The Dog Show
Aust Ch. Amesen Lady GaGa
So what do you know!! Here I am at 38 years old and have decided that I should start to show Lhasa apsos. I cant even begin to explain to you what is involved in conformation showing and just how addictive it can be, but I will try.
The Breed Standard
The breed standard is set of guidelines on how the dog should look, act and move. It deals with all parts of the dog from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail. These can vary between different countries and can be quite confusing for someone that is new, so I have included a great explanation of the Lhasa Apso breed standard, just click on the following link "Judging the Lhasa Apso"
Order of events
So when you get to a show there are seven groups of dogs, Toys, Terriers, Gundogs, Hounds, Working Dogs, Utility and Non Sporting. In order they are Groups 1 to 7 and the Lhasa Apso is in Non Sporting (Group 7). There will be a steward and a judge on each ring and proceedings run by order of breed in alphabetical order. When your Breed comes up they run through all of the dogs first and then the bitches. The following classes apply to both, Baby puppy (3 - 6 months), Minor Puppy (6 - 9 months), Puppy (6 - 12 months), Junior (12 - 18 months), Intermediate (18 - 36 months), Australian Bred (6 months or over born in Australia) and Open (6 months or over) At the end of each sex they will run a challenge where the winner of each class mentioned above competes for best dog/bitch. Once this has been completed the best dog and best bitch compete for Best of Breed. The Winner then leaves the ring and the runner up of the challenge from the same sex comes in and competes for Runner up Best of Breed.
Confused yet!!! I have heard my name called many times and had to run back to the ring. But wait there's more!!
After the Best of Breed then each of the class winners for Dog and Bitch compete for class in breed.
If you win Best of Breed, Runner up Best of Breed of any of the class in breeds, then your day isn't over yet because now they have the Group.
Group starts with all the Best of Breed winners competing for Best in Group. The winner then exits the ring with a big smile and the Runner up Best of Breed from the same breed as the winner enters the ring and the judge will award Runner up in Group.
After this comes Best in Show where the winner of each of the seven groups enters the ring. The Best in Show is then awarded and exits the ring with an even bigger smile than when they won the group, and the Runner up of the same group as the winner enters the ring. The judge then awards a Runner up in Show. Then each Class in Show is awarded, the Gazebos are packed up, the dogs are put away for another week and its off home. The drive home is directly related to how well you went on the day. If you win the drive seems really quick, If you lose it can feel like you are driving interstate. My quick drives are few and far between!!
Watch and Learn
No amount of research and reading can replace what you can learn at a show. Lots of people have said to me through my small journey so far "I have been doing this for 30 years and I am still learning". Conformation Showing is not what they are talking about here, but in fact the Lhasa Apso itself. I would honestly say in my first six months of showing I have happily reached the 1% of knowledge mark!!
The Joy of winning
It is all worth the while when you get that win, trust me the hours of effort and head torture go out the window and it is Happy Days. I have only had that feeling twice now in the past six months but it is the best. One Runner Up Best of Breed, and one Minor Puppy in Group. In the middle of 2010 I was lucky enough to be offered Amesen Lady GaGa and things have got a whole lot better from there. To follow our journey just go to our news page.
The Breed Standard
The breed standard is set of guidelines on how the dog should look, act and move. It deals with all parts of the dog from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail. These can vary between different countries and can be quite confusing for someone that is new, so I have included a great explanation of the Lhasa Apso breed standard, just click on the following link "Judging the Lhasa Apso"
Order of events
So when you get to a show there are seven groups of dogs, Toys, Terriers, Gundogs, Hounds, Working Dogs, Utility and Non Sporting. In order they are Groups 1 to 7 and the Lhasa Apso is in Non Sporting (Group 7). There will be a steward and a judge on each ring and proceedings run by order of breed in alphabetical order. When your Breed comes up they run through all of the dogs first and then the bitches. The following classes apply to both, Baby puppy (3 - 6 months), Minor Puppy (6 - 9 months), Puppy (6 - 12 months), Junior (12 - 18 months), Intermediate (18 - 36 months), Australian Bred (6 months or over born in Australia) and Open (6 months or over) At the end of each sex they will run a challenge where the winner of each class mentioned above competes for best dog/bitch. Once this has been completed the best dog and best bitch compete for Best of Breed. The Winner then leaves the ring and the runner up of the challenge from the same sex comes in and competes for Runner up Best of Breed.
Confused yet!!! I have heard my name called many times and had to run back to the ring. But wait there's more!!
After the Best of Breed then each of the class winners for Dog and Bitch compete for class in breed.
If you win Best of Breed, Runner up Best of Breed of any of the class in breeds, then your day isn't over yet because now they have the Group.
Group starts with all the Best of Breed winners competing for Best in Group. The winner then exits the ring with a big smile and the Runner up Best of Breed from the same breed as the winner enters the ring and the judge will award Runner up in Group.
After this comes Best in Show where the winner of each of the seven groups enters the ring. The Best in Show is then awarded and exits the ring with an even bigger smile than when they won the group, and the Runner up of the same group as the winner enters the ring. The judge then awards a Runner up in Show. Then each Class in Show is awarded, the Gazebos are packed up, the dogs are put away for another week and its off home. The drive home is directly related to how well you went on the day. If you win the drive seems really quick, If you lose it can feel like you are driving interstate. My quick drives are few and far between!!
Watch and Learn
No amount of research and reading can replace what you can learn at a show. Lots of people have said to me through my small journey so far "I have been doing this for 30 years and I am still learning". Conformation Showing is not what they are talking about here, but in fact the Lhasa Apso itself. I would honestly say in my first six months of showing I have happily reached the 1% of knowledge mark!!
The Joy of winning
It is all worth the while when you get that win, trust me the hours of effort and head torture go out the window and it is Happy Days. I have only had that feeling twice now in the past six months but it is the best. One Runner Up Best of Breed, and one Minor Puppy in Group. In the middle of 2010 I was lucky enough to be offered Amesen Lady GaGa and things have got a whole lot better from there. To follow our journey just go to our news page.
