Showing..what motivates you? ...

[piph]

I've started this thread because my interest has been piqued by a couple of comments in another thread, and I didn't want to highjack it any more than I already had.

So, what motivates you to enter that world?  I know the 'official' answer - to improve the future of the breed, and can fully support that.  But does that mean that most people who show their dogs are either breeders or stud dog owners?  The reason I ask is because, a few years ago, when we had our 2nd GR puppy, her breeder asked us along to a few shows, where our pup's sire was being shown.  We became really interested and considered showing Cassie, but after having gone to a few shows and wandered around, speaking to some of the owners, I was appalled at the bitchiness and rivalry that was evident.  I swore never to get involved in that world, as it would have broken my heart to have someone rubbish my dog, who of course, was the most beautiful and perfect GR that ever lived!! 

No offence towards any of the CoLers who show their dogs,     and I'm certain that none of you would ever be bitchy or mean about another competitor's dog, but I just wondered how you managed to do it, and what motivates you?

[Emilyoliver]

I used to show my two in South Africa, and Ollie won a ticket. I did it a) to see how i enjoyed it as an activity with my dogs;  b) for the social side; c) to showcase my breeder's kennel.  However, I decided it wasn't for me or my dogs as I and they got bored, and I never mastered the skill of showing properly. Yes, there was some bitchiness and 'face judging', but this happens in other activities too - I ignore that side as I aim to enjoy myself and my dogs and I met some lovely people too. Judging is also very subjective so what one judge may like, another may not. However, I really enjoyed preparing my dogs for the ring. A well turned out cocker is beautiful and something to be proud of regardless of whether they are placed or not.

I think any activity with your dog can and should be great fun. I have and do participate in many other dog activities - obedience, tracking, working trials and agility, and have personally found these more rewarding than showing, but all have helped to cement a fantastic bond between me and my dogs.

[SophieBlueRoanLover]

Thanks for starting this thread Pip, as my Update on Puppy Development thread has been totally hijacked by this topic! I'm also quite interested, as I would have thought showing would be to judge a good version of the breed, regardless of whether they're going to be used for breeding.

[elaine.e]

I've done a bit of showing over the years but I've only ever been on the fringe of things, so I can only comment from that point of view.

I've always been realistic about the quality of my various dogs and aware of my fairly inept handling skills so I've rarely been surprised with my placings, although sometimes a bit disappointed for a few minutes. If my dog and I have had an enjoyable day with friendly people to talk to, lots of nice Cockers to admire, yummy refreshments, maybe a bit of shopping and have come home with a rosette then that's enough for me

I've shown at Open and Championship Shows and on the whole other competitors have been friendly and helpful. But I've heard enough bitchy comments and seen a few arguments, so I know there's more than friendly rivalry out there. The nastiest comment made about me in my hearing was at William's first show. A well known exhibitor, whose grooming table was set up next to mine, stared at William and said very loudly to her friend "Well I don't like THAT". Thoroughly nasty and unnecessary, but I chose to ignore her and just had a quiet chuckle to myself when she had a bad day with her Cockers and Will was placed in both his classes

I think people who show a lot are generally breeders as well, so maybe feel the pressure to do well. There's nothing wrong with rivalry and competitiveness as long as people can lose with good grace as well as enjoying winning. Overall I've seen more good behaviour and met more nice people than nasty, but sometimes the nasty ones are the ones who stick in your head longer.

I also think it varies from breed to breed as well. You mentioned GRs and a friend of mine showed her GR dog for a while but found the GR showing world less friendly than those who show Irish Water Spaniels, which is what she shows now.

[Emilyoliver]

Piph, to answer your question on the other thread about castration and prosthetic testicles - was just making a point about people with dodgy ethics in showing. Someone who showed a spayed bitch under false pretences could just as likely show a male with only one descended testicle + implant. Not saying it happens, only that it is possible. If one was showing for the right reasons and according to the rules then all the above is irrelevant.

