a waiting list. If you would be interested in being the first to know about any future training sessions, please get in contact via the website and as soon as any events are planned, I will let you know before posting on the website events page and Facebook.

Future sessions will include;

  • Junior Handling
  • Adult Handling
  • Breed Showing (getting the most from your dog for the show ring)
  • Different Breeds (A variety of different breeds available for handlers to practice with to acknowledge and respect different styles of handling required to suit different breeds)
  • Many more…

Don’t forget, I’m also available for group bookings for pre-existing ringcrafts or groups. Contact me for more details and costs.

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Top Tips

Top Tip #21

Top Tip #21
Attend a breed specific judging seminar for your breed, even if you don’t want to judge.

You don’t need to take the exam, just attend to learn more about your breed.

This knowledge is good if you are showing to help you understand your dogs faults. It will improve your handling as a result!

Another good seminar is the Kennel Club conformation and movement. Again to give you the understanding of what makes a good show dog.

You can find more information on these though breed clubs, dog papers and the Kennel Club website.

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Getting started Judging

Judging – when and where to start

Judging – when and where to start
I want to try and explain how you start judging after you have decided that is the next step you want to take in your hobby.

Firstly, a general rule I have learnt from seminars and have agreed with based on my own experience is to have at least been showing for 5 years. This way you will have ring/show experience as an exhibitor and maybe done some stewarding along side an experienced steward.

Next is the seminars. None are required before you start judging, although I would recommend to anyone that they try to complete them before judging. There are three Kennel Club seminars and then Breed Clubs run breed specific seminars.
The Kennel Club Rules and Regulations
The Kennel Club Conformation and Movement
The Kennel Club Hands on Assessment
Breed specific seminar (Run by the breed clubs, go on one for your breed of interest)

Once you have completed these, you will have (hopefully) have learn’t all the general basics/theories of judging.

For Young Kennel Club (YKC) members age 16-25 I can personally recommend the YKC Judging Workshops. I attended the first one and it was fantastic, I can’t recommend them enough.

Another good start for judging is to judge either Companion shows and/or Matches. Starting at lower levels gives you the chance to be in the ring and make decisions where the atmosphere is more relaxed.

Please note; one thing that really gets to a lot of show Secretary’s is judges who push themselves by asking for/begging for appointments. If you have done the seminars and are polite to people, you will soon find the judging appointments flying in. There is never an excuse to ask for them (In my opinion).