Showing info for newbies
 

I am writing a 'how to' for novices about showing. I am hoping for some feedback/advice as to what to add to my little article.

Showing Your Yorkie - The basics for beginners

I don't want to get too detailed since it's for beginners, but there is so much a newbie should know. :) Any suggestions?

I think this is a great idea. I don't want to show my dog, but am interested to know what is involved in the process. Thanks for doing this.:)

I know your intention is to make it simple. However, I think you'd want to begin with informing a newbie on how to find a reputable breeder/exhibitor first. It seems that is where so many newbies go wrong and have to restart once they've made the wrong choices. The importance of finding a reputable breeder/exhibitors being at the top of the list, since said breeder/exhibitor will be the newbies mentor. That mentor instructing them on everything.

I know my breeder/exhibitor/mentor, taught me everything, instructed me on everything (and still teaching me), from telling me which handling classes to attend, nutrition, genetics, pedigrees, training, coat care, grooming, presentation, and when I was ready was there on my first whelp.

She was there for my first show dog's first puppy match and every show that she was entered in, through her Championship and there on her last show, the day my girl retired from the ring.

So, in my oppinion a good mentor and how to go about searching for one should be up front.

An absolutely excellent point! One I hadn't even thought of. I think I will write a seperate article about selecting a breeder / selecting the "right" puppy for you, then link the new page to the page about showing.

There is so much I can write about selecting a breeder! I guess I jsut thought most people already knew about that, but, you are right, that's where most people make a mistake. If you choose a breeder who is hard to get in touch with and unwilling to help, you will have a much harder time learning anything. I know my menotors have always been there for me, from teaching me how to do a proper top knot to the best products to buy.

Thanks for the advice! :)

No, most people don't know about how to select a breeder/exhibitor/mentor. Most are in a hurry and go to the first one that will sell them a dog on open registration. Believe me I get so many calls, e-mails from YT members that have done just that and have been bitten. I try to console them and help, but when all is said and done, I'm pretty blunt.....it's their fault, they were in a hurry. The consequences are the same.

The articles and instructins are on google....I've found them....even 10 years ago when I was looking for said articles for newbie. There are also great how to in YT Magazine and The Gazette. The key is to find a breeder that has a great line, been showing and has at least 10 generations of Champions in that line. Once you've found that mentor.....everything else falls into place, they are your teacher....on everything "Show"

Finding a mentor and building trust between the two of you is a 2 way street. A novice needs to be respective to learning and willing to listen.....be a sponge.

I will say, as a newbie, I still hadn't developed or determined my type of yorkie. So, I put my faith and trust in my mentor and she selected my first Show Dog

How may Yorkies have you shown and finished?

Me? I have only been showing since June, haven't finished anyone yet.

But, the article covers the basics. I know that a lot of people want to get involved in showing, but are too imtimidated or something. The point of this article is to break it down into the nuts-and-bolts so it doesn't seem so intimidating.

And, I feel that the only way that the AKC and the sport of pure bred dogs is going to continue to grow and thrive is to get new people involved in the dog fancy. The AKC needs new people to continue the tradition :)

I am 29 and the youngest person (by far) in our local AKC club. I think the next youngest person is about 45. Where will the AKC be in 30 years without "fresh blood?" :)

I think new exhibitors should be encouraged. The average length of time a person spends showing is 5 years. Why? Because in order to attain greatness, there are a LOT of hurdles to overcome, most people don't have the tenacity to withstand it. Every new exhibitor or potential exhibitor should be supported and encouraged - it benefits everyone: the future of the dog fancy in general, and, im my case, Yorkies in particular. :)

I have to agree with Mary...finding that mentor is the best way to get involved in showing....all the reading is good but the mentor is the best way possible!! They are the ones with the knowledge!! I'm lucky enough to have several mentors and gain new mentors even now. I'm so lucky but without their knowledge about showing/breeding all the reading is secondary.

Donna Bird

There are few that have attained greatness......very few.

Yes, there are alot of hurdles to overcome. The reason the length of time in showing is 5 years, is because most don't have a commitment and find that it does take tenacity and a passion. Few have it, few do it for the right intentions.....so, they give up.

There are several things that will attribute to bringing in the newbie......First the newbie that has all the right intentions and deligence, 2nd the mentors that will spend the time training these newbies and then of course AKC, though the registry and Kennel Club of my choice, has to do their end of it too. They are making it difficult for the exhibitor......

One of my dearest friends has been involved in the dog fancy for a little over 30 years, and to date has bred 78 champions (almost 79). She has told me more than once that she still doesn't know everything and learns something new all the time. At the Pat Hastings seminar here back in November, she said, "You can dedicate your life to the sport of dogs and still feel like a newbie when you hear something and think 'Man, I should have known that'."

