Full Version: I want to start showing dogs.
Im need to get started on showing dos and im not to sure where to start can someone help me?!
Go to the akc website. www.akc.org
Look under events and you will find guides to conformation, agility etc.
You can order them or just print them.
Where do you live? You can look up a local breed club as well on the akc website. See if a close breed club offers handling classes. Go take a few, meet people and they will be willing to help. It is a ton of fun and so many wonderful people are involved in the sport.
Cynthia
Look under events and you will find guides to conformation, agility etc.
You can order them or just print them.
Where do you live? You can look up a local breed club as well on the akc website. See if a close breed club offers handling classes. Go take a few, meet people and they will be willing to help. It is a ton of fun and so many wonderful people are involved in the sport.
Cynthia
QUOTE (parsonpatch @ Jan 12 2009, 02:35 AM) 
Go to the akc website. www.akc.org
Look under events and you will find guides to conformation, agility etc.
You can order them or just print them.
Where do you live? You can look up a local breed club as well on the akc website. See if a close breed club offers handling classes. Go take a few, meet people and they will be willing to help. It is a ton of fun and so many wonderful people are involved in the sport.
Cynthia
Look under events and you will find guides to conformation, agility etc.
You can order them or just print them.
Where do you live? You can look up a local breed club as well on the akc website. See if a close breed club offers handling classes. Go take a few, meet people and they will be willing to help. It is a ton of fun and so many wonderful people are involved in the sport.
Cynthia
It is not as easy as they make it look on the televised dog shows. There is lots of work involved. Also, a lot of show people have attitude problems and really do not like newcomers, especially if they know a bit about dogs.
Most handlers start out showing their own dogs and specialize in a breed. It takes many years and many wins, and I will add a lot of money out the window to do this for a living and or a hobby. It is also heartbreaking at times and very political depending on the breed.
Depending on your location I would suggest that you go to the AKC show schedule and start going to the shows. Watch, listen, talk to the people showing the dogs and handling. DO NOT pet the dogs, do not try to show people how much you love their animals, talk to people. Some will be friendly some won't be, some might take you under their wing. Read everything you can get your hands on, learn the vocabulary, figure out what kind of shows your would like to participate in; confirmation or obedience.But take your time and learn as much as possible before you commit to any thing including a dog. Dogs are a 10 to 18 year commitment and an expensive one at any level but especially at a purebred dog showing level.
Also most handlers and breeders understand how many illnesses are passed between dogs and people at the shows. Do your research, talk to your vets in the area find out who breeds what dogs, if there is a puppy match and someone you have met has a puppy or two that they have to put in the ring and they trust you you might get to show their dog for them in the puppy or junior handling. Most dog people are 2nd and 3rd generation dog show types. It is a hard field to get into but it can be done, but be aware it is expensive, time consuming and not for the faint of heart.
Depending on your location I would suggest that you go to the AKC show schedule and start going to the shows. Watch, listen, talk to the people showing the dogs and handling. DO NOT pet the dogs, do not try to show people how much you love their animals, talk to people. Some will be friendly some won't be, some might take you under their wing. Read everything you can get your hands on, learn the vocabulary, figure out what kind of shows your would like to participate in; confirmation or obedience.But take your time and learn as much as possible before you commit to any thing including a dog. Dogs are a 10 to 18 year commitment and an expensive one at any level but especially at a purebred dog showing level.
Also most handlers and breeders understand how many illnesses are passed between dogs and people at the shows. Do your research, talk to your vets in the area find out who breeds what dogs, if there is a puppy match and someone you have met has a puppy or two that they have to put in the ring and they trust you you might get to show their dog for them in the puppy or junior handling. Most dog people are 2nd and 3rd generation dog show types. It is a hard field to get into but it can be done, but be aware it is expensive, time consuming and not for the faint of heart.
I ditto the two previous responses and want to add:
Go to a local dog show and find yourself a professional and follow them around for a day or two. See what they do. It is no easy task being a handler, what you saw the past two nights are some of the best in the country and it is LOTS and LOTS of work. See if you can apprentice with a handler, this is the best way to start. It is why two handlers got excused from the ring in the terrier group - they had worked for Mr. Green and he could not fairly judge the dogs because of his close personal relationship to the handlers.
Go to a local dog show and find yourself a professional and follow them around for a day or two. See what they do. It is no easy task being a handler, what you saw the past two nights are some of the best in the country and it is LOTS and LOTS of work. See if you can apprentice with a handler, this is the best way to start. It is why two handlers got excused from the ring in the terrier group - they had worked for Mr. Green and he could not fairly judge the dogs because of his close personal relationship to the handlers.
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