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Showing Basset Hounds
Above: Ella with "Delsharla MerlinTheGreat", waiting for a class at a local show - February 2008.
So, you have purchased yourself a "Show" Basset and want to embark on a Show Career with him? Firstly, you will need a good sense of humour to have bought a Basset to begin with - and let me tell you, you are going to need it - well in tact - if you are wanting to join the ranks of the show world with him! The Basset Hound would have to be one of the most difficult breeds to show for many reasons, including but not limited by (especially when you are first beginning)....... just when you get the back end up off the ground to "stack" him, the front end goes down..... then you get the front end up and gravity has already pulled the back end back down again! Plus, his infamous attitude of - "If there's nothing in it for me, then I'm just NOT gunna do it" - comes well into play!
If you can find yourself a good Puppy Instructor that understands HOUNDS, then I suggest you utilise the opportunity to pick their brains! Also, let your Instructor know that you are going to be showing this Basset and don't get them to teach him to SIT when he is learning to lead or you will never get his bottom off the ground..... at least (don't teach him to sit) until you have established how to handle your Basset in the show ring with ease!
To begin with, you will feel like you don't have enough hands to keep both ends up at the same time AND all that skin seems to just slip through any grip you thought you had on your Basset! Fear not! With practice, patience and consistency, you will get there! With any new puppy, if you are persistant, you will get results if you are practicing every day - even if just for 5 minutes at a time.
When we first begun showing and after years of showing horses, I found the protocol and terminology at dog shows to be very confusing in deed! What with classes like "Challenge Dog" and "Challenge Bitch", "Best of Breed", "Best in Group" and "Best in Show" (to which non of these classes are actually listed in your Catalogues for the shows) - I was very baffled to begin with and actually missed going into Classes that I was eligible to go in! As we have only been showing for about 12 months, we are very new to the Dog Show Scene but due to the number of enquiries we receive, I felt there was a need to include this section on our website to give new Show Competitors an idea of the protocols expected of them when attending their first lot of shows! It's a really good idea to attend some of your local shows on your own (before you get your puppy) so that you can start to get an idea of what goes on! You may even find a friendly competitor who is willing to answer some of your questions while you are there.
To begin a Show Career with your new Basset Puppy, you must first become a member of your State K9 Council - your breeder should provide you with Membership forms for your appropriate Dog Councils when you pick up your new puppy. For the sake of this exercise, if you are located in NSW, you will need to contact Dogs New South Wales on Ph: 02.9834 3022. They will advise you on how to join up with them and while you have them on the phone, ask them to send you a booklet of "Official Show Entry Forms" (which you will have to pay for). Please note that you can only begin showing a puppy after they are 3 months of age and not before. You will need to ensure that you have purchased a puppy who has been registered on the "Main Register" to compete at Conformation Shows - discuss this matter with your breeder prior to purchasing your new puppy.
Once you have done this, your State K9 Council will forward to you their Magazine each month which lists all the shows that will be on for the proceeding month/s. Entries are usually expected to be sent/received by the Show Secretary a good 2-4 weeks prior to the running of the show you are entering, so you will need to be orgainsed! You will need to forward an entry form filled in with your puppy's details (ie Your puppy's breed, its Registered Name and Registration Number as well as its Dam (ie mother and her Registration Number), Sire (ie father and his Registration Number), your membership number and other details that are self explanatory including the class you wish to enter your puppy into).
THE DAY BEFORE THE SHOW: So, you have entered, gotten your number (and possibly your Catalogue) back from the Show Secretary/Organiser and the show is tomorrow! You will need to give your Hound a good bath with a decent shampoo and make sure that you rinse him thoroughly as the Basset's coat can sneakily retain soap which will dull his shine for the day! Make sure that you wipe the inside of the ear to clear it of any dirt and you have been regularly trimming his nails prior to this day - as it is a bad idea to do it so close to show day incase you nick him which can make him lame. If you are REALLY keen on the showing, you have probably already gone out and blown your budget on Gazebo's, Umbrellas, dog crates/trolleys etc, etc! If you only have one Basset to show, then you can purchase one of those "soft" crates which are much easier to handle than those heavy metal trolleys on wheels. Although, they do come in handy to transport all your equipment to your selected position at ring side!
