Rowan X Torch Babies 2 Weeks Old VIDEO

Rowan and Torch's babies are now 2 weeks old.

Money's First Handling Class

Last night Ms. Money had her first show handling class. 

Show handling class is about teaching a dog how to work in the conformation show ring.  They must be stacked (have their feet and legs and body manipulated into the correct position), examined (have the judge go over them thoroughly, including teeth and testicles (if they have them), gait around the ring at a trot (this gait is chosen as it best shows the dogs' structure on the move) and bait (this means looking extremely appealing for the judge so he or she will be completely charmed and forget anything he or she saw that might not be perfect).  OK, OK, baiting is REALLY so that the judge can evaluate the dogs expression, the shape of his or her ears and eyes and get a feel for his temperament and willingness to interact with strangers.  Money however will likely be using her baiting skills for the former, as she is so disgustingly cute...

The MOST important part of taking a baby puppy to handling class is letting them become comfortable around as many people and dogs as you can. Socialization in new situations goes a long way to a well-adjusted, confident puppy that you can take anywhere without worry that he or she will be uncomfortable. Don't wait! The sooner you start, the better!

Anyhow, naturally I did not expect Money, at 3 months of age, to learn all of these skills in one night.  What I wanted was for her to go and see the class, hopefully interact positively with some of the people there, and learn a little bit about being stacked on the floor (thus far we've only stacked her on tables) and be gaited a few times. 

All of that went fairly well,  She was not intimidated by any of the other dogs (not even the two Komondorak, the Dane, the Chow or the Australian Shepherd).  She permitted me to stack her several times and even stood still for the instructor to pet her and play with her face a bit as a preface to checking her bite when she's gone to a few more classes.   She did gait for me on the lead, altho she had some objections to the show lead, which is not quite as loose or comfortable as her buckle collar. 

What she learned best, however, was the handling class involves SNACKS.  Lots of YUMMY, SMELLY, EXCELLENT SNACKS.  She had cheese, chicken, liver, dried lamb, dried fish, biscuits and some kind of liverwurst that I thought was quite gross.  She informed me later that all of it was lovely and we should go back inside and get some more.  

Teaching a puppy to learn to stand still and to bait is a bit of a challenge.  Especially when said puppy is apparently a CHOW HOUND and still has her pirhana-like puppy teeth.  However, we perservered.  I worked on having her WAIT for her snacks by hiding them in my hand.  Nudging her back whenever she grabbed at my fingers soon had her looking expectantly at my hand, which is the end goal of baiting.  When she is fully trained, the idea is for her to walk towards me (and the judge) and stack HERSELF in perfect position with her MOST charming and appealing expression waiting for her treat.  So, learning to stand and wait is a good start towards this.

By the way, there is absolutely NO REASON not to have your show puppy also in other classes for obedience, agility or other training.  Any dog who can learn both sit and down can also learn to STAND in show handling class.  Any dog who has shown that he or she knows it is DINNERTIME just be your behavior can understand the difference between showing in conformation and showing in obedience or rally or agility.  Don't give up that valuable time to get obedience training done just because you want to show your dog.  EVERY single one of my dogs has had training in show handling AND obedience AND field from infancy and they are NOT confused.  

That said, Money heads tomorrow for her first obedience class.  Will keep you posted....

Dogshow ABC's Part II

So! You've entered a show and are eager to go and see how you will do! You have butterflies in your stomach but the dog is enjoying this game of running and baiting and you're pretty excited.

One thing not covered so far is the various classes which you might enter at a show. All dogs are divided by sex - in the classes all dogs compete against only dogs of their own sex - dogs against dogs and bitches against bitches.


Dog Show Classes:

1) Puppy classes. These are divided by age: 6-9 months, 9-12 months, and some clubs offer a 12-18 months class.

2) Novice class - this is a class for dogs who have never earned a first place ribbon. Normally this class is for dogs who are too old for puppy classes but perhaps not mature enough for the Open class.

3) American bred - this class is for dogs who were born in the United States. Again, normally this class is only used for dogs who are too old for puppy or not ready for Open. It's also a class used sometimes at Specialty shows when folks wish to enter more than one dog from a litter, but can't show them both in the same class.

4) Bred-By Exhibitor - this is a class for dogs bred and owned by the person showing them. It's a class breeders use to showcase their stock by showing the dog themselves.

5) Open - a class for dogs of all ages. Usually this class is for adults who have not yet finished their show championships.

6) Best of Breed - this class is for dogs who already have their AKC Championship. No points are awarded for this class, but the Best of Breed dog will go on to compete in the Group against dogs from other breeds.

