I've never done any showing with my boys, so hopefully you will get a response for someone with experience, but thinking back to my horse showing days, it took months and months sometimes of disappointment before a placing, then just when you think you've cracked it's ages till you are placed again. I am wondering if dogs are the same, you have to really love the experience of it, because it's not all about winning, I don't mean that to sound patronising, just that I expect it takes time and experince both for you and your boy. I would have thought you were better to carry on despite the puppy fluff as each time out gives you both more experience, as you visit different venues, meet lots of others and learn together so that when he is a gleaming beauty and the fluff is gone you will be ready
Good luck, I am sure you will be fine.