Show Ready?

[bushthing500]

How do I know my 11mo old "B" is ready for the show ring?
this will be our first time. I want to enter her this October. so this will give me some time to work with her.But I need some info on what to do to get her ready.

[Terry]

Have you taken Rose to any matches or handling classes? That is always a good place to start. It's good training for both of you and gives you an idea of how she will react in the ring.
We start working on table stacking as soon as our babies can stand on their own. The table can be a scary place if they're not comfortable with it. Lots of non-threatening, fun times on the table and stacking.
Show lead training takes a little longer; some object to the chain collar and want to be 3 legged while they try to scratch it off - it was ok for stacking, but not for gaiting for some reason!
Also check with your breeder to have Rose evaluated, they can give you lots of tips!

Terry

[Jumoke]

Showing basenji puppies can be a humbling experience, not only do you want to condition Rose for this experience, there is you.

As Terry recommended, fun matches and handling classes are a great help. You may want to contact your local basenji club, or all breed club if a basenji club is not established in your area.

There is an art to showing a basenji which can not be put into written from. Help from your breeder or someone else who has been showing basenjis for a while is invaluable.

Success in the show ring requires timing. The Basenji Standard is written to describe a mature adult dog. Puppies go through development stages; there is a period of time they look like miniature adults, and they there are the uneven growth spurt which we refer to the puppy ganglies then onto the teenage ganglies. Laurie and I will show puppies during this gangly phase just to give the puppy some show experience, knowing very well that any judge in their right mind is not going to place the dog. It’s next to impossible to truly duplicate an actual conformation show atmosphere, and these practice entries are necessary for the pup to gain experience while the dog is young and more open to new situations.

So come October, go for it, ready or not. Have fun, bring a sense of humor. There is truly only one concern, that is to make sure your puppy is comfortable having strangers examine them on a table. This is very easy to accomplish, have many strange people give your dog treats while on the table. I do mean strange in the literal sense. Have them touch and feel the dog, including looking at the teeth. Do this in fun; don’t worry about the dog being still or even stacked.

After you show in October, and the breed judging has concluded. Do discuss your dog with other basenji exhibitor and breeders. Ask for a critique, and handling tips. Some will more than willing to give you a valid assessment, others may not. Your breeder is only one opinion, not everyone will share that opinion. Success in the show ring requires knowing your dog’s faults and virtues, and if they are competitive given the dogs currently being shown in a given area. It’s that timing thing again.

Best wishes.

[Ambered]

well i took fender down to mary k's so that she could evaluate him... his first show will be march 25th. like bryan said, bring your sense of humor. he is 10 months, and totally green. could be very entertaining. she had two puppies at her house (from elsewhere) sooooo cute. their skin is so loose and they are so roly poly.

[JazzysMom]

Amber, you never know. At Jazzy's first show she was TOTALLY green, had JUST turned 6 mos old, and she took Winner's Bitch! BLEW me away. {I think I may have yelled --- it was a little embarrassing}

Is this the Bremerton show? I wanna come!!!! Am dying to see the little guy.

BTW, Jazz will be in the Seattle show next weekend. Wish her luck. Chasing those last two points.

[Ambered]

i might go to the show next weekend, just to observe. (check out the competition) it would be so nice to see jazzy finish!
he will be in the bremerton show, just on sunday.
GOOD LUCK JUMOKE'S JAZZY LADY!

[JazzysMom]

I'm hopeful. Jazz has two Ring personalities: 1} alert and looking great!!! and 2} wake me when it's over, so it's hard to tell which way she'll go. She's in Seattle both days. Saturday is an early morning, Sunday is an afternoon. Hopefully one of those time slots will make her happy! LOL
I'm hoping she is so excited to see Bryan that she is alert and perky both days.
You'll have to let me know what time the B's show on Sunday in Bremerton. I'd love to come out.

[Ambered]

okay so i am not coming tomorrow...sorry
i really hope jazz brings her "A" game
but there is a little bboy in a shelter a couple hours south that needs rescuing
so that is what i am going to do.
fingers crossed sharron finds him a nice home asap

[JazzysMom]

Well, pooh. Maybe you can come Sunday? It's at 2 PM, a much more reasonable hour for the drive over. LOL

Jazzy was 2nd today {6 in the ring}, so no points. But she looked good!

[JazzysMom]

How's the little boy look? Do you know his story?