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Brianna began her show career at the Columbia Pomeranian Specialty Show weekend, at the Portland Expo on Thursday, July 17, 2008 As she was still fighting the lead, and I wanted her first experience in the Ring to be FUN, I decided to hand her off to my friend Michelle McGillvary, of ShelleLee Poms (thank you Michelle!). Brianna was so focused on this cool new person, that she forgot about the hated lead. Michelle and Bria made a great team for three days, winning her class in Sweeps for the Specialty days and her 6-9 Puppy class all four days (to include Best Puppy in Breed on the third day:). By the last day (when my friend Geri Arnette handled her- thank you Geri!) she was having a great time and thought that all the clapping in the group ring, which was next to us , was for her!!! |
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Me with Brianna |
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~ October 2008 ~ Brianna is now a UKC Champion!!! Just returned from our first UKC group of shows~ It was a blast!! I now understand why so many breeders are defecting from AKC to UKC. Their shows remind me, a great deal, of what AKC shows USED to be like when I started in 1979.
The
AKC ring used to be FAR more relaxed and I could go several shows
without seeing a professional handler in the ring. The ring was
99% owner handlers or breeder handlers AND the judges worked to
educate you. If there was something they liked, or did not like,
about your dog- they told you. If you, as the handler, were
doing something wrong- stacking or gaiting- they educated you about
it. It really helped the novice understand structure and why
their dog won or lost.
UKC
does this. One judge explained her placements and why.
They also were teaching ring etiquette and good sportsmanship.
Something that has been, sadly, nearly completely lost in AKC.
UKC is the perfect venue for a novice to the sport of showing dogs, for someone with a soft dog, new puppy or child who wants to learn to be a junior handler. Every one of the judges I saw were incredibly gentle with the puppies, children and the soft dogs. Gave them all the time that they needed and cautioned the other handlers on getting too close to each other in the ring and 'running up' on the dog in front of you wasn't tolerated (a current problem in AKC rings).
In
the Best In Show (BIS) ring- where you have dogs, ranging in size,
from an Irish Wolfhound all the way down in size to the Pom- the judge
cautioned the Wolfhound owner to keep lots of room between her and the
Pom, that Wolfhound was to halt at the corner of the ring (on
the way around) until the Pom cleared the next corner, then she
could proceed to the starting point.
All-in-all a really fun weekend. I will be breaking Emma's 'show teeth' in UKC and not AKC as she is a softer bitch and the UKC venue would be perfect for her.
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