Arlington Texas is where my kids started going to matches on the weekends and training classes during the week, that was in '85 I believe... First show was in the same year obedience Abilene Texas. First AKC Conformation show was in Dallas/Ft Worth showing a Sheltie in '86 or early '87 (oldest daughter Shannon). The rest is history... lol Dennis was at all the shows but for a while he was only holding dogs for Shannon.... but did compete in the Matches.
Terri
MyToyBulldogs

You are really asking me to think! That was a long long time ago. The "Farm Show" Building is a very LARGE building and was full in the benched area, so I would say there were about as many dogs entered at this show (being a large show) as you would find today. But you must remember, that was my first show, so I may have just been overwhelmed at the number of dogs in one building. My second show was in the Williamsport area at an outside show. It WAS on par with today's shows in numbers. As has been from the beginning, it was my husband that drug me to all these dog shows.............now look what happened!!

big fat guy smoking. Hmmmmm so many memories and stories

Vicky

Vicky,
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I think the first dog show I saw in person was at a fairground located in Cloverdale, British Columbia, Canada sometime in the mid 1990's. Cloverdale is a suburb of Vancouver, BC. I believe I ended up going with my buddy Ron since he had to show one of his Boxers. I always thought that he was crazy for going through all the stuff and show for 2 minutes! I didn't own a dog then. Funny how things turn out, right?

My first Bulldog specialty that I attended was in August of 1998 and it was The Bulldog Club of Greater Seattle specialty when it was still held at the old Tyee Hotel in Olympia, WA. The Tyee is now a Fred Meyer. I remember getting up early and getting ready to go to this show and thinking, man, this is an early get-up! Anyway, I met a big fat guy there that was leaning up against a corner having a smoke that then introduced me to a tall skinny lady from Northern CA from whom I purchased the dog that I started showing. I bought this dog and turned around and tried showing for the first time in the fall of that year at The Oregon State Bulldog Club specialty in some small building at some fairgrounds in Corvallis, OR. I remember thinking how far of a drive that was then too! The moment I got a taste for the competition, it was over.

Jay

please.......lol, I was trying to find my jr pictures a few months back!! I"D pay to see them!!! thats awsome though!! not sure I could handle a dobie now even hahahha

Kristie Barwick
http://www.symarunbulldogs.com

It was an all breed puppy match with an entry of about 600...Back then they were soo much bigger...ANYWAYS..I wanted to do Junior showmanship so my mom gave me a 3 month old untrained dobie pup her name was Glory....I think there were 25 juniors in that class and I placed 2nd..I was hooked!.I think I have some photos somewhere...Some of my best childhood memories revolve around dogshows...My mom would drag all 4 of us kids and turn us loose..

they had bulldogs in the middle 50's but they were just pets. They got their first show dog in 1967, which is, in fact the year I was born. He was not purchased as a show dog, but Mary Kennedy (judge Mark's mom) saw the dog, saw the pedigree and suggested that mom sow him. Mom said, ""but thats a rich man's sport"..
so much for that!
Yep, spend my entire life with them and do not regret a single day.
E

when my mom would compete, me and my sister would be wallpapering the bathrooms with the brown paper towels after wetting them in the sink!! lol. I've always loved the sport!! and the commitment to training show dogs!!!

Kristie Barwick
http://www.symarunbulldogs.com

My first "dog show" was not a true AKC event. My husband and I raised foxhounds and field trialed them for years and years. Prior to the field trial they usually had a bench show which the judging was based upon conformation to the american foxhound breed standard. My first bulldog show was this last summer in Cincinnati. I have been to about 7 shows since then and have had very positive experiences with other exhibitors.

In the middle of July. We were there for a Horse Show and after we were done showing we walked over to watch the group.


Just-LoneStar Bulldogs

It was May 1968 in Roy Utah I was showing Staint Bernards at the time.

It would have been the Des Moines Kennel Club show at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in 1957 [ouch that is a long time ago].   The show was still benched then so we were there the entire day.   My dad was showing our bulldog in obedience at that time.  We also went to shows in Minneapolis and Kansas City as well as other smaller shows in Iowa during the 1950's.

Beth Handrick
Wimsey Bulldogs

when we bot our first AKC dog, a boxer...Ziggy. We joined the local boxer club & did some obedience with her.

Having gotten divorced I didn't have a dog for a long time. 2 kids & a full time job kept me very busy.

In 1996 when the kids were doing their own thing I got my first bulldog Dudley. I also did obedience with him.

Sue

Was at a specialty show in Irwindale CA about 8-9 years ago. It was held at a hotel. My first observation was that all the women (OK, not all but some) had very skimpy outfits on and my first thought was "this is what you have to do to win?" Well that's not good because I don't necessarily look good in a low cut blouse. I was more than willing to try but I don't think that would have went over very well! Anyhow, so I tried to make small talk by asking this lady "how she did this weekend" and she copped a stuck up bitch attitude. So I moved on and saw this dog that I couldn't identify if it was a Bulldog or Frenchie because it had cropped ears. I asked the lady politely "excuse me, what breed of dog is that" and she copped a stuck up bitch attitude. So there you have it, this was the first dog show I attended and these were my very first dog show experiences.

Not the greatest first impression but that was what lit a fire under my ass. I'm the kind of person if you tell me I can't do something I'm going to do it. Of course there have been times where people have been very helpful but this was the first show I ever attended and my first experiences.

