New to Showing my OES
I have had two OES, but current one is 5 today!! We are getting a puppy in the spring and I am seriously considering showing him, however, I have never done it before and I am looking for some guidance. I am in Southern Alberta, Canada. Any mentors out there? Help? Suggestions? Laura  |
|
|
| Hi Laura, Many of our members show their dogs! But not me, so I hope someone can help answer your questions and help you get over the jitters! |
| The pup's breeder should be your mentor, or if they live too far away, have someone close to you that they will select or recommend. I'm assuming this is a show quality pup, from a breeder who shows. A breeder who is picking a pup from the litter who would be a show quality pup, knowing this is your intent. Even with all the testing done, and excellent bloodlines; not every pup in a litter is a show prospect. If you are getting a random pup and want to show, without the pup being from quality lines, that should be a red flag for you to reconsider your breeder choice. Good luck! |
| What Dawn said is exactly what happened with us. We had our breeder who lived too far away recommend a mentor who is actually the woman who recommended our breeder to us! We now have an unbelievable relationship with both breeder and mentor that I wouldn't trade for the world!!! Hopefully you can find an equally supportive mentor/breeder . Keep us posted! Vance |
| I know the pup will be of excellent quality as he is coming from Tasiahills. She is in Ontario and I'm in Alberta so outside of email and phone calls, it's not realistic. I was hoping there was someone here from Alberta who could give me some advice!! |
YooHooLaroo wrote: I know the pup will be of excellent quality as he is coming from Tasiahills. She is in Ontario and I'm in Alberta so outside of email and phone calls, it's not realistic. I was hoping there was someone here from Alberta who could give me some advice!! If you have told the breeder you want a show pup, then they should be pairing you with someone closer to you as a mentor. Most breeders won't send a show prospect to a newbie to showing home without having this set in place. Please contact your breeder! The other alternative would be that you raise the pup, but they go back to the breeder or someone they select for the grooming and showing process. That happens fairly often too. |
| Yay Tasiahills! My dog is from there and although he isn't a show dog he is a beautiful and very lovely guy! We are hoping to train him for therapy work one day. Congratulations on the new puppy! |
| Hi, If the puppy meets the breed standard and is in good health then you can begin your showing journey. Im new to showing myself I only started may 2012. Advice I can give is get the puppy used to being groomed on a table as it won't be freaked out when older. A show dog requires a lot of grooming! Start basic obedience like you would any other dog but I would suggest to not teach ''sit'' until you've taught ''stand'' as the dog may sit in the show ring when being judged... Start ring craft classes from an early age but not too early as puppies get bored quickly. I think for starters basic heelwork training and teach the ''stand'' command. Others may be able to offer you some more help. Good luck Sam xx |
| To find show people in your area contact the OES Club of Canada......website easily found. Secretary is/was our own OES.org member Amber Dupont......but she's in Ontario. She might be able to direct you to people close enough to you to be mentored. OES are a more difficult dog to show because of the grooming. For sure you'll need instruction on daily care as well as prepping for show, trimming, etc. In the mean time your little squirt will have to learn his basic obedience before you go to ring craft classes that teach about showing. So for a first timer, starting with a pup in the ring might be difficult as you both have so much to learn first. But if you both enjoy it, learning together can be great fun. |
SheepieBoss wrote: To find show people in your area contact the OES Club of Canada......website easily found. Secretary is/was our own OES.org member Amber Dupont......but she's in Ontario. She might be able to direct you to people close enough to you to be mentored. OES are a more difficult dog to show because of the grooming. For sure you'll need instruction on daily care as well as prepping for show, trimming, etc. In the mean time your little squirt will have to learn his basic obedience before you go to ring craft classes that teach about showing. So for a first timer, starting with a pup in the ring might be difficult as you both have so much to learn first. But if you both enjoy it, learning together can be great fun. Well, I am now the President of the OESOCC and my best advice to you would be to make sure you start out with a show quality pup with a sound temperament. Learn why the pup you have is show quality. Read the breed standard. Join the OESOCC. I would also reccomend contacting the Alberta Kennel Club and seeing if they hold any conformation handling classes. And yes, learning to groom an OES for show takes time to learn but the fruits of the labor you put into the grooming is so worth it! I myself have sent show pups to other provinces and through skype and video demonstrations and hooking them up with breeder friends of mine who show they have been very successful in the ring. Perhaps your breeder can send you a