Annie's first conformation show

[frontierrots]

So today was Annie's first conformation show, ever. (for those who don't know a conformation show is the one where the dogs are compared to the breed standard/blueprint)

Not only was it Annie's first conformation show, but it was her fourth show ever and I think she did one match (practice show) as a baby. The 3 prior shows were actually obedience and rally trials and are the ones where she earned her Rally Novice title.

She has not set foot in a public forum (training class, practice,...) but once since we moved last July (2006). 2 weeks ago I finally took her to a friend's indoor training place over 1 hour away to get in a practice and Annie was a wild thing and wanted to play with every dog.

I know bad owner but situation dictated the absence of dog travel for the most part with the house thing so..

I picked today's show because typically it is a Thursday show and is smaller. It is also part of a 4 day show cluster where they have a "Bred by exhibitor extravaganza". Each day there is a Best of breed bred by exhibitor which goes to bred by groups and then finally a bred by exhibitor best in show. On Sunday the 4 days of Bred by best in shows get together to compete for $1000

Annie was entered in Bred by and I won't exaggerate or mislead at all. She was the only female Rottweiler entered at all and there was just 1 male also. Dissapointing because the entry is usually a smidge bigger and it is the bred by special but..

I got up at 3 am and drove to Fitchburg, Ma. As I crested the hill in Ashburnham, Ma I was greated by a beautiful sunrise. Just lovely. Got to the show grounds early and was able to walk Annie around outside a bit and then brought her in for 1/2 hour to walk around and settle. She was fairly nervous at first but settled well. Out we went and she stayed in the car while I did some stuff, then I brought her back in again for a bit before the class started. She did very well.

believe it or not she did NOT try to jump on any dog or pounce on any small dog!!! (Annie's all fun)

She did well in the ring and made it through the judge exam just fine. The judge was very kind and nice. We went back in for breed and she did good, but was a little facinated by the male running in front of her so short strided a bit. The male took breed and we got a nice handful of ribbons- not that we beat anyone but still. The judge and some handlers outside the ring took me aside and told me what a great moving girl she was and that she has a lovely female head. The judge told me to GET THE DOG OUT! THAT was really nice

Then we took a walk and took a nap in the car while waiting for the Bred by group

We came in a little too early, as the groups were taking longer than I planned. But Annie did very well, even when the toy group descended on us, including a Min Pin of maybe 3-5 lbs that was crazy. She fixated on them but I distracted her fine.

We got in the ring, finally, and Annie was doing well until the clueless Samoyed person behind us was freestacking her dog and swirling her skirt on Annie's rump and stepping all over her back feet. So Annie got very suspicious of her. I asked the lady to please give us some space because it was Annie's first show but... Annie's individual exam went really well and that judge also knew it was her first show. Back in line though for the final look that dumb lady stepped all over Annie again so Annie was a little nervous and did not stand as well because she kept looking behind her for the clueless wonder. We did not place but the judge rushed up to us before we left the ring and BEFORE he even sent the placements around for their final trip (he had excused the rest of us) and told me that Annie was a beautiful girl and when she finishes maturing (mentally and physicallY) that she'll be a wonderful show dog

So while we did not place, we got some REALLY nice compliments and Annie was very well behaved.

We got home at 6:30 and while we are tired (Annie is totally passed out) I think it was a good day.

I'll post the photo when we get it

[fbkeays]

Congratulations on doing so well. Lots of pretty ribbons and great comments from the judges.
BTW, you know as well as I do, that sammy handler KNEW exactly what she was doing and it worked.

[targonrotts]

it's not just the winning, but the great impression you leave and all the compliments!
great job!
good luck in her continuing show carreer!

[JemarsSerena]

The handful of pretty ribbons is always nice, but it is all about getting out there with your dog. I hope Annie got a well deserved reward when she got home, big congrats to you!

[debbiej]

I love shows. love to watch, and even if I'm not a part of it, I find it very exciting. Congratulations on the wonderful experience for you and Annie!

[Marylou Mader]

What a wonderful attitude for your show dog. When we begin showing no matter how many years of experience, it is the dog and the handler striving for that perfect team performance :0) I teach conformation classes at our kennel club and I would love to use your message as a pointer for my students. It is with your great attitude that you and your Annie will meet all your expectations...
Keep up the good work, and I hope many of the other newbies as well as oldtimers take the moment to read your message and use that mind set in the future.

[Ayoka]

Sounds like a good first time out to me!

And to echo marylou, a wise local dog lady advised me once - every time you step into the ring, no matter what the venue, no matter where you place in the scoring, there is ALWAYS something positive to take away from the experience -ALWAYS.

I think the mark of a good judge is to find that positive, point it out and encourage competitors.

[jlhnokc]

Way to go Annie! I have never shown and I know points are important, but I would think it would mean so much more to be singled out from the judge and be told your dog is wonderful than any ribbon...

[AngelBunny]

I am so bummed I wasn’t feeling well enuff to see you and Annie. The show was so close to me, too.

Congratulations! Annie and you did a fine job. Great that you and she were out there!

Very nice!!

[frontierrots]

Thanks everyone. Annie is lovely (though her markings could be darker) and I feel bad to have waited so long for her debut

I also have not shown a dog in conformation in YEARS, Stacia (step daughter) handles the Shibas. I quit showing Rotts in conformation because I did not like the atmosphere, but Annie is so nice I gave up my boycott

The one thing I WISH that I had, had the presence of mind to do was to stack Annie facing the wrong way in the group line up so that MY back was to the Samoyed owner. Then she would have been bumping me and stepping on me not Annie (and we could not scooch forward because A) the PWD was close in front and B) each time we could move the Samoyed owner jammed right up behind us again.

Ya know Francis I was trying to give the sammy owner the benefit of the doubt but you likely are right

And yes Marylou, you may use my post if will be of benefit to any of the students (want to come here and give me a refresher course??? LOL )

[RottsNScotts]

I had one handler, many moons ago, get pushy with their dog onto mine...Notice I said "one"!

I went up to him, outside the ring, and told him that I did not appreciate his not giving me room to fairly show my dog and if he did it again, I WOULD ask the judge to tell him to back off!!!

He was a perfect angel every time we showed together after that!

Sometimes it pays to have Scottish Terriers as your "other" breed! LOL!

[Marylou Mader]

This is such a great thread, we all need to understand that only a few dogs go away with the wins for the day.

One of the topics of our classes are, "mind imagery" we like to tell people to play a video in their head of a good thing about their dog and whether it was at training, or at a show, it is the positive image that needs to play out, the negative image, like that of the naughty Sammy person, should be thrown into the garbage. One suggestion, make sure you give plenty of room in front of you for that reason, you can move up, or back if you give yourself an extra amount of space.

Also, looking at Annie's performance from each show and how any of it can be made even better :0)

[frontierrots]

Well Annie did really well, I could have been better but did well for an aging, forgetful, out of practice person LOL

Our next show will be in jan IF Bea is not pregnant then , otherwise the next shows are not until April (I think) which is when we will be debuting the Shiba monster child (she'll be 2 weeks too young for the jan show!) and Annie can go too

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by frontierrots

Our next show will be in jan IF Bea is not pregnant then, otherwise the next shows are not until April...

Where are these shows?

[frontierrots]

January is Fitchburg and in April... I can't remember but it's either Fitchburg or Springfield (Big E)