It is very important to know that if you have chosen to show your Hound, he/she will have to be very used to different people touching him all over the place! This of course, includes his private area! Judges need to check that a male dog's anatomy is correct and "down" ..... x 2! (After 6months of age that is). You will need to ensure that your Basset is happy to have their teeth checked, ears touched, skin tested (ie to check there is enough or if there is too much) etc. etc. You will have to spend time teaching him to "stack" (stand correctly for the judge to look over him and assess his conformation) and maintain that stack until you say otherwise (good luck!!). Bassets can be stubborn and difficult but with time and patience, you will undoubtedly get there!
Make sure that when you are packing the car that you have catered for your dog and the weather conditions. Ensure that you have a bowl and plenty of water on hand for him for the day and take some form of shelter from the sun if you can. Also, don't forget to pack your number and some grooming equipment to take with you - especially drool rags! (At this stage, you should have already been taking your Basset for regular trips in the car to make sure that he is settled for journeys and obviously exercise common sense with safety devises for him whilst travelling). Depending on what form of training you have been doing, you may need to pack "tit bits" for him too. Make sure that you know exactly what time the show starts and leave yourself plenty of time to get there and unpack so that you are not flustered and upsetting your companion in the process! I always pack a thermos for the mandatory cups of coffee upon arrival at the show and because I have kids in tow, I take an esky packed with the necessary food for the day - or you may be left bankrupt from purchasing all those doggie things and food at the show on the day!
SHOW TIME! Now it's the morning of the show...... try not to get nervous as your Hound may pick up on it - just go and have some FUN! When you arrive at the show grounds, find out where your ring is and if you don't already have your Catalogue and you have paid for it, go and pick it up from the Secretary's office on the show grounds on the day. Once you have found out where your ring is, set yourself up and hopefully you will have left enough time for yourself to relax for a minute and have a cuppa before you start to get your Hound ready for his class. Last minute grooming is essential - checking to make sure that his ears are clean and there is limited drool and make sure you have wiped his eyes. We have been sooooo blessed in meeting so many fabulous new friends within the dog world from attending shows. It is a lot of fun and if you happen to be lucky enough to win, that's just an extra bonus. The biggest thing is to enjoy yourself - you will have a HOOT! And, if your competitive juices get flowing, you may find the whole experience quite addictive! You will know this has happened when you start twitching on the the weekends that you haven't entered a show!
SOME THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW: There are 7 different "Groups" of dogs that are judged at shows and they are: The Toy Group, Terrier Group, Gundog Group, Hound Group, Working Dog Group, Utility Group and the Non-Sporting Group. The Basset Hound is obviously in the Hound Group along with other Breeds of Hounds like - the Afghan, Bassenji, Beagle, Borzoi, Deerhound right down to the Whippet. Judging is run in alphabetical order for each Group so you will be on fairly early with your Basset with the males of each breed competing first. At the bigger types of shows, there can be 7 different rings - one for each Group but at some of the smaller shows, you can expect not to see 7 separate rings as some Judges are qualified to Judge more than one Group - you will actually see how many Groups a Judge is responsible for Judging in the advertisement for the show in the K9 Council Magazine.
