The Ark

Hi everyone, Bec or anyone else that does Hillsborough show training - could you please tell me if it is on tonight or next Tuesday night? I would love it to be tonight as I don't have any kids who will need looking after this week! Can someone please let me know? I would really appreciate it! Thanks. Deb

Hello Kitty, Sounds like you are on the right track - you obviously know what you need to do and happily take advice so you'll have it together in no time. I am having the same problem with my min pin at obedience training (and home), but only half the time now instead of 100% of the time. Today he was actually jumping up a little bit next to me (which he never does) because I think he wanted me to protect him from the wind. I didn't correct him for that though, because as other people have said before, at least he was totally focused on me for a change!!! It was a nice change, in our case. Good luck with it! Deb

Congrats sammy, Steph and Bec on your first points! Exciting stuff. Charm didn't get any points this weekend as the older bitch takes her out every time. She didn't behave very well this weekend either - my fault because we haven't done a lot of handling practice lately. She got Minor Puppy of Breed by default in both shows, so some pretty ribbons. Back to the practice table we go...... Our biggest success was with Viviane, my husband's 3yo Aussie Shepherd, who got Aus Bred Bitch and Reserve Challenge Bitch for her very first show! My dodgy handling possibly cost her the chance to go any further but we were very happy with that, considering she's been a sooky pet for 3 years and the show ring is a totally different way of life (and handling an Aussie is much different to handling a min pin)! The second show wasn't quite as (nearly) successful but we still learned a lot. She is in season, too, and hopefully will be going to visit her boyfriend this week sometime so her first show season might be a very short one. I really enjoyed the day thanks to Bec's company, and it was great to meet you too, Steph. Here's hoping for gorgeous weather for the October shows so we can all enjoy it a bit more. Deb

I spent half the evening washing and drying the Aussie. I am EXHAUSTED! I will wash the min pin in the morning, just so she's not smelly. 20 seconds, a wipe with a towel and she's done and dry! I should get more of them! Bec - I set my gazebo up next to your tarp today. Had to borrow a hammer from the nice people in the caravan as I forgot mine! I'm glad no-one was there to watch because it did take me a while to work out how to get the top struts up..... The trickiest part I found at the last show was getting it exactly square to that I could get the attachable walls to zip up properly. I hope that next dust-storm that's on its way waits until at least Monday so we all get to enjoy our gazebos. Good luck to everyone for the weekend! Deb

Wow, Have the power off for a couple of hours and look at this topic go!! Congrats on the gazebo, Bec. Are you setting up Friday? I am thinking of taking mine in, but now sure where to put it now because I'm showing the Aussie Shepherd in the working dog ring, and the min pin in toys. I feel more comfortable in the toy section at this stage so I might still set up there and just travel over to the working dog ring. I am TERRIFIED about handling the Aussie - she is 3yo so will be up with the big guys, and I have NO handling experience at all, not to mention the grooming! I'm hoping we'll remember somewhere along the line that it's fun. Gee those OzTrail prices are good! I think I paid $199 for my compact. I went with the little one so that it would fit in the back of my Kluger - but now if we are showing more than one dog I'm going to have to tow the horse float anyway so the length probably didn't matter so much. I can understand the worry about carting all the gear, undecided. I am hoping to get a show trolley soon, so that even if the dogs have to walk at least I can wheel most of the gear over in it/on it! Great to see you in here, ange165. Max is very cute! He looks like he stacks so well for a baby! Jess, do you have your numbers etc back for the Cessnock shows? Looks like there are two field spaniels entered in the Saturday shows! Deb ;)

Jess - well done! Where did you show? Undecided - welcome! Deb

If I'm super-organised I might go for a look at Morriset on Friday. If I go I'll grab a couple of squeaky rats!

Thanks for the explanation, Jess. So much to learn! Hopefully we'll get to see you at Hillsborough. Deb

Well done, Jess. Pardon my ignorance, but what is "Best Opposite Baby Puppy"? I'm still getting all of this straight in my head. I envy all the newbies who have their breeders close by - mine is hours away! It must be lovely to have that support close by when you are starting out. What a shame about your crate - did the other person apologise at all? Deb

That sounds great, Bec. I just had to run and check that I had entered the am & pm Cessnock shows (after reading poocow's post) - phew, I sent them both. So it would be great to get set up together. Wow - so many minors! That sounds like fun. Deb :rolleyes:

Good luck, Jess. That's great that you get to see your breeder. We're not doing Morriset, but might duck down for a look. We are doing the Saturday Cessnock Dog Club show at Hillsborough the following weekend (I think that's when it is). Deb

Hi, Yes thanks Bec I did get the ribbons - she got 3: blue one for class, then one for Reserve Challenge Bitch and one for R/U BOB. I didn't realise that we got ribbons at the last show so I didn't ask, but we did pick up our Challenge Certificate for that one as she got 6 points (only one there!). Thanks for offering to drop in the catalogue, but please don't make a special trip. You are busy enough! Poocow - congratulations on the shortlist for sweeps and Baby Puppy in Group. That's great! Looking like a lovely day here. Have fun everyone. Deb

