Shaar

At the Launnie Royal this year I noticed there were very few members of the public watching Best in Show. I remember as a kid struggling to get a spot ringside to watch there were so many people. Even during the days of showing there weren't many people wandering through to see the dogs. Recently the kennel section has been tucked away in the corner of the show so not as many people venture over. At our old ground we were right in the middle and one of the main attractions. I agree that regular champ shows should be publicised more, but the question is how? Also if you are going to start inviting the public then you need to start restructuring the shows, you would need more volunteers to help in the canteen and you would probably need an announcer to give a commentary of what is happening so the public understands (introducing breeds, explaining best in group etc) much like they do at Royals.

Petrol cost for us, we attend all the local shows but don't always make it to the long distance ones. I like the idea of a points sheet but that could so easily turn into fault judging which I personally don't like.

2 boys 1 girl here. Only 1 entire male, the other dog and bitch are desexed, never have any problems.

You could go for a boys or unisex name for a female, they always make them sound strong. Morgan Addison Blair Bailey Or you could go with a name from a famous 'strong' character, have some fun with the sexes. Alex - Alexander (Alexandra) The Great Julia - Julius Ceasar Gabby - Gabrielle, Xenas sidekick and strong of heart I would suggest Xena but that one's been done

Me either and I own one Inspires you to go out and do some training after seeing these dogs.

Great videos, love the boxer one Here's another great agility one, it's a Chinese Crested and he absolutely flies around the course... shows slow motion sections then the whole thing in full speed.

My boys ears were all over the place while he was teething, up down up down up down. They eventually set correctly once all his adult teeth came through. I fed him calcium but I would talk to your breeder/vet before adding anything like that as mine is a full prick eared breed and not heavy boned.

Does anyone know why some dogs do this? My dog seems to have that too, though to a lesser degree. He will always prefer to have something in his mouth when he first sees me after work or something. In his case, he will only pick up his own toys, and if he can't find anything within like 5-10 seconds he gives up and runs back to say hello with nothing. But the first thing he does when someone he really likes (it's really only me and my OH) arrives is look quickly around for a toy to hold. I know a few dogs that do it, it's really strange. Prada will keep looking over at us like she really wants to come say hello but she just can't do it until that toy is in her mouth then she goes silly. She;s also a toy sucker too, will just sleep with a toy in her mouth and when she wakes up her mouth is so dry the toy is stuck to her lips.

My Crested dries himself after he has a bath. I have to lay a towel down on the floor so he can go silly rubbing himself all over it. If there is no towel he will run around the house in a mild panic looking for something to rub himself on. I also have a poodle who refuses to greet you at the door when we come home unless she has something in her mouth. We open the door and the other 2 dogs greet us, but she's racing around the house looking for a toy to hold. If there is no toy nearby anything will do... an 8kg poodle gretting you at the door with a steel capped boot in her mouth is in interesting look.

I won BIS at a group specialty show on the weekend, does that count on the Grand Ch system as a BIG? I like the current system of 4 BIG's or 1 BIS and 1000 points. I don't think 25 point challenges should be brought into it as it is unfair to those who can't travel to shows with big numbers in their breed. Our average entry for group 1 is around 70 dogs... but that's doesn't mean 20 of those are going to be Chinese Cresteds!

Welcome to Tassie, shame we couldn't muster up some nicer weather for you!

I have a rare breed for my state, quite often the only one of the breed and we do not have a breed specialty down here. However, he's had 3 best in groups and I think we're sitting on around 250 points and he's not 2 yet. It's certainly not impossible for rare breeds, just when/if you do get a grand it makes it all the more special.

Royal (Kliebenstein - Germany) BIG Maltese - Gr.Ch. Merimalt Back Door Phantasy (walters & cutler) R/Up - Pug (sorry no name) Yes there were several silkies, BOB was awarded, again no names sorry (I'm a terrible show reporter) Toy Specialty (Sunde - Norway) BIS Chinese Crested Ch. Mohawk Room to Zoom (bridle & sward) R/up Cavalier - (no name) Silkies no love at specialty.