WHAT CLASS DO I ENTER? Prior to 6 months of age, you will need to enter your baby into one of the following classes: Class 1 = "Baby Puppy" Dog (Boy) or Class 1A = "Baby Puppy" Bitch (Girl) Up to 12 months of age, some shows have another class called the "Sweepstakes Class" - one for the 3-6 month old puppies and another for the 6-12 month old puppies. These classes are for ALL breeds of puppies from ALL the different "Groups" in those age brackets and you will be required to fill out a completely separate entry form to enter your appropriate Sweepstakes class. You will see if this class is being held at the show you are entering under that show's advertisement in the Monthly Magazine. Sweepstakes classes are usually on first up, so be ready early. Forward your entry form, along with a Self Addressed Envelope and your payment (cheque or money order) to the address shown on the show's advertisement. You will then receive your official show number back to you about a week before the show date. Make sure you pack this to take with you to the show as you will need to display it on your left arm or with an appropriate badge on the left hand side of your chest. Another alternative to entering is online via Ozentries - just follow your nose!
If your "Baby Puppy" wins its class, you are eligible for the Best Baby Puppy of Breed - just ask the Steward of your ring if you get confused but you will need to go back into the ring to compete against any other Baby Basset that has won its class. In other words, if you have a bitch that has won its Bitch Baby Puppy Class, then you will be competing against the Male Baby Puppy Basset that won its class for the Best Baby Puppy of Breed. If you win Best Baby Puppy of Breed, then you will expected to wait until the Judging has finished for ALL the different Hound breeds, where you will be eligible to compete in the "Best Baby Puppy In Group" Class. This is made up of all the Baby Puppy winners from their Hound Breed Class - ie. Baby Puppy Afghan winner, Baby Puppy Bassenji winner, etc. This class will be the 2nd class to be judged upon completion of the other Hound Breed Classes, with the "Best In Group" Class being judged first. (This class comprises of all the Best of Breed winners from the Hound Group).
If you happen to be lucky enough to win the "Best Baby Puppy In Group" Class you will have to wait for the judging to be completed from each of the other Groups (7 other Groups in total) as you will be eligible for the "Best Baby Puppy In Show". In other words, the "Best Baby Puppy in Show" class is made up of all the "Best Baby Puppy In Group" winners - so you will be up against 6 other finalists - one winner each from the Toy Group, Terrier Group, Gundog Group, (you from the Hound Group), Working Dog Group, Utility Group and the Non-Sporting Group. The Best In Show classes are known as the "General Specials" and may be run in another ring to where you have been competing on the day - check your catalogue so you know where you should be for that class or ask at the Secretary's office if you are unsure.
Between 6 and 9 months of age, you can enter your baby into one of the following classes: Class 2 = "Special or Minor Puppy" Dog (Boy) or Class 2A = "Special or Minor Puppy" Bitch (Girl) If you win your class your dog will need to go under the Judge again for the "Challenge" Dog or "Challenge" Bitch Class. The way that I remember this is that you will be up against any other Basset Dog (if you have a boy) that has won its Class for the "Challenge" (Champion) Boy Basset - or if you have a Bitch, you will be up against any other Basset Bitch that has won its Class to compete for the "Challenge" Bitch. If you win "Challenge" Dog then you compete against the winnner of the "Challenge" Bitch award for the "Best Of Breed" (ie the Best Basset Hound) for the day! I have found that this tends to be very confusing to begin with - until you have attended a number of shows, so the best way to explain the procedure is to map it out like I have tried to do below using the Class 2A for this example. I know the "map" is a bit crude, but I have found that it is the best way to show you without being there in person with you!
Abbreviations: Ch D = CHALLENGE DOG, Res CH D = Reserve Challenge Dog, CH B = CHALLENGE BITCH, Res Ch B = Reserve Challenge Bitche, BOB = BEST OF BREED, RU BOB = Runner Up Best of Breed, BIG = BEST IN GROUP, RUBIG = Runner Up Best in Group, BIS = BEST IN SHOW, RUBIS = Runner Up Best in Show.
