|
The Big Day ! |
| The Big Day has finally
arrived! Nervous? No reason to be! Remember, this is supposed
to be FUN for both you and the dog!
Let's back up a little and say a word or two about grooming. The majority of your grooming should be done ahead of time at home. Grooming space at a dog show is sometimes scarce. Toenails should never be done at the show site. If dogs are not accustomed to either clipper or grinders, the job of cutting nails can be a traumatic experience for both the dog and the owner! Your dog should be bathed and brushed through and ready with just the last minute grooming done at the show site. Check out our upcoming links on Grooming. What shall I wear? There are three key things to keep in mind, COMFORTABLE, PRACTICAL and POCKETS!! You will find that your clothes shopping techniques will change dramatically! Different show situations can require different clothing needs. Shows that are scheduled to be outdoors have to hope that Mother Nature cooperates and provides mild and moderate weather. But, be prepared for any kind of weather. The normal attire for showing a dog is a jacket and tie for a man and a dress or dressy pant suit for a woman. Of course, there are all kinds of variations and we all have our own "style" that shines through. On extremely hot days, men should take their cue from the judge. If the judge has taken off his jacket to cool off, it would seem acceptable for you to do the same. But, if the judge can suffer through wearing his jacket and tie, well, I guess you can too! Remember, when showing a dog there is bending and kneeling and running, so be sure to wear clothes that can accommodate this kind of activity. Skirts or dresses should not be too tight, that restricts the leg movement and you won't be able to move your dog out to show that wonderful side gait. Skirts that are too long sometimes can fly into the face of the dog when moving and distract them. Skirts that are too short, well.....use your imagination! Bend over in front of the mirror before you leave the house for the show! Pockets should be easy to reach for storing that comb when you are in the ring or for bait for the dog. SHOES! a very important part of the show outfit. This is one area where practicality and comfort win out over style! You should wear a shoe that you can easily run in without the fear of falling. If you can't move out, neither can your dog! Colors can be very important when choosing a show outfit. In most cases solid colors work best rather than large flowery prints. The color should compliment the dog's coloring. For example if you are showing an all white dog, don't wear white. Either a nice rich color like a royal blue or red, etc would compliment the dogs coloring. What shall I take with me? Take only what is necessary! We can all remember the days when we were a novice, we either took too much or way too little! If the majority of your grooming is done at home ahead of time, you can keep your grooming kit down to a minimum of necessities. The ideal situation is to have a grooming kit that remains packed and ready in your car and another separate set of grooming tools that stay at home. What shall I take?
Of course, there are lots of other things that you can take along, we have just covered the basics. What do I do when I get there? First of all, plan on being at the show site at least an hour before the scheduled time of judging for your breed. Plan accordingly for traffic or road construction. Allow plenty of time for unscheduled pit stops and finding a parking space! Find a suitable parking spot, if you are leaving you dog in the vehicle, be sure that there is adequate shade and ventilation in warm weather. Many kennel clubs will have a disclaimer in their premium lists that gives them the right to open a vehicle if a dog is in distress. Purchase a catalog. A dog show without a catalog is like attending a Broadway musical without a playbill! Locate your ring. It is a good idea to watch other breeds being judged in your ring. It will give you an idea of the judge's technique and the movement pattern that they will use. Check with the ring steward and pick up your armband. Also, you can check on any absentees in the breeds that are judged before you, this could shorten your wait time before you go into the ring. If you have a dog that needs socializing or settling down, get him out ahead of time for a pleasant walk around the show site. If you have a dog that lacks enthusiasm, save it for the ring! Check with us for future links to handling tips and techniques. Keep an eye on the proceedings in the ring before your breed. Be sure to be ringside and ready to enter the ring at the proper time. If you win your class, remember, you will be back in the ring for Winners competition. If you place second in the class, DON'T leave. You may have to return to the ring for Reserve competition. If you are the lucky one and take Winners Dog or Bitch, DON'T leave, you will be back in the ring for Best of Breed competition. And, if you are the luck one to take Best of Breed, DON'T leave, you will be back in the ring at the end of the day for Group competition. And of course, you will want to commemorate the occasion with a picture! There are various show photographers that do an excellent job taking winning photos. They will advise you where to set up your dog. From the angle which they take your photo they will give you directions to make your dog look it's best. Be sure to thank the judge for your win! But, remember, they have a full day of judging, keep your comments pleasant and brief. Be sure to congratulate your fellow competitors on their win. REMEMBER, THIS IS A SPORT! Un-sportsmanlike conduct is improper and you can be penalized for it! Be gracious, every dog has his day!
We hope that you have found information in this website that will be useful to you. Please let us know what you think! We will be adding more information and links in the future, check back often.
Feel free to contact us with questions, if we can't answer it we will direct you to someone who can! |