Show stance

The thing to remember when standing,/stacking a Munsterlander is they should be square and balanced, so look at Rumour her body looks square with her hocks underneath her and her front legs in a straightline from her shoulders to elbow to foot.

Picture of Logi shows it as well, Sophie it may well be easier to free stand her to start with sort of walk her into the stand then you can also go to her side and hold head and tail if you want, where does she naturally hold her tail is it up and our behind her or down and between her legs?

Ilka

Sophie, I've been meaning to say this is the photo I prefer with Ilka in a showstand, her topline is more level here because you have her back legs a little further back, she has a lovely outline with excellent front angulation and good topline and underline, she is not too tucked up, nicely arched neck, can't really see the rear angulation due to the angle of that the photo was taken at nor can I see her shoulders but with that front angulation she must have well laid back shoulders, she is in lovely condition and good coat. You are really getting the hang of standing her. As for her fear of being tounched on her neck, do exactly as Karen suggested get lots of people to stroke her there whilst giving her a treat. You can do this in the showring too, when the judge comes to 'go over' her get down to Ilkas level, hold her head under her chin and behind her ears and once her mouth has been checked you can give her treats to take her mind off what the judge is doing, we will help you and National Gundog and show you how to reasure her.
Keep up the good work she is coming along nicely.

Shows

Karen, I don't know much about showing dogs either, thank you for your explanation Ali.

So are Open Shows like a Companion Show but with just pedigree dogs? Are there usually less dogs at the Open Shows than at Championship Shows? There was a girl with an Australian Shepherd dog at the show I went to on Saturday, she was going to an Open Show yesterday.

Shows

Don't appologise for asking a good question Karen I will try and enlighten you.

Companion Dog shows and Family dog shows.
Cross breeds and pedigree's can enter, but CC winners, RCC winners and JW winners are not allowed to enter, they are designed for Family fun.

Open shows, anyone can enter these and the highest place you can get is a Best of Breed (BOB), then you can go into the group and compete with all breeds of Gundogs, if you then win the Group, (Logi has done this!!) you then go back in and compete with the winners of all the groups for Best in Show. The groups are: Pastoral, Working, Terrier, Toy, Utility, Hound and Gundog.
If you win a total of 25 points you can with the title Show Certificate of merit, (Logi also has this!!) It does not make you a Champion or qualify you for Crufts althoug I think if you win BIS thought that does qualify you for the next year.

Championship shows, Anyone can enter, (like Open shows must be pedigree and KC registered)
If you win 1st, 2nd or 3rd in a class you qualify for Crufts, if you win 1st or 2nd in Open you gain your Stud book number which qualify's your dog for life for Crufts. Dogs are judged first and then a Best dog is chosed and awarded the CC, the reserve best dog gets the RCC, if you win three CC's from three diferent judges you gain the title of Show Champion, the bitches are judged the same then the Best dog and Best Bitch go head to head for BOB. The winner goes into the Gundog group. At champ shows I think the highestplace a Munsterlander has won at a Champ show in a Group is Group 2, Correct me someone if I am wrong, but there have been two Group 2 winners, Sh Ch Blitzan Ragamuffin, (Leahs Brother) and my Logi, Sh Ch Blitzan Rhine JW Sh Cm, both I bred.

Crufts is just another Champ show BUT you do have to qualify to go and it is considered THE show of the year, the highest place if BIS, but you don't have to be a Champion to win at Crufts and there is no such a thing as a Crufts Champion. Basically a Show Champion is the highest title you get at a show.

Hope this explains OK please add to it anyone

Catch up

Letting puppies off the lead! Please do as if you keep them on the lead, for one they don't get the free running they need to build up muscles to protect the joints and two; if you don't let them off now 'cos your worried they wont come back, when you do let them off, they wont come back, I know that sounds confusing but if you let them off whilst babies they will just stay close to you, but if you keep them on leads for a while they go so frustrated that when you finally pluck up the courage to let them off it is such a novelty that you will find they just go mad.

Elspeth, Yes you do need to extend Ceilidh's legs a bit more, have a look at Diva's pick and hopefully you will see what I mean, by the way the picture is an old one she was 4 months, just thought she would be more like Ceilidh back then as both babies. Also added one of her at Birmingham last year, as the two show how much she has matured and grown on.

Sophie, Summer is a real escape artist, she not only opens every door in the house but the windows which have safety catches on! I have go a video of her doing it, I have put it in slow motion so you get full flavour also the one of her opening it with me in the room, she didn't actually open it as James was holing the handle on the other side but it does show her technique!!!!!!! I will upload it in a moment.

A much nicer day

To Cheer James up we took, Prima, Tarka and Summer to a Companion and Family dog show, I was kennel maid and Andrew, (yes Andrew!) and James did the showing. James won best pedigree with Prima, he then took Summer in and won Best Mover, Andrew was 4th in most appealing eyes with Tarka and 2nd in best local dog, James beat 30 kids for best Junior handler then he went in for Best in Show and won it with PRIMA. It really lifted his spirits, it was a fun relaxed afternoon, I didn't do a thing! and Andrew joined in. Zeta stayed home on the sofa with Mum, Leah, I think she watched the Grand Prix! so she had a relaxing time too.
Really proud of James and the dogs as there was a lot of Terriers there, a lot of which kept diving out to have a go at the girls and not one of them, curled a lip. James just did his thing bless him. This is what he won with the three dogs, 3 x 1st, 2 x 2nd, 1 x 4th Best in show, a shield which goes back, but a trophy to keep load of dog food and treats and a box of Crackerjacks. It cost £8 for entries, and to think a champ show is £20 a class and if you do win the most you get is a piece of card board, I mean certificate not even a rosette. Maybe we should stick to fun local dog shows!!!!!!!!!!

Grooming tips and hints

Right I have done two videos one showing the clipping and trimming of the front foot and pastern and the second on the back hock and foot. The quality isn't great as I had to reduce it to get it on the blog HOWEVER if you would like a good quality copy send me a CD and I will send you a copy of each, also two pictures, of dog coats. I hope this helps you all.
The stretchy coat is great if your dog has a lot of hair on which curls up, a toweling coat on top will also her the coat dry flat.
A towelling coat put on after a bath and the coat has been brushed down flat, will give your dogs coat a lovely shiny flat finish, the one in the picture is a bit on the large side most of them stark on the bottom of the neck and finish at the tail but it gives you the idea.
Trimming the front foot and pastern.

Trimming back foot and hock

As I said for a better quality copy on a CD please contact me it's no problem and I would be happy to do it, if anyone wants another aspect covered on any part of having/grooming/training/showing or working your Munster let me know I will give it a go!

Oh yes collar marks, using a round stitched collar reduces damage to hair, if it's just curling up then a bath and coat will straighten it but if it's actually rubbing hair away try and only put the collar on when you need to. My show dogs only have a collar on for a walk at home they don't wear one.

Thanks to my Models Logi and Diva and camera man James! x x x

Again sorry for the quality but it's taken me all afternoon to get it uploaded Bl***y thing it has made me really compress the files, no trouble to send a CD but hope it helps you all out, next topic and will give it a go again!