Questions Re. Attending Specialty Shows
Submitted by Shannon and Winston on February 8, 2012 - 12:49pmHi Everyone! I know a lot of the regional clubs are gearing up for their respective specialty shows in the next few weeks/months. The club closest to me is the Heart of America Bulldog Club. I've looked over their website and flyer about the show and the dates...but I can't find any info about whether they allow non-participants to watch the show...?
Generally speaking are these shows open to the public (aka adoring fans of the breed) or are they just for those who are there to show their dogs? Is there price to attend (but not show)? Do they have booths with vendors or are they just a straight forward show only event?
To those of you who do participate...are people who are non-competitors allowed to walk around and talk to the various competitors? Obviously I'm not going to try to talk to someone who is clearly on their way to the ring, or working on getting ready...but I just wonder what the "rules" are. I don't want to accidentally commit a faux pas because I break an unwritten (or written) rule, but I would definitely love to get to talk to them. :) Also, in your opinions...which "event" is the best to watch? I think I'd like to see the Jr Showmanship event, and I'd love to see the puppies in action, and of course I'd love to see the final day of competition when they give out the big awards, but in reality I can probably only make to one day of the 3-day show...
Thanks in advance for your insight! :)
Shannon and Winston :)
My swimming bully buddy!
Dottie and I drove 3 hrs to Nationals to 'check it out'
They had a few Vendors at Nationals - and lots n lots n lots of bullies - Some breeders and Handlers were really nice and would chat with you (They could tell if you were a Bulldogger or just a fan)
Dottie actually laughed, 1 bullie TOTALLY Snubbed me! wouldnt even look at me! I was like...
WELL I NEVER ! LOL
Little local shows, I dont know, but I assume you can go in, is there an admission? there wasnt at Nationals, maybe they will have a small fee to go towards the club etc.
if you get a chance GO, but leave the baby at home. (Until you get a feel for the club) I just wish we had a local club here :(
Last steps taken May 26, 2014 -- Been rolling along ever since . . . .
I really REALLY want to go!
But I don't want to show up and be turned away because it isn't open to the public. I can't imagine that they'd be "closed" but you never know...
And I know Winston can't go, he'd probably not understand why HE wasn't the center of attention (ha!)...
How funny about that snub from the one bully! Apparently that bully had their "game face" on and couldn't be distracted from the "work" about to happen! I'd love to go to the National show when it's closer to me again!
Shannon and Winston :)
My swimming bully buddy!
Unfortuately we had NO idea what was going on -
Ok, some bullies come into the room, walk around the ring, then they walk around the ring agian, then leave the room
Ok - am I missing something? Oh look here comes more bullies nto the room, walk around the ring, then they walk around the ring agian,
then leave the room.
We like seeing the bullies, but had *NO* idea how they were being judged or what they were looking for. I've tried to read 'The Standards' and that is like Greek to me. Ok Gizmo isnt showable, cause we had to have her tail /tail pocket removed - Oh and she's fixed too. so she is 'altered' DQ *shrug*
What I did find, to my amazment - and you shower types correct me here -
'Champion' Status, doesnt necessarily mean that you Won a Show (or were the CHAMPION of a Show) something to do with Points -
You go to a show, and you get a few points this time, and then next time you might get a few more, and if you get enough points in that dogs career, then that dog has 'Champion Status' and then you Breed and brag about the 'Champion Status' and Champion Bloodline - Its all so confusing to me, almost like saying the Patriots were Champions of football this year, because their record was better than the Giants, even though the Giants won the superbowl *BOGGLED*
Sorry, I'm just a simple man :p
Last steps taken May 26, 2014 -- Been rolling along ever since . . . .
It's not quite that simple....
and no I do not fully understand it all but a BIG part of the earning of the Champion title you are missing is how many dogs has the dog gone against and won. Points are determined by the # of competitors and you can NOT earn champion if you only compete with a few dogs all the time, even if you do win.
And hopefully before a dog is bred things like health testing and temperament are considered AS WELL AS having a dog that has been proven a good representitive of the breed confirmationally.
Conformation is just one aspect of the continuance of a purebred breed of dog.
Cathy and Audrey
I told ya it was Greek to me :P hee hee
And Math was a STRONG subject for me in school too! LOL
Last steps taken May 26, 2014 -- Been rolling along ever since . . . .
Points Earned for Championship
Let's see if I can make this easier to understand. If the dog has not reached his championship then it is considered a class dog and boys show against boys and girls against girls. There are several classes for each sex with a winner in each class and then those winners go back into the ring to pick the best girl or boy dog. The US has different regions, the larger the numbers in the previous years shows the more dogs it takes to get points. There are a max of 5 points that can be earned at 1 show. In our Division it takes 23 bitches for 3 pts, 12 bitches for 2 points (you get the idea). So what that means is you have to beat all the other bitches to get the points, coming in 2nd gets you NO points/NADA NOTHING, just ribbons. It takes 15 pts in the US to earn your championship and out of those 15 points 2 wins have to be of 3 point shows or larger, what are called Majors. So you can't just go to tiny shows to pick up 1 point at a time. At some point you have to complete against a larger number of dogs depending on your region.
So for Ester...she has 10 pts and 1-4 pt major. (BTW - When she got her 4 point major she had to beat 27 bitches and one of the bitches she beat that day was the National Speciality winner and the #1 bulldog in the US). Was very exciting...it was her day! So she needs either a 5pt major to finish her championship, or she could pick up 2 points and then get a 3 pt major. It is a little confusing. There is more too it but this is the basics for points.