Stafford, R/U Foxie

Group 1 BIG Maltese No complaints from me, we had her for the specialty and did very well

The thing that jumped out at me in your original post was that you wanted something to pick up and carry around. Kids carrying around dogs puts a lot of people off. I think if you showed that the kids (especially your son) know how to behave around dogs, NEVER pick them up (a 3 year old should never be picking up a dog) and that you have taught them correct behavior around dogs I'm sure that would help a lot. You have to remember as well judt because you want the dog to bond to your son doesn't mean it will. My partner really wants a dog that is "his" but no matter what we do while they are young they all attach themselves to me. And a couple of them just don't like kids in general, they ignore them. Not trying to be a debbie downer, just being realistic. An adult, already kid-loving dog would be perfect.

I have seen a LOT of comments on various articles from people saying "how disgusting, she should adopt, xxxxx dogs die in shelters each year etc etc" I hope people realize how fanatical this sounds to most people. I have even seen a few people saying that instead of "lining breeders pockets" she should adopt instead... now THAT is a slap in the face to reputable breeders. Not every wants or even should have a rescue dog and I don't think adopting is a suitable option for the PM, everyone would have been much better off recommending reputable breeders instead of puppy farms rather than trying to shove adoption down everyones throats. It is done anyway, she won't change her mind about the puppy so sending her e-mails won't help... what will help is e-mailing current affairs programs and newspapers to give the flip side of the story and help educate others.

Thanks Rottshowgirl. I have just been told that in Tassie the rules have changed and judges indeed are allowed to dismiss the rest of the group after they have made their cut. Yep, that egg doesn't taste very nice, sorry guys.

Sorry for causing a stir in here, was not my intention.

I like that one! My boy got BIG 2 weeks in a row, then the folowing week couldn't crack the breed so I do know what it's like. We used the phrase "Chocolates to boiled lollies".

Thankyou, it's just a saying I have heard a lot, now I know not to listen to it. The 1-4 system sounds fine to me, I just think the other dogs should get a chance to be "shown off" for as long as possible... I mean the judge considered them worthy to be BOB winners, why shouldn't they get to stay out there and be admired by onlookers? Your dog doesn't have to stand to attention for hours on end, a lot of judges ask people to 'relax' their dogs while they go along the line up 1 at a time. At Royals, and even country shows to some extent, there are non-exhibitors who watch and to me it's just nice to know that in their minds they are looking at my dog in the group line up thinking it must be nice, even if the judge doesn't put it up that day. I know I should be less concerned with what other people think, I'm sure that is something that will come with time. I have shown other peoples dogs for years but I have only had a dog of my own for a bit over a year now.

No that is not how I see it, but I have heard others say those exact words MANY times before... thrown out with the rubbish. Yes I do care what others think, I'm a relatively new exhibitor so my skin hasn't toughened up yet. @showdog, I don't know what you mean by group 1-4 judging system sorry.

It has never happened to me personally so my posts are not 'grudge' posts, but I still think it is rude. Even if you aren't in contention in the judges mind, there are still people watching ringside, and to be sent out with the rubbish would feel awful, we all know what ringside gossips are like. I know I wouldn't want everyone staring at my "no good" dog as I was asked to leave. On hot days here I have seen judges still give every breed a run, but they bring them forward out of the shade one at a time. Rain, well that doesn't affect the dogs, only the handlers and if you don't like the rain then don't come to the show. Just my opinion.

You can't dismiss dogs here in TAS either, yet it still happened a few weeks ago and no-one said anything. Believe it or not we do get some hot days here so a few judges will get exhibitors to "find some shade", but kicking half the group out into the rubbish pile is just plain rude IMO. Everyone paid the same entry fee and they are entitled to be judged along with the rest of the dogs. A judge doesn't have to like all the dogs, they just should still be polite to the ones they dislike... if they were complete rubbish they should not have awarded them the breed!!!

Lol, I can top that!!! I have had Great Danes and now I have miniature schnauzers. Like you, the smaller size suits our lifestyle too. Funny though, when we had the Dane, people were afraid of him and some of the comments were mind boggling, but he was just a pussy cat and played ever so gently with miniature dogs. Growing up we had Great Danes and now I have a Chinese Crested! We did have our little Shih Tzu while we had the Danes. One day my parents went into town and took one of the Danes and the Shih Tzu with them. Mum ducked into a shop in town so dad put the Shih Tzu on leash and stood outside the car with him, he wound the windows down for the Dane. Well, these teenagers walked past and started picking on dad saying "oh nice dog mate, what are ya a f*g?" etc not seeing the Dane through the tinted windows in the 4wd. At that exact moment the 90kg Dane stuck his head out the window and let out a huge WOOF! The kids nearly wet themselves and ran off.