Also the reason it's over for most in 5 years is also because the newbies are competeting against the pro handlers and they get frustrated because showing is a very political game...it's tough for a breeder/owner/handler to compete against the handlers, you have to have tough skin and keep up the deligence and the heart and passion.

SOOO true. And, the handlers walk around a show site like they own the place. When I was stewarding at our show in November there was a pro handler that got mad at me - The breed had started, and I had marked this handler as absent, then he showed up at the ring right as the class before him was finishing up. I hurried around and gave him his arm band and he said something like "You guys are marking people absent way too soon. You should wait until the class is OVER before you mark someone absent."

Of course, I was thinking, "Hey buddy, everyone else was here before the breed even started, so don't yell at me." But, I just bit my tongue. :)

Mardelin and Brooklyn are absolutely right!

I know your intentions are good, but, there are numerous books and videos that go into great detail. I just feel you need a little, actually a lot more experience exhibiting and breeding before you attempt a "how to" article.

we as breeder/owner/handler will always have to deal with the handlers because it's their lively hood and their job and those of us that show our own it's not our job but our love and hobby for showing....that is what scares most newbies away because it will always be harder for us to get ahead in the political arena. We have to continue the passion and obsession and then eventually a owner/handler can keep up with the big boys but that's after many years LOL...I just think more need to find the mentor/exhitor first and foremost before attempting to go it alone :)

Point taken, fortunately the article isn't personal opinion or conjecture, just the facts.

I did check out your link. Suggestion: I think you should add in the forewording that you are just getting started showing and this is the information you found useful. Also you might not link your "puppies for sale" below the show information. It may send the wrong message and you do not want to misrepresent yourself or come off wrong. I know you may not have thought of this.

Yes, showing is tough and I think it is meant to be. It is sort of like getting through college... it is the ones that persevere and are determined that have a higher chance to succeed. I also believe that there are many that come into showing for the wrong reason and do not last. If they stayed and tried harder, they would learn so much.
Many of us learn as we go through experience. It is like that saying: You will remember only 10% of what you read, but if you connect all of your senses in the process of learning something new you can remember 90%. Mentors can tell you so much and insight. Very valuable! Definately add in that they should have an experienced mentor (that have their own champions a must)!

AKC will usually hold novice classes at the shows. If you look in the catalogs - the date and times are usually posted for this. They are usually held on Sat. Also if you let the steward know you are new, most of them can be very helpful about getting your band and ring enterance.

correction: 10% of what you hear...

Also ... Don't forget about infodog.com site . Great for other show information. It depends on the area in which the shows are as to which Superintendents will sponsor them.

I am always learning more!! :D

Tina,

So true. The key is a mentor.......once that mentor is found everything else falls into place.....it's another reason a lot of newbies fail, they attempt to take the short cuts, go it alone, without a mentor, setting themselves up for failure. Yep! There are plenty of breeder/exhibitors out there selling show dogs, however, if one is true to the breed and selling show dogs, it shouldn't be done without the ownership and responsibility of mentorship.......

Again you buy your mentor, then your dog.......These people have been around along time.....yes, things have changed, but their experience and knowledge is invaluable...................

JMO ...I could not write an article like that as long as I have been in Yorkies...I haven't seriously shown in a long time...things change so SO VERY much every 5 yrs... even yearly on some things..

BUT...I wish I had kept a dog show journal of my experiences...I have many written down, but some are so pirceless to retell people are always asking the times, dates and faces..hard to recall to the letter..so why not keep a journal of what it is like to be a novice yourself and each learning experince can be shared..

Slam me if you want...but few will take anything to heart what your write UNTIL you finish your own..and some like me really do not turn my head until you have produced that champion from your own stock...it is so easy to steer a novice in the wrong direction...big understaking.

If I want to learn to ice skate, I am not asking someone who watches Disney on Ice...not to say you have nothing to contribute..on the contrary...you have a perfect platform to educate because you are a novice writng what you are learning...best wishes

Good advice, Pat. I know I could not write this article either. A Blog might be the way to go for the journal. Reminds me of that movie Julie and Julia. That was a great movie. But what a good idea. A Blog about your travel through learning to show. The ups and downs, what worked best for you, etc...

Mary was so right! I was thinking about the mentor - A good mentor "is" worth their weight in gold. They are a savings in more than just time and the pocket purse, but also for the breed. :thumbup: A lot less mistakes are made!

In the OP's defense, I think the article is a good basic overview of how to find, enter and how the general flow of things work at a show. I don't think she intended for it to be a step-by-step guide on how to show like a pro.

