Right ....
2 barky cockers at a ringcraft class was not the best start to the evening
both are bessotted with me, which is great in some respects, but not when your getting someone else to hold the dog while you stack the other
having the person who ran the place look over both dogs, they have said they are both underweight and narrow chested (which she also said is a breed fault and to find one that is not is rare), Esme also does not have much angle in her rear legs but may grow into it, I think thats what she said.
Mabel when she walked her rear was fine, but her fronts are in at the knees so to speak as she does not have enough chest to push them out
Esme would not walk, but when "dropped" she had square legs a the front which apparently is a good sign
Grooming wise they both need work, and Mabel needs to put some coat on (along with the weight) and Esme needs some work, but then she has only had her head stripped by me
what I found supprising is that I was told to use a coat king, as it will not damage the coat only clipping will do this, the person running it (who breeds and shows cockers uses one on her SH CH bitch and has done for years she tells me, so im in a dilema there too
they also recommended water spray etc to help with the stopping barking, but im not sure if thats the right way to go, as I dont like subversive methods, yet I also want it sorting as its been going on too long
looks like Im a long way off cov cocker, but I will get them or one into an open soon, I just need them not to get thrown out of the ring for barking or being a loon
Im a little disheartened to be honest, as yes I know showing is hard work and accept that, and also accept that there are groups of people/breeders/judges that may stick together, thats the same in any competative arena, be that dogs or photography, or anything else.
I respect the knowledge that I was shown tonight and kindly turned down the coat king but accepted the offer of using the thinning scissors .... not sure if thats still right or not, I will go next week to see if things are any better for me, but I need to stop this barking, else its a none starter
thanks for listening
Phil
