Drumming Up The Numbers

[Shaar]

Continuation from the "surprise judges" thread.

A lot of people have no idea about what is involved in dog shows, they think it is all just primping and preening and making dogs look pretty.

For example a kid I worked with bought a Husky from a pet store, paid $1200 for her and then came to me and asked when the next dog show was so he could take her along to show her.

I know in the US they have breed stalls at many of their shows.

How about having the same thing here?

Only not just breed information but provide information about what is involved in a dog show, pamphlets about the ANKC and maybe even have some handling classes.

It wouldn't cost a lot to set up, I'm sure we could get some businesses involved for cheap printing.

Now the next idea (which goes hand in hand with the first)

Would the rules permit an event (not a show) which involves unregistered dogs attending at the same time as a Champ show? Or is it registered only no matter what?

By allowing unregistered dogs to participate in a workshop that includes handling classes would encourage a lot more people to come along. Everyone loves a dog event where they can bring their own pet... look at the million paws walk. And they have the added bonus of being able to chat to all the breeders at the Champ show on the day and learn about shows and hopefully have some fun.

Good ideas or catastrophic?

Do you have any other ideas?

Would it be allowed? Or do I need a slap up the head for not knowing the rules?

My other idea was free KC membership for the first year but I don't think that would go down too well ;)

Edited May 11, 2011 by Shaar

[Skye2]

I think in some countries they do this and they are called something like "scruffs" classes. It maybe a good way of encouraging dog owners and dog lovers to come along and see what goes on and aspire to bigger and brighter things. If the dog world is declining and show numbers are dropping it may be a good promotional idea. It puts people in touch with breeders and would be healthy for dogs in general. Logistically, it may be another story.

Dogs NSW is running a PR show in June that is aimed at the public. For them to come along and see what happens at a show, there will be breed stalls and demonstrations etc. It is advertised in local papers etc. They held this last year for the first time and this year they are hoping for bigger things. Maybe next year it would be good to include a scruffs class and give it a trial run.

[becks]

Do you have fun shows? those with classes like prettiest bitch, handsome dog, best shiney coat, best trick, best 6 legs, best trick.......... these can be a good way to introduce people to the idea of showing, especially if they are run along with some pedigree classes that can be taken a little more seriously but still have new people invovled with their dogs on normal walking leads, classes like best sporting breeds, best non sporting (or spliting into groups if there are enough entries, or splitting by height.

[poodlefan]

We could start by selling pups on Main Register to aspirant dog sports or show folk. Plenty of dog sports folk have made the crossover to get a front end title on a new purebred pup. I'm one.

We could encourage people to THINK before following vets advice and desexing everything at 6 months old.

And we could stop constantly whining about how the dog show world is going to hell in a handbasket and occasionally talking about the more positive aspects of the hobby. Any prospective show person reading the Show Forum would probably wonder why most of us bother to show.

On the topic of shows.. exhbitors making and effort to talk to and be polite to members of the public would be a good start. Some are.. but others

Edited May 11, 2011 by poodlefan

[RallyValley]

We could start by selling pups on Main Register to aspirant dog sports or show folk. Plenty of dog sports folk have made the crossover to get a front end title on a new purebred pup. I'm one.

We could encourage people to THINK before following vets advice and desexing everything at 6 months old.

And we could stop constantly whining about how the dog show world is going to hell in a handbasket and occasionally talking about the more positive aspects of the hobby. Any prospective show person reading the Show Forum would probably wonder why most of us bother to show.

Awesome post!

I have an example of how we can drum up numbers, when I first joined this forum I put up a thread asking about when a show was next on in WA. I had many WA DOLers respond with helpful responses and then on the day of the show I hung out with a group of them,and saw one of thier dogs go RUIG! :D They were so nice and welcoming, and the showing seemed so fun, I was so excited to show my own pup. Then when said puppy arrived I already had people at the show I knew, which everyone here knows, is part of what makes shows!