Scott

Harrisburg has always been a large show, even when it was still benched (I remember when it still was, so many were when I was a kid). It now kicks starts the Cherry Blossom circuit and is a great show.. One of my favorites.
e

We had a great day! And I will always be 25.

Wild West Bulldogs

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lol...lol...i mean years not decades... since your only 25

also shelly, yoru still 25 to even though i hear you recently had a anniversary, a late congrats to you on that!!

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thanks for sharing that how do you feel the entry was then, was there more or less dogs entered then, vs now in your experience, generally speaking i mean over all in the late 60/s vs now days

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I saw my first dog show in Ohio as a kid in the mid '80s. I knew I wanted my own dog someday when I had my own place, and I knew I didn't want a poodle (no offense to poodle lovers) We had a poodle who was epileptic, mostly blind, incontinent and toothless. Poor thing. I was young enough to think all poodles were like ours! I went to the dog show to see all the different breeds in person. I feel in love with bulldogs but it was many years before I could afford one and also had the time to dedicate to owning a dog. I really can't imagine NOT having a bulldog now!

It was westminster and so of course the first show I went to was Westminster as an adult !! AWESOME.

Be kind. lol

what I would'nt do to stand there and talk to Randy again.......what an enormous void he's left.

1984, Houston Texas in the Astrodome. My neighbor across the street asked my parents if I could go with her (I was in the fourth grade) as she was showing her ****zu's. I was hooked from there

Lets NOT talk "decades"!!!!!

I thought you just told me two weeks ago you were 39???? LOL~~~

hay that works....roflmao!!!! always interested in hearing how things remain or change from 3-4-5 decades back!!

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spent yoru whole life with them, that is cool, makes you a true lifer!!! :)i think its awesome

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Oh shucks, forgive me if I step upon another species show/handlers toes. I can do fine just within the canine world. Cya in the ring.

Perserverance isn't a long race.
It's a series of short races,
ran one after the other.

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was the Detroit Kennel Club show frist time was 1970 have not missed a year now that I am into showing Bulldgs frist time to show at the bench show was early 80's with a beagle and in 2000 with Bulldogs even took a BOB with my Ch Amber

The last time I was there it was so darn hot my poor horse was panting like a dog and had to be hosed down every 30 minutes. But OKC was usually good to me!

depends on the breed they are showing . Kind of like dog breeds, hehehe. I showed in my first horse show at age 8 and competed for more then 35 years.

There is always stuff going on behind the scenes (just like the dogs)and the breed association I'm a member of does suspend members, trainers, etc. But the suspensions are always listed in the monthly news magazine with the reason of suspension and the length of the suspension. No guessing. If it's drugs then what drugs where used is listed.

would have been Walla Walla, Richland, Yakima circuit. I remember at the show in Yakima I was bitten by a St. Bernard. I was standing by my father who was talking to the owner of this dog and he lunged at me and with 1 bite he bit me right below my right eye and in the chest. I was lucky he didn't get my eye.

Gosh I'm feeling very old right now. Especially when I see the other replys.

You can count on me. LOL



Lynn King CPDT

lol...i actually had a strange feeling you would hit that...lol...

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Lynn King CPDT

gee, i saw a show with my grandpa when i was like 6, 35 years ago, in oklahoma.

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Didn't you grow up with bullies? I've always envied those that had that wonderful opportunity to be surrounded by bullies in thier childhoods.

not sure, but mom took me and my brothers to her (our) first show somewhere in Pittsburgh(or West Virginia)in 1967 or 68.
E

me and my brother and our significant others at the time started going to the IKC benched show here in Chicago. It was a great way to see the breeds up close and talk to breeders. Would come home with bags of free samples and toys back then. Didn't go every year, but we went at least every few yrs. I still try and go every couple years.

Didn't go to my first specialty show until 2000. Bulldogs of course



Sue

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I took all 4 of my kids to check out the bulldogs. Well, we were there too early for the bullies, but we did get to see the Frenchies.
I just remember that there were a couple of bullies in crates that we saw, but none of them were "out & about" for us to really see well. I also remember being "awed" by a Rotti we saw in obedience. I couldn't believe that dog did everything the owner commanded it to do, just with hand signals! It was wonderful to see!

It was a little bitty show in OKC at the fairgrounds. May have even been just a B match. All breeds on a dirt floor. Then I attended quite a few horse shows. (think dog show folks are quirky!?!?!)

Perserverance isn't a long race.
It's a series of short races,
ran one after the other.

http://www.GlitterMaker.com/> -

What a wild, raucous, funny, loud, confusing sight:-). I respect you guys even more that go to those regularly and actually can think past all the commotion and goings on to be level headed and show your beautiful bullies! But really, it was a lot of fun. So many beautiful animals. So many good people who just love their dogs and want to show them being great Bullies. Nothing wrong at all with that. I enjoyed it all, and met a few bulldoggers, to boot.

I hope to meet some who I actually know next time! Anyone coming to Atlanta for the October show?

Amy and Sophia

I went to one in upstate NY, about 15 years ago. I was in Heaven. All those dogs and so little time.

Lynn King CPDT

Puyallup dog show June 2000 I was late and missed the bulldogs.

1 show i made it to ontime and watched was November 2000 Monroe show the weekend before Nationals. I was very impressed, i didnt make Nationals but got to see many very very nice dogs at this show.

Vicky,
Bosco, Bella, Breve' & Holly

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Benched show at the "Farm Show Building" in Harrisburg, Pa. in 1968