Explanation: Go in your class (for the purpose of this exercise, Class 2A = Minor Puppy Bitch). IF YOU WIN CLASS 2A, you go in for the Challenge Bitch Award. (NB: you are not eligible to go into this Class until your puppy is 6+ months). If you come 2nd in Class 2A, you need to go in for the Reserve Challenge Bitch Award IF the Bitch that has beaten you in your class wins the Challenge Bitch Award. If the Bitch that has beaten you in your class does not win Challenge Bitch then you can pack up and go home if you don't wish to watch the rest of the show! If you are awarded Reserve Challenge Bitch, and the Bitch that beat you wins the BEST OF BREED then you are eligible to compete for the Runner Up BOB award. IF YOU WIN CHALLENGE BITCH, you go in for the BEST OF BREED Class and you will be competing against the Challenge Dog winner for the "Best Of Breed" Class = Best Basset Hound of the day. If you don't win the BOB Class, (in other words, one of the other Bassets wins) - then the Basset who was awarded 2nd to the winner of the BOB is eligible to come in for the Runner Up BOB - but you are also still in the running IF YOU WIN BEST OF BREED, you go in for the BEST IN GROUP Class = all the BOB winners in the Hound Group. Which ever Hound wins the BEST IN GROUP, then the Hound that was awarded Runner Up BOB is eligible to compete for the RUNNER UP BEST IN GROUP award. So if the Basset wins BIG, the Basset who was awarded Runner Up BOB can come in for the RU BIG. IF YOU WIN BEST IN GROUP, you will have to wait for the Judging to be completed in all the other Groups (ie 6 other Groups). One Judge has previously been selected to Judge the "General Specials" = BEST IN SHOW. Which ever dog wins the BEST IN SHOW, then the dog that was awarded Runner Up BIG to that dog is eligible to compete for the RUNNER UP BEST IN SHOW award. So if the Basset wins BIS, then the HOUND (not necessarily another Basset - any of the other Hounds could have been awarded RU BIG) who was awarded Runner Up Best in Group is eligible to compete for RU BIS.
The biggest thing to remember when showing is to let your hair
I know that it all sounds very confusing to start with but if you utilise my "Map" along with my "Explanation" then it will eventually start to make more sense! Also, once your puppy has reached 6 months of age, it will be eligible to begin earning "Points" that accumulate towards its "Australian Champion" status. You need 100+ points to acquire AUSTRALIAN CHAMPION status and this title actually becomes part of your dog's Restistered Name. Your dog is not eligible for the Australian Championship status until it has reached 12months of age. This means that even if you have acquired 100+ points prior to your dog turning 12months of age, you will not be issued with the Championship title until after it is one year old. If you have had a successful day and won a "Challenge" Class, you will need to pick up the Challenge Certificate from the Secretary's Office PRIOR to leaving the show. You will also be able to pick up any ribbons (that may not have been handed to you by the judge) you have won on the day from the Secretary's office if you wish. The Challenge Certificate will record the winning K9's registered name, the Judge's name, the show and the date along with the number of points that you have accrued for that win. The more dogs that you have beaten on the day, the more points you accummulate towards the Championship status.
One very important thing to remember when attending shows with your dog is to protect him/her - in other words, do not expect that everyone else's dogs are safe to approach. One bite at a show from another dog could have a huge impact on your dog (especially when they are still puppies) and spoil his attitude for showing - so please make sure you never put your Basset in the position of being biten - especially as a baby. I will carry my babies to the ring entrance (until they get too heavy for me to do so!) as this is where there tends to be the most congestion and I often will wait for everyone else to leave the ring before I attempt to leave myself. This is also a good lesson for your Basset to learn when it comes to being patient too. However, the best advice that I can give to you is to go out there and have some fun with your Basset! AND GOOD LUCK!!
So - you see, before you even know it, you will have become "pro's" at it and being having a really good time attending the Dog Shows in your local area. Don't think it will stop there - soon you will be off competing interstate and have your friends calling you crazy for spending your last dollars entering that all important show you've been hanging out to get to! (Just kidding of course) I hope you get as much enjoyment out of it as we do!
Susie Muhleisen Goulburn, NSW, Australia Phone : 02.48 220 654 Email : delsharlakennels@bigpond.com |