[Ninasmum]

I have very limited experience in the showing world.  Georgia has been shown very lightly up to the age of 14/15 mths. 
We would have carried on but sadly she never grew to breed standard. My expectations were very low anyway & i'm not a competitive person at all but it was nice to feel
part of 'something'  while it lasted 
One of the main reasons i wanted to start showing was because of my pure & utter love for the show cocker's & it also started to become a bit of a social get together. 
You do meet so many people & even if you don't always get to speak or know everyone, over several shows you begin to know who's who's iyswim 
Sadly, yes i've heard some horrible, bitchy comments around the ring & there really is no need for it.    Unfortunately not everyone is nice but that is in all walks of life. 

I hope in years to come (i wouldn't consider another puppy with already having 4 dogs) that i will get back to showing but in the meantime we can do the occasional fun show. 

[piph]

These are exactly the answers I was looking for and expected!  

I also think it varies from breed to breed as well. You mentioned GRs and a friend of mine showed her GR dog for a while but found the GR showing world less friendly than those who show Irish Water Spaniels, which is what she shows now.

I think you are definitely right - the shows we attended were mixed rather than breed specific, and the GR section definitely seemed more bitchy than some of the other breed sections.  By the time we attended the last show as spectators we had made up our minds it was not for us, but Cassie's breeder introduced us to someone who had one of Cassie's litter mates, who totally ignored us when she found out that we had decided against it.  She literally turned away, almost mid conversation!  How unbelievably rude???

Piph, to answer your question on the other thread about castration and prosthetic testicles - was just making a point about people with dodgy ethics in showing. Someone who showed a spayed bitch under false pretences could just as likely show a male with only one descended testicle + implant. Not saying it happens, only that it is possible. If one was showing for the right reasons and according to the rules then all the above is irrelevant.

I wonder if it happens and how often?  I suppose if it's just about the kudos of winning for them then they might!  'There's nowt so queer as folk' as they say!  

[praia]

My young cocker is active in the conformation ring has been very successful.  It was not something I was interested in doing at all, but the litter produced was exceptional and the breeder really wanted to see the dogs in the ring.  I relented out of curiosity of the experience and also because given the breeding of this dog and the quality of the litter, why not prove their worth in the ring and bring more acclaim to the kennel?  

Honestly, I don't really enjoy conformation showing, though it is always exciting when she brings home another big win.  It can be an expensive hobby and because I'm not involved at all and the breeder does everything, my pup can be gone for some time while she is on the road campaigning. I don't regret agreeing to having my dog shown.  I'm very proud to watch my dog from outside the ring and the pup genuinely loves showing, but it's not something I'm interested in doing again.  The sacrifices that comes with serious conformation showing is why I wonder why anyone would want to do it without having any real rewards from it.

As for your experience, I think that people in some breeds are more hostile than others, but you're always going to meet rude and aggressive people no matter where you are.  The breeder of my dog was into another breed before, but switched to the English Cocker because of how awful some people were in the other breed.

[Jane S]

I've already posted on the other thread that the show scene is really not like it once was years ago (at least not in the UK). There are quite a lot of people who don't breed and don't want to breed but enjoy showing (and not just at companion shows). Yes of course there are still plenty of serious breeders but exhibitors these days are a mix of people with various motivations - some just enjoy a day out with their dogs and other like minded people (winning a rosette or two is a bonus) whereas others take it very seriously indeed. As with any cross-section of people in any other activity, some people are friendly and helpful and some are not, such is life - you can't expect everyone involved in showing to be lovely, lots are but not all (just like any group of people anywhere including on here ). We've certainly met more nice people showing over the years than horrible ones anyway

[JaspersMum]

We have been showing for a few years now and still very much newcomers. We do not breed (although maybe one day when we have the right girl).

We, that is daughter and I, went to one open show to see what it was like and daughter was placed in the junior handling. So we thought we should practise a bit more!  We had taken part in companion shows till then.

