Arrival time at show?

[Trish Haill]

I am going to the Midland Irish Setters show at Coventry this coming Saturday.  The first class Bess is entered in is the Junior Bitch class.

You may recall that Bess is not very well behaved at shows, and hanging around before her class does not improve her behaviour at all! 

The judging starts at 9.30am - does anyone have any idea when Bess's class might be held?  I'm very new to this, so don't know if all the dogs classes are held first, or whether the bitches classes are held simultaneously?

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[Carmel Murphy]

Dog classes are held first!! I would think being there early would be good for Bess so she can settle down and get used to everything and also gives her plenty of time to go to the loo etc.? ;o) Best of luck;o)

[Catherine Carter]

I have not entered so don't know the details....are there two judges or only one doing both dogs and bitches? Do you know how many are entered? If only one judge ,then dogs are first and bitches afterwards, if two judges , judging takes place at the same time for both sexes in two different rings. Junior class is after minor puppy and puppy so I would get there before judging starts in the bitches ring and you should not have too long to wait. If only one judge, then bitches might get started just before lunchtime depending on the entries.i hope this helps!

[Sue Paterson]

Hi Trish. I believe there are 2 judges at this show, so dogs and bitches would be judged at the same time. It would depend on the number of entries in Minor puppy, and puppy classes as to when Bess would be in. Oh and possibly veteran if they are scheduled early on. I'd get there a bit early so you aren't frantically chasing around trying to find your bench, catalogue etc. If you are calm it will help Bess. Set up your bench, find where everything is and take a nice stroll round with Bess so you are both comfortable. I tend to groom when I arrive and then a quick tidy up is all that's needed as your class is due.

Have a lovely day...wish I was going now instead of doing an Open show  where it'll be outside, cold and probably wet!!

[Jean Lippett]

It starts at 9.30 and you're in the fourth class. (the schedule's on Fossedata). We're in the class after you and we're going to aim to be there soon after 9 to allow for travelling hold-ups.

Just in case there are small entries in puppy and veteran you need to be ready to go in the ring well before ten. See you there!

[Trish Haill]

Thanks all! That's helpful. And we have to arrive in good time to make sure Bess can have a bacon roll. That's what she associates Coventry with now.

Good luck to anyone going. Do come and say 'hi'. I'm the one who's dog is going round on 2 legs!! (Though it would be really nice if no one can recognise us from that description on the day. :0)

[Carmel Murphy]

Sorry Trish, but I was thinking of shows in Ireland where dogs are always judged first;o))) Enjoy;o))

[Christine Pullen]

Hi Trish, we are going!! we have three boys and one of them is a puppy at his first champ show so am expecting it NOT to be faultless lol!!! Will try and come and find you or you can look me up as well..if we don't see each other,  good luck and have a lovely day and just enjoy yourself, Bess will only be young for such a short time and it's all experience for both of you...having said that I know i shall be nervous as haven't been in the ring that much lately!!

[Lesley Gilks]

So, how did you do Trish?

[Trish Haill]

Dreadful! 

Well, at least she mostly kept all 4 legs on the floor whilst moving, and her first stand was okay, but then she decided she wasn't going to stand again!  Whenever I tried she was up on her hinds, front legs flailing at me - she was dreadful.  I just about managed to get her to stand for the judge (had to give up the first time and he told me to move her first and then she at least stayed still for him to go over her). 

Of course we got nowhere (probably wouldn't have done anyway) - oh, except for a HC for the Maiden class which only had six entries. 

She seemed more over excited than she usually is at shows - I think she was overwhelmed by the number of ISs there.  With a mixture of dogs she's a little more subdued, but she just wanted to play and leap on every dog she came across. 

I did get thanked for providing the entertainment from someone sitting ringside!  :0)

[Christine Pullen]

Hi Trish, well done on the HC anyway, always nice to be acknowledged at least!! I'm sorry we never got to meet but we were unable to go in  the end as two of the dogs came down with some kind of virus and were quite poorly.....I'm sure Bess will improve, well I know she will, it's just a matter of practice...I'm sure you go to a ringcraft class and that will help...maybe see you at the next one!!

[Lesley Gilks]

I'm new to showing myself and it is a huge learning curve.  I've also had issues with my dog but I take the view that if I manage to get him right then I would've learned far more than if he'd taken to it straight away.  When Bess does finally begin to show some progress, it'll be  all the more sweeter.  The only advice I can give is be consistent, always follow through on a command and try to anticipate her reactions to a given circumstance.  I was also told to stop using treats as rewards and give more praise and Rigsby has responded to this.  He listens a lot more now.    

You also have to remember that Irish Setters don't really come into their own until they are three/four years as they take a long time to grow and mature.  Most of the dogs/bitches that win CC's are older dogs but they all had to start somewhere.

keep plugging away and you'll get there.   

[Trish Haill]

A chap who was at the Cambridge show we were at a few weeks ago came up and congratulated me on how I persevered with her there - which was nice!  He was talking to my OH whilst I was in the ring, and apparently he said that I'll be an expert when I get another dog!  So Bess is obviously a great learning experience for me!  :0)

He also told my OH that I shouldn't have treats with me - but at the moment that's the only way of getting her attention back when she's gone into one of her loopy spells.  So I'm not sure what's best.