I have seen it on DOL quite a few times that this happens. :D

Another small one would be instead of having to go to the office to collect place in class and bob ribbons maybe the judge could hand them out with a box for stewards to collect them back. As a newb these ribbons made me excited, I had something to show my family when I got home.

[wuffles]

We could start by selling pups on Main Register to aspirant dog sports or show folk. Plenty of dog sports folk have made the crossover to get a front end title on a new purebred pup. I'm one.

We could encourage people to THINK before following vets advice and desexing everything at 6 months old.

And we could stop constantly whining about how the dog show world is going to hell in a handbasket and occasionally talking about the more positive aspects of the hobby. Any prospective show person reading the Show Forum would probably wonder why most of us bother to show.

On the topic of shows.. exhbitors making and effort to talk to and be polite to members of the public would be a good start. Some are.. but others

I don't show but I am a 'first time' dog sports competitor and I think even that is a similar situation. I have had to figure out an awful lot by myself. I haven't found the canine control websites particularly helpful, and some of the staff haven't been very helpful either (although some have been good). It's hard finding a mentor. It's hard just getting the basics out of people (like where to get entry forms). If it wasn't something that I really, really wanted to do, I would have given up a long time ago.

[Guest Panzer Attack!]

We could start by selling pups on Main Register to aspirant dog sports or show folk. Plenty of dog sports folk have made the crossover to get a front end title on a new purebred pup. I'm one.

I am only now beginning to realise how lucky I am to have such a wonderful breeder. She sold me the Potato on main, even though I was only originally interested in doing agility with him, and thought the showing might be a neat novelty. Now agility has moved to a distant third with showing and obedience being my top priorities... and I've only had the dog for 5 weeks!

And we could stop constantly whining about how the dog show world is going to hell in a handbasket and occasionally talking about the more positive aspects of the hobby. Any prospective show person reading the Show Forum would probably wonder why most of us bother to show.

Lol, I agree with this too... it all seems very daunting and then when you read the show thread to get some info and read some posts, it does seem a bit scary. Especially the talk about 'faces' and how difficult it is for newbies to get into it, and how so many people (supposedly) show crap examples of their breeds and aren't penalized for it. Isn't that kinda the point... to show an excellent example of the breed? Or at least a dog or bitch that will contribute positively to the breed as a whole?

I don't show but I am a 'first time' dog sports competitor and I think even that is a similar situation. I have had to figure out an awful lot by myself. I haven't found the canine control websites particularly helpful, and some of the staff haven't been very helpful either (although some have been good). It's hard finding a mentor. It's hard just getting the basics out of people (like where to get entry forms). If it wasn't something that I really, really wanted to do, I would have given up a long time ago.

Agree completely with this. If my partner didn't do agility and obedience, it would be a hell of a lot more difficult for me to figure things out. At least I would be able to come to DOL and ask about things, but so many pet owners don't even have that option. My breeder is interstate but has still been so helpful and tried to get me as much info on things as possible.

I've been 'adopted' by a showie DOLer that my breeder sent my way too, she shows a different breed but is in the same group and so far she is GORGEOUS and has been SO helpful and friendly. And I ask a lot of stupid newbie questions! You also don't want to bother people. I've been to a couple of shows and to an agility trial, and everyone was so focused and busy, I'm sure the last thing they wanted was someone to walk up to them all HAY WAT DO U FINK ABOUT PAPILLONS. Even when I took my pup to an agility club... practice? meet up? ... to sociailise and hang with le boy, only a couple of people were interested in talking to me and asking if I was thinking of joining once he got older - and I was there with the friggin dog!

And OT, Wuffles, I love your posts. I love how you started with a rescue and then got a beautiful PB that you work so well with. I hope to have a relationship half as good with Scooter as you have with Ava one day, you're one of my forum 'heroes' (sorry if that's weird, LOL).

[wuffles]

I don't show but I am a 'first time' dog sports competitor and I think even that is a similar situation. I have had to figure out an awful lot by myself. I haven't found the canine control websites particularly helpful, and some of the staff haven't been very helpful either (although some have been good). It's hard finding a mentor. It's hard just getting the basics out of people (like where to get entry forms). If it wasn't something that I really, really wanted to do, I would have given up a long time ago.

