Starting conformation... any advice?

BEANSnBERRY

I'm new to the sport of conformation and anxious to get started! Smile

Logan is in puppy kindergarten and is starting a conformation class tomorrow.

He's 16 weeks old and i've been doing my best not to 'break' him, between the time he came from the breeder and the time we start confo class!

Anyway, any advice, tips... or other for me?

THANK YOU!! Smile

anne · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 11:46 am Post subject:

Just relax and have fun and make sure your dog thinks this is the most fun ever, not a chore. You'd be surprised how much further you can get with a "showy" dog.

BEANSnBERRY · Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 12:43 am Post subject:

Thanks Anne!!

We had our first class today and the trainer just worked with him to help him understand what we wanted.... I'll learn how to do it later, and lots of homework in the meantime.

It was a lot of fun to watch him strut and stand... damn, he's a handsome boy!! Granted, I maybe a bit partial Very Happy

Here's a horrible picture I took with my cel phone (I didn't think to bring my camera, argh!)

Thanks again, and I'm really excited... I hope I do Logan justice!

jamiekuntz11 · Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 1:31 am Post subject:

ahh so cute....Good boy Logan

kamfam · Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:29 am Post subject:

Logan is beautiful!

weimdawgs · Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:34 am Post subject:

Wow, Logan is a natural.....what a beautiful boy you have there.

Have fun with it. Laughing

BEANSnBERRY · Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 10:24 am Post subject:

((blushes)) THANK YOU!!!! He's a sweetheart.. and holy terror, too, so it's not all just good looks Laughing

Thanks so much, guys... I'm so excited and I appreciate the encouragement!

jamiekuntz11 · Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 12:00 pm Post subject:

even if i could put jocko out there (cant he is blue) i couldnt- he is to crazy everything distracts him...he is so weird

ReneeV · Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:05 pm Post subject:

BEANSnBERRY · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 2:49 pm Post subject:

VERRRRRY Cool!! What a pretty girl, I adore blues! Surprised

) Thanks so much for the information!

Just as an update Logan is continuing in classes and doing really well. he's holdiing his stand longer and his toe nails are SLOWLY getting shorter. My trainer thinks he should do quite well. He'll be 6 months in January, I'm thinking of trying a show at that time.

I'm in northern Nevada and was thinking of CA or ID for his first show. ... anyone gonna be at any in Jan/Feb?

Here's a more recent shot (a little soft in the back still, but that's fairly common for his line at this age):

Still working on his tail, but t's coming up more and more and wagging more, trying to keep showing fun! lol which is hard!

weimdawgs · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 2:58 pm Post subject:

He is very handsome!!!

ReneeV · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 3:08 pm Post subject:

There is an IABCA show in January in Santa Rosa, CA. www.iabca.com. We will be there. Roxie was 5.5 mos when she did her first show there and earned her Int/Nat BA Championship.

They operate differently than ACK sanctioned shows and it's definitely cheaper. In fact, if you pre-pay in Dec, it's only $25 per show (4 shows total in the weekend).

Each dog is judged against the standard to earn its title, not the other dogs. Of course, to move ahead in the competion (mostly for bragging rights) you compete against the other dogs.

anne · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:16 pm Post subject:

BnB,
You'll probably want to do an AKC show not IABCA unless you are really nervous and use the IABCA show as "practice." I would also suggest going to ID not No Cal as competition is pretty still in No Cal. Also look for judges that are good with puppies, that is the most important thing to consider for your dogs first show! Your breeder can help with that, I'm sure.
Anne

ReneeV · Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 11:19 am Post subject:

Yes, for practice I meant. Those who can show in AKC shows don't really need IABCA shows and I have a feeling most who attend probably do so mainly for practice and for some additional titles.

For Roxie, it's all she has right now.

BEANSnBERRY · Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 1:39 am Post subject:

Thank you so much for the information Renee... it maybe a good idea to get some "practice" in, I'm more of a novice than he is! Surprised

)

Anne, what is "still" competition? I was thinking it was a typo and you meant "stiff".. but, then I decided to ask, since I'm learning new terminology by the moment in conformation class! Whatever it is, it sounds like No. Cal may not be the place to go. Darn, I was considering a show in Daly City, SF in late January. But, I don't want to get a bad taste in my mouth from showing and I know that there will be a lot of professional handlers (with probably some dirty tricks up their sleeves. SHOCKING! Shocked

)

Thanks so much!