Hey everyone, Well done Bec - Toby looked very well behaved to me! And I also wondered if that was Morgan in baby sweeps? Tambaqui - awesome to hear from another Min Pin newbie. Charm did have a little snap at the judge today, and the judge pulled her hands away quickly which scared me a bit but she was just giving Charm a bit of space. The judge was very nice about it, and excused Charm for being a baby (well, a minor who acts like a baby). I ended up showing her teeth for the judge, and the judge said that was okay - she just then put her hands over the rest of her which Charm was then alright with. I love my Min Pins, but they aren't like all of the other cute and cuddly puppies around who just want to lick everybody they see (like Toby). Where do you show, and are you going to the Min Pin specialty in Sydney on 10th October? We'll be there. Charm ended up with Minor Puppy (Breed), Reserve Challenge Bitch and Runner-Up Best of Breed (out of 3 entries). It was great to not be the only Min Pin there today, and actually get a real placing even if it didn't get her any points, and thanks to Bec I realised we actually got ribbons which my kids were very excited about. I wasn't game to look at the judge in Group because Charm was pretending to be a kangaroo - I think she spent at least 10 seconds entirely on her back legs. I had a great day. I set up next to two lovely ladies, one of whom I'd seen at my first show. Then meeting Bec and having someone to chat with really made it fun. I also got to help out with a couple of very cute Aussie Shepherd pups in the working dog ring while I was waiting for Charm's class. Now I know what I'm in for when we show our Aussie girl in a few weeks. Good luck to everyone for the rest of the weekend. Deb

Thanks SparkyTansy - I'll ring the show secretary tomorrow.

Hey guys - are you showing at Hillsborough this weekend? My little Charm is in Minor Puppy now, and this time we shouldn't be the only Min Pin there. By the way, I did ask a question in showing FAQ regarding setting up a gazebo but haven't seen an answer yet. If I intend to compete in all 3 shows over the weekend, is it okay to set up my gazebo early Friday as close to the ring as possible and leave it there all weekend? Do most people take their gazebos down (do they get stolen??) and maybe just leave a mat/tarp there - but does that then get moved by other people? I will have my 3 children with me on Saturday and Sunday and as I'll be by myself looking after them I need to have them fairly close to the ring where I can keep an eye on them and the ring. Any suggestions? Deb

Hi everyone, I am still very new to showing (have my 3rd show coming up - and 4th & 5th on the same weekend!). My question is about the etiquette of setting up a gazebo. My pup is entered in the Friday evening show at Hillsborough, then the Saturday evening and the Sunday morning. I have 3 small children that I will have to keep close by during Saturday and Sunday as my husband is busy elsewhere. My question is: Is it okay to set up my gazebo early Friday (ringside, if possible) and then leave it there until Saturday afternoon/Sunday??? If you are going to be there for most/all of the shows over a multi-show weekend do you leave your gazebo up, or is it okay to just leave a tarp/mat on your spot, or is this considered rude/will it be moved? I really need to have my kids in sight if at all possible so would be willing to go in very early Friday to get a good spot. Can someone please let me know what is the "done thing" in this situation? Is someone likely to steal your gazebo if you leave it set up? Thanks! Deb

Good luck, Jessm. That would be awesome to have your breeders there, and have them offer to handle! Mine lives about 7 hours away. I'm going to the Kootingal show, as my mum & dad live in Tamworth so it's a great excuse for a visit (free babysitting, too!). It's all very exciting!! Deb

Thanks Bec, Ceilidh, & poocow. I will definitely say hello next time. I saw the kids and the tent - it looked like they were having fun. I think Great Rugs is the one that was at Taree - they had pretty good prices. I'm going to do a ring around the camping stores (and Bunnings) this week because I'd like to get one before the next Hillsborough show so that I can practice putting it up before I get there! Deb

Hi Bec - were you in the red suit? I wasn't sure if that was you or not, but I did note the cute black & white fluffball on the leash, and saw the bum wagging on the table. He looked so happy to be there! And I saw him standing so nicely a few times, I was very impressed. If that was you, I'll know who to say hi to next time. We got some points yesterday - Charm was the only min pin (again) and because she is now a minor she got BOB. I was really surprised there weren't any others there. Maybe next time. We missed sweepstakes because I thought they ran 6-12 months AFTER 3-6 months, not at the same time. Now I know! And I was going to buy a gazebo yesterday, but there was nobody there selling them! You are so lucky living 5 minutes away. We are about 40 minutes away, which still isn't too bad but makes juggling 3 kids etc a bit tricky. Lucky my husband did a fantastic job of that, even though I forgot to take my phone with me and he had no idea what time I was finishing. I learned lots of lessons yesterday. I think from now on I'm going to have a "show checklist" with all the important stuff listed on it - eg. numbers, water bowls, mobile phone - all the stuff that should be easy to remember but may get lost in the mayhem of getting ready. I look forward to meeting you and some other people at the next Hillsborough show. Deb ;)

Hi everyone, Well done to everyone who has had their first shows! I'm new on here and new to showing. Is anyone going to be at Hillsborough tomorrow? I'm doing the PM show with my Min Pin, Charm, and it is only our 2nd show ever. Charm had her first show at Taree on 7th August, just the Friday show. She was the only Min Pin there and was entered in Baby Puppy. She behaved herself very well! We move up into Minors for tomorrow's show, and I assume there'll be a couple of other Min Pins there which will be great. Deb