Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:59 pm Post subject: what classes to enter?
Hi,
If I have a 8 month old puppy, and there are 2 different classes in a schedule, 1 puppy and 1 junior should I enter both or just 1? and if only 1 for what reasons?
I would enter him in for the puppy classes to begin with, and see how you go and then progress up to the junior. You may very well get advice from other dog showers at the shows.
A.V means any variety
What show are you thinking of entering
How is Holden today, and how did he get on at the vet.
The reason to enter puppy and not Junior, even though technically he qualifies for both (well, if you look he qualifies for ALL the classes, even Open!) is so that he competes against dogs of his own age and basic maturity. Its hard enough competing in Puppy with a 6 month old against the nearly 12 month olds, they are so much more mature and 'finished' but to compete against dogs nearly 18 months old with a 8 month old is near impossible and your pup would ljust stick out like a sore thumb against their 'nearly grown up' look
Does that make sense?
Societies put on AV classes to raise a bit of money for the coffers and give those nice folks who stay all day something to do in the afternoons. Its also a good time to practise a bit more handling under competition atmosphere.
Take it from an ex show society secretary, they LOVE those who enter them and support the club by doing so.
Oh, that's interesting...
Here it's a little bit different:
up to 6 months - baby class
6-9 months - puppy class
9-18 - junior class
15-24 - middle class
15 and up - open class
Yes k I was a little flippant in my reply but here (and most places, so it would be interestig if youb read your rule smallprint if it is the same)
That although one THINKS of Junior (for example) being for dogs from 12 - 18 months, infact its for dogs over 6 months but under 18 months on the day of the show.
At large shows we too have what we call 'Minor' puppy which is 6 - 9 months and then Puppy which is 6 months to 12 months (again, its always thought of as being 9 - 12 months but its not, its 6 - 12 months in the rules its just you enter the class most suited to your dog which is usually the class it is the right age for).
Obviously special classes like Veteran, or Champion stakes or the working class has their own rules but the general breed classes, if you really wished to, you could enter every one with a 6 month old. It would be crazy but there are only UPPER limits not lower ones.
Its hard enough competing in Puppy with a 6 month old against the nearly 12 month olds, they are so much more mature and 'finished' but to compete against dogs nearly 18 months old with a 8 month old is near impossible and your pup would ljust stick out like a sore thumb against their 'nearly grown up' look
Ironically, my experiences have been somewhat different - Clover initially did nothing in minor puppy or puppy, yet has taken several good placings (including wins) in Junior, Graduate, Post graduate and Open. Why did I put her in for these classes? sometimes they were the lowest class we could enter - other times, if I am getting up a 4am for an Open Show, then I'm afraid I generally enter more than one class
Now suddenly at 10 months, she has started taking places in puppy Classes (including wins ) while holding her own in the 'older' classes
You do need to err on the side of caution - we unwittingly 'did' ourselves out being eligible for the Maiden class at Champ shows, and could potentially end up in the same situation with Novice - now I find myself WANTING her to at best take second place in the older classes
Any wins won whilst you are still under 12 months old, so still in puppy don't qualify you out of maiden. So if that win you refer to that pushed you out of Maiden was before 12 months, she can still enter Maiden, she has to win when she is out of Puppy
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while holding her own in the 'older' classes 
