Wow, good for you. It sounds like a lot of work but something I think we would enjoy but it couldn't be AKC shows so I may look up some more info on the training peice.I have shown my dogs in agility, obedience, conformation, lure coursing, and rally. I currently show my two IGs in agility. Vinnie will be more of an all around dog - agility, obedience, rally, tracking and maybe hunt tests.
Good to know, thanks. I need to do my homework. He is neutered that happened when he had surgery after birth that why so young. I was misinformed on the requirements.I show in conformation, Rally, and Obedience and had plans for agility before I got knocked up lol. Maybe after the baby. So far I haven't shown poodles yet but I got my 10 mo old puppy Saleen specificly for performance events and as a conformation prospect.
There isn't any reason you couldn't do AKC shows with your dog, even if he is unregistered. AKC has a program where they will grant an unregistered dog an alternate registry number that will allow them to compete in everything except conformation. The only catch is your dog must be spayed or neutered. They have also just started a program to allow mix breed dogs to compete in obedience/rally and maybe Agility too?? Same thing as with the alternate numbers, (which I beleive are called pal numbers now), the dogs are supposed to be spay/nutered and they are only allowed to compete at shows not offering conformation.
Thats a good place to start, seek out a training class with a good trainer. Even as a trainer who teaches classes often I take my dogs to classes with another trainer. You just can't get the same distractions on your own that you can get in a group class.Am I to guess that you seek you outside trainers for this? Thanks for your great feedback!
I did not know your spoos where adopted That is fantastic !Both of my spoos came from seim-rescue/private adoption. They came without papers, I know nothing about their lines, parentage, etc. I have a couple of teenagers so competing in sports events just doesn't fit into our busy schedule. Someday I will get a show puppy that I can at least try my hand in confirmation. If that won't work, we'll do agility.But, that's many years away as my guys are just over 5 and almost 4. :biggrin:
I know a lot of poodles owners do hire handlers, at least it seems that way from the shows I go to here in the south east. I'm a big owner handler kind of person, I wouldn't consider sending my poodle away to a handler (if I decided to show one that is). If you have a really nice dog and you work hard there is no reason you couldn't handle your puppy yourself. Your dog *might* finish his/her championship faster with a handler and they might not. As with everything Its more difficult when you first start out and then it gets easier, especialy if you get really into it and show a lot. Judges start to know you and your dog/dogs and even though they are not supposed to let that influence their choices for placements it never hurts... and lets face it a lot of judges give wins to people they they've seen a lot before, thats where the handler has a bit of an advantage. There is also the practical aspect of using a handler in that it gets you out of having to do a lot of grooming. If you send your dog to live with your handler you don't even have to maintain the coat. I suppose there is something to be said for that... Of course plenty of people keep the dog and maintain it themselves and meet up with a handler at shows and the handler takes the dog in the ring or they only send them to the handler for the weekend. I used to have a lot of weekend only type clients since I didn't board medium or large breeds, only small/toys.
Ok I think I've rambled on enough... lol sorry... I tend to talk alot in real person too.