Yes, starting with an excellent mentor is ideal but the reality of the matter is there are increasingly fewer of those individuals around. Additionally, getting the privilege to own and show a quality specimen of the breed is an honor itself--one that is not given easily. For someone starting out it may take that "mistake" purchase and the demonstration of that individuals passion for the breed to prove that they are trustworthy with a quality dog from a quality breeder.

For the vast majority of those interested in showing--you just need to get out there and do it and learn as you go. Even if you have a mentor you cant undermine the value of lessons from the school of hard knocks--those tend to stick around the longest!

On the bright side, if the OP's article gets a few newbies in the ring we could a) use new blood in the breed and b) use the additional entries ;)

Excellent point, Tina!

I could never write an article even with me being in it for about 6 years. I still have so much to learn. I could probably help around the ring but to write an article and not being it this endeavor no longer than I have I would not feel good about someone following what I say and it be not right for them. So much to learn for a newbie and if you do write the article I wouldn't advertise puppies for sale...
Heck I never post when I have puppies although I haven't had a litter in 2 years but the point is I don't advertise puppies for sale even on my website...

Just doesn't look good in my opinion :)

Donna

Wow, thanks for all the advice, I guess.

I wasn't trying to come off like some authority on showing, I certainly am not that. I just took the info from the AKC and my own experience and put it together for newbies. People who have been showing for years seem to forget the SIMPLE things, like telling their mentee where to find a catalog and what that even is. I thought I was helping people like me. I made a complete fool of myself the first show I went to because my mentors didn't mention anything to me about how to find my ring, ring time, etc. I guess they assumed that was a 'given'.

But, it's my article and I am trying to contribute a little. Say what you will. I was just trying to help.

I agree with you 100% Donna. There were two excellent articales on in YT and I think the other in the Gazette. Both were similar and recent, about starting out in the show world. How it is very easy for the newbie to pick on the wrong mentor....and the correct way to pick one out. I know that when attending shows, I tend to lean to those ole timers that have been in it for decades. Keep my ears open and still ask questions.

There are plenty of mentors out there; what is difficult for them is to identify that newbie that is a willing pupil.

There are people that I know on a personally that have been in a hurry and been taken to the cleaners by thousands of dollars. If it can be stressed to newbies how important a mentor is in starting out, then I think we've all contributed to that newbies chances of staying in it for longer than 5 years.

Your mentor should have told you that :) A good mentor tells all at the shows even if you should use bait, let you know if the judge allows it ect...nothing is a given for a newbie and mentors should know better in my opinion. Even the simple things the mentor should be telling ya :)
Thats why I always tell someone that is wanting to get involved in the shows is to go watch and watch and attend before even entering a dog to show. You can learn alot by attending a show a lot before even taking your first step in the ring :)

Donna

Your intentions are great. But, what you mentioned about your first show only compounds how important it is in finding a mentor that will guide you through everything. Everyone needs a starting point. I know that I attended several shows, as a gopher, (holding dogs, excercising dogs, ironing dogs, running ringside tables to ringside, etc) prior to even owning a show dog. So, by the time I entered the ring I was pretty familiar with the show process. So you're right, if you stick with the basics.....that's a good thing. Like equipment needed, learning the point system, how to read a cataloge.

I was just thinking about how I got started the first time. I was lucky and was taken under some wings of some very expert arms that guided me in the right direction.

I attended Fun Matches first with my first yorkie and went to see the real shows and I watched carefully. I was also given tips and advice as I went. Then from there I bought my fist show baby and entered the real shows with her in puppy classes. That helped a lot - showing in puppy classes and practicing - for me and my pup. We sort of learned together.

From there I was a gopher too. I thought being a gopher was fun! By doing that I got a lot of useful tips!

Sarah - Basic tips/information to help are good. Just be forthright and explain that you are new to showing and sharing what you have learned so far. Nothing wrong with that.
There are some people that jump in and do not have a mentor and they will need some guidence.

Yep! Being a gopher is fun...none of that stress of grooming and going in the ring, yet the ability to be around those knowledgeable exhibitors and beautiful dogs.

To this day my husband has never been in the ring, he knows how to put up a topknot, iron a coat., put a dog in wraps......but, boy he's always at ringside, helping exhibitors.....and holding dogs.

I still love being a gopher LOL! Take my friend Kristie she comes to the dog shows with me and helps me and others and has never thought about showing yet but when she's ready she'll already have a big head start. I still help others in the grooming area and ringside...I still go and take ringside tables, get arm bands and whatever anyone needs especially those that have been doing this forever...I've gained several mentors even now by being a gopher :)