Need Book recommendations: Showing for Beginners

[Denise M]

Hi,

I really would like to read up on the basics of showing. I want to get a feel for what is required for the handler, and what is really takes to finish a dog.

I want to get a feel of both the upsides as well as the downsides of becoming involved in showing.

Amazon has "Show Me: A dog Showing Primer" by Caroline Coile and "Absolute Beginners Guide to Showing Your Dog" by Cheryl Smith.
Both are inexpensive, so I was going to buy them both. Does anyone know these books? Are they a waste of reading time?

Are there books that you know would be suitable for Abolute Beginners?

[nicalishihtzu]

I have both. I would recommend The Winning Edge: Show Ring Secrets by George Alston and Raising A Champion: A Beginner's Guide To Showing Dogs by A. Meredith John & Carole L Richards over the two you mentioned. Although, if you have a library like mine that networks with all libraries in the area, you may be able to check them out and look at them and see what you like best.

[emperorwudi]

I liked "Show Me" by Coile and "The Winning Edge" by Alston - I own them both. I also found several internet resources to be useful:
wide variety:
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/twork.html
this one seems to be about dobies, but most articles are applicable to ALL dogs:
http://www.dpca-breedered.com/article_menu.htm
some good clicker-training articles for the show ring:
http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/conformation.html
Aw, heck - there are unlimited resources out there! I was an ABSOLUTE Beginner with Dex and finished him in nine show weekends, so just being determined that you will have fun with your dog, confidence that you have a good, sound dog and getting out there are the main ingredients for anybody to have success, IMHO.
Good luck!
Lisa

[Luvbean25]

Denise:

Books are wonderful tools to use in getting to know the in's and outs of the show world and all the silly rules. However, books can't teach you to be handler or finish a dog. I would suggest going to shows and seeing if you can take handling classes. Alot of times you can hire a professional handler for a few hours and they can give you one on one instruction. It is always fun to make the "pet" at home your first victim!

When I first got involved with showing, I was a ring side "helper" for nearly 2 years, helping handlers and owners prepare their dogs for the ring and helping with grooming and switch offs. It was free training and they were always eager to help me and most of all always needed the help. My first time in the ring was by accident when the owner fell ill at the show. I took her pug in and got WD/BW for 2 points....I was an addict after that day.

Many of the parent AKC clubs and local all breed kennel clubs have various workshops on handling, grooming, and getting started and sometimes the fee is just a small donation. Showing is an awesome hobby to take on, but somedays it feels a second full time job! I would not change things for the world!!! Good Luck and feel free to ask anytime!

[shaynapug]

I agree Sarina....

Once you get a pup...you can also go to confirmation classes with your pup.

I try to do that with each pup I show...as each one shows differently.

[Denise M]

Hi,

I really would like to read up on the basics of showing. I want to get a feel for what is required for the handler, and what is really takes to finish a dog.

I want to get a feel of both the upsides as well as the downsides of becoming involved in showing.

Amazon has "Show Me: A dog Showing Primer" by Caroline Coile and "Absolute Beginners Guide to Showing Your Dog" by Cheryl Smith.
Both are inexpensive, so I was going to buy them both. Does anyone know these books? Are they a waste of reading time?

Are there books that you know would be suitable for Abolute Beginners?

I have already read the two bolded ones and I did also buy the Alston one that was recommended. That one is next. The Smith one was great for a first read when I knew basically nothing.


Edited to read that I still do not have any hands on knowledge, I will take a conformation class in nearby CT, but I first need a dog.

I did not want to infer that just becuase I read some books a know a whole lot.

But know at least I know what I am watching. LOL.

[jwestoverpug]

There's no rule saying you can't take a pet pug to conformation class. I know someone who did this before they started showing. Like training anything else, it's all about training us what do.

Jesse