video showing you the ropes of grooming, scissoring, and training a pup for show. It would also be a good idea for you to have your breeder go over the breed standard with you so you will know what the judges will be looking for and what strenghths and weaknesses your pup has, and how to hide the weaknesses and really show off his/her strengths. Your breeder is going to be your right hand man in all of this and it is so important to really pay attention and learn all you can from them. Ring procedures, what is needed to complete a title, what classes to enter, what judges like her type......these are all things your breeder should be able to guide you through. I would also recommend attending as many shows you can and watch! We really need new blood out there showing so I am sure everyone including your breeder will encourage and support you in every way possible. Good Luck! |
| OMG! The whole thing sounds so overwhelming! I am going to call the breeder tonight and chat and hopefully she can help me to decide whether it's for me or not. Thanks for your thoughts!! I appreciate it! |
YooHooLaroo wrote: OMG! The whole thing sounds so overwhelming! I am going to call the breeder tonight and chat and hopefully she can help me to decide whether it's for me or not. Thanks for your thoughts!! I appreciate it! Don't be overwhelmed! We are new to it as well, our Gracie just turned one and we have only done a couple of shows. Sure there is much to learn, but just take your time, learn as much as you can, take a handling class and relax and have fun with it. I found the handling class very very helpful and it also helped to build a bond with our Gracie. Go to some shows and go 'back stage' to where they are grooming and watch. Our breeder has helped a lot, and we also got help and advice from other people showing and just by watching. Enjoy your new pup and showing him/her off! Below is the link to the Old English Sheepdog Owners Club of Canada. Join us and help us conquer the world one sheepie at a time!!  http://www.oesocc.com/ |
Quote: OMG! The whole thing sounds so overwhelming! I am going to call the breeder tonight and chat and hopefully she can help me to decide whether it's for me or not. Thanks for your thoughts!! I appreciate it! Taken all at once is seems overwhelming, but it's a learning process and takes time. That's why a good mentor will be critical in getting you started properly. Think of all the dog shows and dogs, OES and others, you'll get to meet! All the while you and your dog form a tigher bond. A dog who loves to show will strut and be so proud! You may be there as just the servant of this prima don or donna. OES need fresh new people who are excited about the breed and will work to keep it from disappearing. Plus you'll get to meet neat people.......like Amber. And if your little bundle of fluff isn't quite show quality, you'll be learning and perfecting so the next dog will be........sheepdogs are like chips, you can't stop with just one.... |
| ....A dog who loves to show will strut and be so proud! You may be there as just the servant of this prima don or donna..... I remember being so worried about how I would look if I ran around the show ring. Gracie gave me this look that said 'Don't worry Mum, they won't be looking at you....'  |
| My breeder was tremendously helpful. She can't find a breeder near me who is willing to mentor (unless it's one of their own dogs), but she did give me some contact information for some wonderful professional handlers who have been very gracious. I am going to take some advice they gave me. We'll see. |
| Be very wary of a "mentor" that has an unfinished dog. We were lead down the primrose path by a mentor that had their own needs in mind and none of ours! |
txbart wrote: Be very wary of a "mentor" that has an unfinished dog. We were lead down the primrose path by a mentor that had their own needs in mind and none of ours! Great point Vance! This is perfect evidence that shows you need to be asking questions too. Never assume anything anymore. Remember with today's technology, you can probably check and fact given within seconds. The only stupid question is the one not asked. Vance |
| We were so lucky with Colin and Pauline. You cannot get any better than them being honest in my book and the other people in the show area in the uk. I call them and do ask some stupid questions and they do put up with me as well |
| For got not that far from 1k of post |
| Patience is truely a gift the you need to find within your mentor. Not sure how to spot it other then knowing that you'll know it when you see it or not. Vance |
| The mentor is actually a professional handler who has shown OES in the past. I will meet her in April at a dog show. I will have the new puppy by then so I may take him to meet her as well. I find the whole thing a little intimidating but nothing ventured, nothing gained, right!? L |
This is very true  Good luck! |
YooHooLaroo wrote: The mentor is actually a professional handler who has shown OES in the past. I will meet her in April at a dog show. I will have the new puppy by then so I may take him to meet her as well. I find the whole thing a little intimidating but nothing ventured, nothing gained, right!? L We are new to showing too, and it can be intimidating, so much to learn, but just have fun with it and keep on learning each show you attend. Good luck! |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|