We started with a pet dog but Meg perfected the handling side and concentrated on that (we have to enter breed classes to be in handling though). Meg made it through to the UK finals last year and is now judging at the top levels.  I also do handling classes and was even placed in the adult handling finals this year!

We added Charlie to the show team and have had some nice results with him including gaining his stud book number, and in both breed and handling, we've made some good friends in the show world in breed and juniors.  For us it's fun, a nice day with friends.  Some days you do well, some you don't.

However, as a side line, we have tried to educate ourself and attended many seminars to learn what we can about the breed and health etc and that on Megs Cv plus her achievements in the last 3 years, led to two job offers out of the blue this summer and she is now a trainee vet nurse.  That was a by product we never expected!

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I've just started showing Charlie and I got into it after watching crufts this year, I was watching them thinking 'Charlie moves nicer than them' so I tried it out and have quite enjoyed it. We've only done 1 show so I can't really comment, but even still we enjoy ringcraft (Charlie is like an old fish wife meeting to with their friends).

Would I like to breed from Charlie, yes and no. Yes as I've love his puppies, but then I wouldn't be able to keep them all, and no, because I wouldn't want everyone else having his puppies lol.

So in answer to your question, we tired it out to see what it was like and have enjoyed it.

I've been to three different ringcraft lessons and 1 is so much better than the others, and I don't think I'd have kept going had the class not been so good or the people not been so nice. For me, one of the reasons as well is because it's totally out of my comfort zone and it forces me to talk to other people which I an terrible at (that is probably the mean reason we started actually).

[bracken]

I have been showing about 18 months I have a black little girl  also blue puppy which I hope to show later in the year....I have never bred a litter.

I started showing after meeting Michele (mod on here ) with her black bitch at West of England Cocker Club that was about 5 yrs ago now. I went along to the shows regularly without any dogs to watch and support. Eventually after meeting many lovely people which gave me the confidence to show I purchased my girl 

I am motivated by good company and alot of support  yes there are nasty comments heard occasionally by some people but you do not have to get involved..its like anything in life you learn who to stay away from.

In just 18 months I have been placed VHC at Crufts and my girl has her stud book number ...something I never thought possible .....I can honestly say I love showing and have met some truly wonderful people that I now socialize with outside the ring 

Jo

[jaybee]

This is a really good thread, i'd love to have a go at showing in the future but the whole 'world' is a little daunting to me. It's great reading all the different responses decided i'm definitely going to start popping along to shows.

[LynneB]

I started showing about 3 years ago and have had nothing but help from the "seasoned" show people. I do not get into the politics of showing so don't get involved with the bitchiness etc. Yes it does exist, but why let someone's jealousy affect you. I enjoy it, my dogs enjoy it. I was quite overwhelmed at Dundee show earlier this year when some of the bichon people came over and asked me to join them (I show bichons as well as cockers) so that all the "fluffy owners" were together.
I also enjoy meeting up with the people who regularly attend the shows. It's great fun

[rednblack]

When I got my new pup earlier this year, I had intended him to be a pet, and (when he's old enough and steady enough) to do some agility with him, and to see if he would be accepted as a Pets as Therapy dog.  However, he is the first proper, KC reg, pedigree, cocker I've had and (never thought I'd ever say this ) I can see the difference between him and my rescue dogs.  So I started on the slippery slope to showing him - first we went to ringcraft classes, to test how good he might be, and also to get him used to being handled by different people so that if he becomes a PAT dog he will be used to it.  He managed to win 2nd place in the "baby puppy" class on his first match night   .
I'd never expected that.  (He also benefits from socializing with other breeds.)  To cut a long story short, he is now entered in his first "proper" show later this year.  I don't intend to breed from him: if he does well in the show ring I'm happy for his breeder to get credit for him, but I'd like to see just how good a cocker he is (probably absolute rubbish when compared to other show dogs, but if we don't try we'll never know - and he already gets top prize for puppy cuddles every evening!   ).