Agree completely with this. If my partner didn't do agility and obedience, it would be a hell of a lot more difficult for me to figure things out. At least I would be able to come to DOL and ask about things, but so many pet owners don't even have that option. My breeder is interstate but has still been so helpful and tried to get me as much info on things as possible.

My breeder has also been brilliant but is also interstate, and I think a lot of things differ from state to state

And you know... a lot of people didn't want to have anything to do with me at the start. I tried asking questions and couldn't find many people to answer them. I am very grateful for the few people who did help. The second I stepped out of the ring after my first trial (and was successful), people suddenly started talking to me... funny that.

And OT, Wuffles, I love your posts. I love how you started with a rescue and then got a beautiful PB that you work so well with. I hope to have a relationship half as good with Scooter as you have with Ava one day, you're one of my forum 'heroes' (sorry if that's weird, LOL).

Awww, thanks Sometimes I feel like I just blend into the background so it's not a weird comment, it's a lovely one

[whiskedaway]

Awesome post!

I have an example of how we can drum up numbers, when I first joined this forum I put up a thread asking about when a show was next on in WA. I had many WA DOLers respond with helpful responses and then on the day of the show I hung out with a group of them,and saw one of thier dogs go RUIG! :D They were so nice and welcoming, and the showing seemed so fun, I was so excited to show my own pup. Then when said puppy arrived I already had people at the show I knew, which everyone here knows, is part of what makes shows!

I have seen it on DOL quite a few times that this happens. :D

Another small one would be instead of having to go to the office to collect place in class and bob ribbons maybe the judge could hand them out with a box for stewards to collect them back. As a newb these ribbons made me excited, I had something to show my family when I got home.

Completely agreed RallyValley, if it wasn't for the wonderful people I met through DOL, I don't think I would have ever had any interest in showing. We bought Akira, not caring that she didn't have papers because you only got papers if you wanted to show and there was no way I'd ever show. Got interested in lappies, went out to a few shows and while lappies are very rare in SA (there's only two of us that show more than once a month) I got to know those who were out there, and also other people from our group who have been absolutely fantastic. Big hugs to the Aussie Shepherd people, you make us feel really welcome. So I now have Halo, who I bought with the intention of showing, and I now wish I could show Akira because even though she's BYB she's a pretty good example of the breed. Proof that non-show quality limited register dogs can throw some good offspring. If they did a scruffs class, I'd definitely take Akira along.

And I agree about ribbons being handed out - the first time I realised I could go to the office and get a baby of breed ribbon, I was so chuffed. It's got pride of place on the fridge at the moment.

And you know... a lot of people didn't want to have anything to do with me at the start. I tried asking questions and couldn't find many people to answer them. I am very grateful for the few people who did help. The second I stepped out of the ring after my first trial (and was successful), people suddenly started talking to me... funny that.

Hmm, funny how that happens, hey? We're nowhere near trialling at the moment, and when it was just Akira who I was taking out to obedience every week, I got ignored because they knew it was very unlikely she'd ever trial. We started agility and a few people started talking to us (because she enjoys agility and is doing quite well for a beginner) but it wasn't until Halo started obedience that I've started making friends at our club.

[Shaar]

Thankyou for the replies everyone!

I was sent a PM by someone who was interested in coming along to a couple of shows to see what it is all about before getting a show dog.

I was thrilled, it always nice to have new people and am really looking forward to meeting up with this lady at a future show.

The only times a see the general public at shows is Royals, would be nice to see some spectators or dog enthusiasts at regular shows as well.

I agree with Poodlefan, it would be nice if Breeders encouraged people to show as well. If you explain to someone who contacts you for a pup that you have a very nice one that could potentially make a great show dog, odds are they will be interested... they just don't know about shows!

More information needs to be given to potential puppy buyers about showing... you never know when you will convert someone.

I like the idea of "scruffs" classes, we don't have anything like that here (to my knowledge), sounds like a great idea.