If your dog qualifies for the puppy classes, it's useful to put them into the puppy classes. Judges will expect a fair amount of silliness from puppies and forgive it in those classes more readily than in classes which also have adults entered. Also, if your puppy is somewhat immature (as puppies often are!) this will help the judge to know why.


Getting ready for the show:

1. Naturally you will want to make sure your puppy is trained to stack (stand squarely to be examined), to be examined and to move cleanly on the lead.


2. Your puppy should have a bath and have his nails trimmed. Many people remove the whiskers from the face of their showdogs. We do not personally do this as we feel they use their whiskers in the field. Also we like them! We've never had a judge tell us that if only we had removed the whiskers they would have chosen our dog. However, it is your choice.


3. You want to bring a few things along with you to the show:

• Food for baiting the dog (whatever your dog likes - many people used cooked liver)
• Your show lead
• A chair - many shows do not provide chairs ringside so if you plan to sit and watch, you will need to bring one
• A rag and something to clean your dog should she become dirty
• A crate for your dog - you might want to leave the dog to eat lunch or watch another ring
• Water & Ice - many summer shows can be very hot and it's a good idea to bring along water and some ice so the dog doesn't become overheated. Always have a crate in your car so that you can leave the dog in the car with the windows wide open and the dog will not become overheated. Never leave your dog in the car on a hot day without everything open to the air. Be sure to check on your dog frequently to make sure she is not too hot and that she has plenty of water.
• You may wish to bring lunch with you - some of the shows have limited vendors and you might only be able to get a hot dog or rather nasty foods at some shows. Others have great vendors with wonderful snacs and meals. You just never know!
• Your judging schedule and entry that were sent from the Show Superintendent.

Arriving at the Show:
Once you've arrive, you want to be sure you have all your equipment, and possibly your lunch. You've taken a look at the judging schedule and brought along your paperwork in case it's needed.

You want to park with the exhibitor parking (if it's summer try to find a shady spot, even if you have a ways to walk). Many clubs will charge a few dollars for parking. Show venues are hard to find and often the parking fees are what makes the difference between a club being able to afford the site or not.

Check which ring you are in and take a look at the schedule. A typical ring schedule might look like this:

Ring 2

8:00 Am

Setters (English) 4-5(1-2)

Setters (Gordon) 3-1(1-3)

Pointers - 3-5 (1-1)

What this means is that there are 4 males, 5 females, then 1 male champion (in the parentheses) and 2 female champions (parentheses) for English Setters - for a total of 12 English Setters to be judged, then another 8 Gordon Setters before Pointers will be judged. If you figure about 2 minutes per dog for judging, it's likely Pointers will not be judged before 8:30 or 8:45. Because some dogs might be absent, it's a good idea not to wait too long before heading to the ring, but this is a rule of thumb to help you figure out when you will be showing.

Getting back to Pointers, you can see from the entry that there will be 3 males, then 5 females judged in the classes. The dogs numbered in the parentheses are the champion dogs competing for Best of Breed. These dogs do not compete for Championship points because they already have the necessary number and are already AKC Champions.

Arriving at Ringside:

When you arrive ringside, you will see two people in the ring; the judge and the ring steward. The steward gives out the numbers, helps the judge to keep the records and calls each class into the ring when it's time for them to be judged. You will want to get your number from the Steward. The number is listed on your entry return which came with your judging program in the mail, but it will also be listed in the show catalog, which the steward will also have ringside.

The steward might be busy giving out ribbons to the judge or recording the results of a previous class, so you might have to wait a few minutes to get your number. It's important that the result be recorded accurately, so be patient! Once you have your number, you can attach it to your arm using the rubber bands provided. It's customary to put the number on your left arm.

Competing In the Ring:

Now you will wait until the steward calls your class into the ring. Watching beforehand can help you see where the judge would like you to stack your dog, and how he or she is moving the dogs. When you are called into the ring, normally you will be placed in "catalog order" according to the numbers you have been assigned. Leave space if there is to be a dog in front of you, then stack your dog, taking your time. Rushing and acting particularly nervous will make your dog worry and she's less likely to stand quietly and more likely to fidget. Normally, the judge will take a moment to look at all the dogs stacked together as a group, then send everyone around the ring together. The first dog in line will then be examined. If your dog is fidgeting, and you are not first, it might be helpful to practice stacking the dog until it is your turn. When it is your turn to have your dog examined, stack her, taking your time. Try to move out of the judge's way as he is examining your dog, but also try to keep your dog still. If she moves, calmly put her back as she belongs. Next the judge will move your dog by herself, usually expecting the dog to free-stack (stand on her own) using bait or a toy so he can see how she looks on her own, and evaluate her expression. Then the judge will send you around the ring to the end of the line.

