My Basset will be 6 months on January 5th. I was going to enter into a show on the 8th but I just cant help but feel that Im not ready and she's not ready and its making me miserable. The entry form needs to be in on the 4th of Dec Its an open show and is 15 mins away so thought it would be good practise for us.

Ive been to watch Bassets being shown Ive even met Bassetsandbeyond off here who was so helpful but I still feel clueless. My local ringcraft isnt great and they are clueless about my breed, they asked me to put her on the table . We dont walk in a triangle in training which you need to do in ring and I feel I dont know what to do at all.

My dog is so impatient she wont stand or be stacked for more than a few seconds. I feel like im letting her down with my stupidity. I dont know how to make her enjoy herself more.

On the plus side Ive been invited along to another local open show where bassets are being shown next month with my dog so hopefully there will be some people there to offer me advice and take a look at my dog.

Sorry for blabbing on. Did anyone else feel like this? Can anyone else offer advice? Should I leave it a bit?

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Given the dates that'd mean your Basset is now only 4 months old and you would have a good 8 weeks to practice what you have to do. Yeah it's nervewracking but at least if you enter you will have had the experience and practice under real life conditions and that'll take the "it's the first time" pressure right off you the next time you show.

Its only an Open show - lots of show folk go to these shows with young pups to socialise them and get them used to the whole showing thing. Good practice for you and the pup. Just enter and go - play it by ear when you get there as to whether you actually wanna go in the ring with the pup.

Plenty of people feel like you do who have been showing for years - they still get theat nervous feeling, so dont worry about that either!

It takes a while sometimes for pups to get the hang of ringcraft. You can practice at home in your garden for 5 -10 mins a day too, practice the standing bit and then do your moving bit, up and down and on a triangle and in a circle. I just go out on the pavement and run up and down there, lol, and use a car park over the road for the triangle and circles.

Sometimes you might think pup will never get the hang of it, and then hey presto! one day it all comes together! Anyways, pups are pups, nobody is expecting a 'robot' in the ring - just relax and enjoy what happens

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Fere libenter hormines id quod volunt credunt

If the show is only 15 minutes away (am assuming the entry fee is not really expensive) you could enter and practice from now until then and then go BUT if you still dont feel ready you could just not go rather than practice and feel ready but not have entered??

Am sure even if you had everything perfect already that on the day you will probably still feel a bit nervous anyway. Try to remember that as much as we would all like to win everything it is really about having fun, I dont currently have a dog who i can show but did a couple of years showing a few years ago. its very social and addictive and I regularly did things wrong and let my dog down but everyone was always really supportive and helpful.

Good luck, keep us informed and if you do go...............pics please x

its like the loto....
if your ant in it .....you cant win it ...

go and enjoy your self....
if you dont try youl never no ...
its all about fun isnt it ...

Don't get yourself in a pickle
Chill Chill Chill
Open shows are great for learning. I treat them as extended ringcraft and it gives you and pupster a taste of a day at a show. I imagine Basset people are a friendly bunch, they seem that "type" of dog.
Don't get flustered with The Pupster, puppies are meant to be puppies. The main thing is that she enjoys herself at her first show. If that means you end up on your bum (speaking from experience); well so be it
Linda

dont panic , what show are u wanting to enter ??? if its a open show and they have collies i may enter and come along to support you , shame u are not nearer to blackpool as you would be most welcome to come to our ringcraft in blackpool

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http://www.weynoakebordercollies.co.uk/

Thank you everyone. I have found a much better ringcraft now and she was really well behaved tonight so I am feeling more optomistic Its nice that everyone is so supportive. Basset people are really lovely too.

Aww this is really nice of you, we founf Bobs ringcraft in skem and I enjoyed it tonight so hopefully I can carry on going there.

The show is the Heywood and Radcliffe canine society open show. I hope you can come. I always like meeting showing friends

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Go and enjoy it

I can relate, because for the first couple of months of showing, I used to push my OH into the ring

But honestly - you are showing a puppy - no-one expects puppies to be perfect so go and enjoy yourself

When you've had a puppy roll on it's back with all four legs in the air for a tummy rub and the judge STILL gave her best puppy

Relax and enjoy yourself and let us know how you get on

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What you need to know before buying a Labrador puppy

The best advice I can give as the owner of a 3 year old whippet that finds it impossible to stand still for longer than 2 seconds is to enter and go in and enjopy yourself.

By entering your dog in a show you are asking that judges opinion of your dog but it is only one persons opinion. You will find some judges will like your dog and others wont.eg We were at a whippet champ show the other week and the judge couldn't take her eyes of my pup. She didn't place him as he was just soooooo naughty (read that as went round the ring on 2 legs) but she did say he was one for the future when he calms down a bit more. At a show a week later with a different judge she didn't even give him a second glance yet he was much clamer and better behaved and moved better than at the first show.

The thing to remember is that whatever the judges opinon you will always take the bst dog home.

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Sammy you may be gone but your sprit will always live on in the sunbeams R I P Sammy

William- 6/11/03 - 24/3/10
Midge - 8/2/11 - 10-2-11