Puppy Sweepstakes

[Ons]

do you guys enter them?

I entered Mocha for Friday and Saturday at our last show. There were so many pups, I also hadn't taught him to stand on the ground which I will need to rectify - hey he wouldn't walk on a lead two weeks ago without doing somersaults so we had great progress and he wasn't too bad standing on the table.

Anyway his breeder told me that she doesn't like sweepstakes, the pups are too long in the ring as there are so many of them and sometimes the pups play with each other which is a bad thing as they think they can do that all the time.

Anyway what is your view?

[Blakbelgian]

Most of the time I like puppy sweeps.

It is practice for them and a way to socialise them with others. Not everyone wants their puppy playing with yours

so best to ask first.

Yes they can be in the ring for quite awhile, one way to look at this is practice for the in group line up as sometimes

you can be there awhile too.

Good luck at your next show.

BB

[TeamSnag]

Love puppy sweeps!

[WreckitWhippet]

They are a great opportunity to spend more time in the ring , providing you don't stack them all the time and expect them to be a statue for upto and hour. It's also an opportunity to let them play ( providing other exhibitors are happy ) and socialise, you can also spend time teaching them to freebait and to focus on you.

It's the time and the place to teach them there's a time and a place for being serious and also that it's fun at the same time.

I will often do baby sweepstakes but by 6 months, I'm a bit take it or leave it, unless the dog needs more experience

[stonecutter]

As a novice handler I've found sweepies good for learning what works to keep your dog standing I do feel grateful for the judges that make you go around and then say you can relax your puppies

[Libertybrook]

I think sweeps are great for getting babies used to what happens in the ring, the noises, clapping cheering , barking dogs etc, the moving about the ring, meeting other babies,

and getting used to the judge going over them, mouthing them etc,

otherwise you only get one chance for only a few minutes in the ring if you only enter their baby breed class. :D

[Bjelkier]

I love puppy sweeps.

Great for teaching pups the basics, getting use to standing in the ring for awhile and to socialise with others (always ask first).

[Ons]

Okay thanks :-)

His breeder entered him in his next show in October for me and didn't put him down for puppy sweepstakes but I think there is a show at the end of October, he will be six months by then but I'll enter him

thank you for all the advice :D

[Nevafollo]

My mum also has a young Griffon and both his breeder and a few other griff breeders I know arnt keen on sweepies. Mum has never done sweeps with him!

Each to their own, but giffs can be funny little guys and the smallest fright can be a set back and whilst I do agree that normally sweeps is a GREAT socialisation and training tool i think its abit different with the girffs!

Edited September 14, 2011 by Nevafollo

[kelpiesrule]

I love sweeps and always do them with my puppies