Once all the dogs have been examined, the judge will assign the placements. There are up to 4 placements for any given class. Whichever dog is first in her class will need to be ready to go back into the ring again.

Winning a class gains you a blue ribbon. No points are assigned for class wins. Once all the different classes are judged for a particular sex (dogs or bitches) the first place dogs from those classes will go back into the ring for what is called the Winners Class. From these first place dogs, the judge will choose his Winner for the day (Winners Dog and Winners Bitch). The "Winners" will be given championship points. How many points are given depends on how many dogs are entered. A win of 3, 4 or 5 points is considered a "Major."

In order to attain an AKC Championship, you need to earn 15 championship points, including two "Major" wins of 3, 4 or 5 points. You must earn these points under 3 different judges.

Once the Winners are chosen, that dog will leave the ring. The second place dog from the class that the Winner was in will enter the ring. From those dogs left (the other first place dogs and the second place dog from the class in which the Winner was entered) the judge will choose a Reserve Winner. No points are awarded for Reserve Winner, but in case the Winner is disqualified for any reason (entered in the wrong class, a paperwork issue, etc.) the Reserve dog will be awarded the points instead. This happens only rarely.



If you are lucky enough to be chosen as Winners Dog or Winners Bitch, you will be heading into the ring AGAIN for the Best of Breed Class. Only the "winners" will be eligible to compete in Best of Breed against the Champion dogs.


Best of Breed:

The Best of Breed class is used to determine the best pointer entered on that day. Usually this title is given to one of the dogs entered that is already a Champion, however, both the Winners Dog and the Winners Bitch are eligible for this award. No points are given for Best of Breed. In this class, the judge will also assign a Best of Opposite Sex award. This is for the dog who is best of his sex that was NOT chosen as the Best of Breed. For example, if Champion Pointer X is chosen as Best of Breed and she is female, Best of Opposite sex will be a male.

Also chosen is an award for Best of Winners. This title is awarded EITHER to Winners Dog or Winners Bitch. The purpose of this award is to give points to an outstanding animal in the case that there is a discrepancy between the points. For example, if there were a large number of bitches entered, there might be say, 3 points available to the Winners Bitch. If only 1 or 2 dogs were entered, there might only be 1 point available to Winners Dog. If the judge feels that the Winners Dog is superior to the Winners Bitch (and he may not!) he can assign Best of Winners to the dog, who then will also be awarded 3 points. The Winners Bitch does not lose her points. She will still have 3 points.


Calculating points can be confusing, and knowing when to head back into the ring can be confusing. Listen for your number and hopefully some of the other exhibitors will help you.

If you like, you can have a photograph taken with the judge at the show. Most people only get photos taken if they have won points on that day, but it is your choice. Normally you will need to wait for a break in judging and ask for the judge to pose for photos with you. A photographer will be called and you can have the photo taken at that time. You can check with the steward to see when the judge will be taking a break.

Now what?

If you've won - congratulations! Go home, tell all your friends and your breeder and have a celebratory dinner!

If not, don't despair. Learning the ropes can take time. Judge's opinions of what makes a correct pointer vary. Some judges will not choose puppies for championship points. Some judges prefer one color over another (even tho they are not supposed to!). Sometimes your dog misbehaves - they are not robots. There is always another show.

If you find that you are losing consistently, it might be helpful to talk with your breeder or other show folks to see what they think. You might need some more training. Your dog might need to put on or take off some weight. Or, your dog may have a fault that is preventing him from winning. It's a good idea to get a second opinion or two if you feel you aren't winning when you should. You might get some good advice and be able to improve your results.

Most important is that you enjoy the time with your dog. An AKC Championship is a nice title to earn and your breeder will be grateful for the help this gives their record as a breeder. However, in the end, it is still only dogshow. What matters most is that you enjoy living with your dog and spending time with her.

Carter goes BOB

We finally got Carter's Best of Breed photo from some shows in October. I think he looks great. He's a nice typey boy and he SURE loves to show! Maybe a bit too much... Carter now needs just a major and a single to finish his CH! Carter is a son of Ch Corwyn's Flame JH CDX VA (Scarlett) and Ch Marsh Run Tradewinds Tartan (Tartan). He lives in NJ with a supernice family and his boy, Elliott.

Welcome Pointer Lovers

Welcome to What's Happening at Corwyn Pointers! We wanted to share with you everything going on at Corwyn to keep you up to date on our news. Keep an eye out for upcoming litters, puppy photos, field photos, hunting trips, show news, stories about our hunting trips, training tips, and stories about life at Corwyn. We look forward to sharing our pointer stories with you!