Once a dog finsihes their championship then they compete as a "Special" against the other champions and the winning Class dog and bitch for Best of Breed.
It is open to anyone. They have programs that you can buy that
will tell you who is entered in each class. The only two things you need to know is: no dogs are allowed unless they are entered in the show and do not pet any dogs without owner's consent. It is really fun to watch and most people are very kind and will answer any questions you may have. I do not remember a lot of vendors being at this show in the past. I hope to be able to go watch again this year. Love being surrounded by bullies.
We should try to go!! :)
I knew you'd know! :) I'd just like to go and, like you said, spend a day being surrounded by bullies!
Shannon and Winston :)
My swimming bully buddy!
you 2 should 'Hook up' LOL
and ya could meet there ! and go! and have Lunch! and Meet Bullies ! and ya can't forget PUPPITIS ! cause you will definately be hit with that :)
Last steps taken May 26, 2014 -- Been rolling along ever since . . . .
I can go on Sat am. I have a tour to give at Wayside at 4pm
that afternoon but that should not hinder seeing the morning session and most of the afternoon.
Let me know. I could probably take off and go Friday as well. I just can't go on Sunday.
Let's plan on it!
Saturday for sure! I don't know about Friday since my job will be kicking in to high gear for our busy season...but I might be able to swing it (it's just a matter of getting closer to the date before I know for sure). :)
Shannon and Winston :)
My swimming bully buddy!
GO! You will have a blast!
Shows are open to spectators and Bulldog fans! There isn't an admission to Specialty shows and only rarely to All-Breed shows (usually only at shows that it cost a lot for the club(s) to rent). Most exhibitors are happy to talk to you, if they aren't rushing to the ring.
Here is a link to 'Dog Show Etiquette" and a list of Bulldog shows - http://thebca.org/specials.html
Thanks!!
I'll be sure to read the Etiquette rules! :) I think it'll be a lot of fun!!
Shannon and Winston :)
My swimming bully buddy!
Absolutely GO
talk and have fun! We usually have a lot of fun stuff going on at our specialty show and spectators are definitely encouraged to go. It's a great place to meet breeders, and because the classes are typically large, it gives you alot more talking time then at an all-breed show.
Just remember you will encounter some breeders that are not too friendly, it happens, but on the whole most will be more then willing to chat. Just make sure you don't chat prior to them going in the ring, after show time is best. I also won't let people play with my dogs prior to their showing time...it just gets them too excited...but afterwards if they don't have to go back in it is great to have people play with them.
I'm excited now!
The best part will be getting to play with all the bullies after their shows! :) I figure there will be the ocassional unfriendly person (that's life) but I've found most bulldog people are a friendly bunch. I'm really looking forward to going!! :)
Shannon and Winston :)
My swimming bully buddy!
I wanna go with DEB :)
Just to have someone who knows the in's and out's literally Dottie and I walked around National, spoke to a few people. Got some Info on the BCA but I didnt look at it until I got home... DANG IT ! Spanish Copy!
Last steps taken May 26, 2014 -- Been rolling along ever since . . . .
We talk about
the dogs in the ring, their good qualities and what we don't like about them. Nationals is fun because there are so many dogs, but after 2 or 3 days I'm dogged out and ready to split, LOL!
Our specialty show has an auction, raffles, several vendors and last year there was a copy of seminars as well. Plus we have hospitality so we get fed lunch everyday, usually awesome food and rolls, fruit for breakfast. There used to be a dinner, but they didn't have it last year, it was expensive and the attendance had really dropped off.
Seminars
that should have been couple not copy. The seminars were Brenda Newcomb's training/seminar that she gives to the All-Breed judges and then Elizabeth Hugo did her Bulldog 101 seminar, that gets into the history of the breed. Both great seminars to attend. I've had the opportunity to sit privately with Brenda Newcomb and Mary Brunk at a specialty show in Las vegas, with a friend and that was a great and very enlightening conversation. It's aways a great learning experience when you can sit one-on-one with 2 of the breeds leading authorities.
When we showed
When we showed Persian Cats we had a blast....yes, there are very friendly people, and then some not friendly at all. It's really fun to people watch. We heard tons of nit picky, back stabbing talk, and then on the other had we also a blast meeting people that were veterans and loved to help the newbies.
One time...and we never did this again....we had 3 kittens in show, 2 long haired adults, and 2 Exotic shorthairs, AND a pet class.....Just the two of us (kids were not with us that time) and a two day show. We were hoping around that place, it was crazy. Well some little kid came up and reached his hand inside the crate toward my big red Persian....the kid has mint gum stuck to his fingers! OH man were we mad, and it happened in a matter of 10 seconds. We had about 5 minutes before we would be called to the next ring. The lady next to us had corn starch and she helped us get it out of his fur. Willy won that ring, and 7 of the 9 rings, and got second in show.........one of the judges commented on how he was Minty Fresh......turns out we missed a tiny bit and he took it out of his fur and didnt let anyone see.
Loves and Smooches, Kippa and Mama (Annette)
Definitely go, it's a lot of fun
I was supposed to go to that show but I'm going to the Specialty in Atlanta that weekend instead. One of my friends is judging sweeps in MO and I was going to support him but, he just moved and is only flying in for the show so I wouldn't get to spend much time with him anyway.
Usually the exhibitors are friendly and easy to talk to. Most people love to talk about their dogs. Occasionally you'll get some that don't want to be bothered and I find that to be the exception rather than the norm.
I would advise you to buy a catalog as well. It helps you to keep the classes and dogs/bitches straight.