Welcome!
Come across to the Stafford thread here.... http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=50264 and you'll get lots of suggestions
Don't worry about not knowing what to do. Enter the show and on the day, when the Staffords get called, tell the steward (the person with the clipboard by the ring entrance ) that it is your first show and you don't know what to do. If they're any good they will make sure you don't go away before you're finished. Does the breeder of your dog show? Can they help out? When you go to the show approach someone else with Staffords - most of us aren't likely to bite a newcomer
Your dog will need to move calmly and sensibly beside you at a trot without sniffing pulling or jumping. Not much to ask for a first time
Practice standing him up in front of a mirror or a reflective window so you can see what you're doing. Look at pictures of Staffords on the web and this will give you some idea of how they're meant to stand but basically, everything square, up and down and straight will do for a start. Make sure you can lift his lips to look at his teeth with his mouth closed.
Don't panic - if you make a mess of it and he behaves like an idiot there's not someone waiting at the ring exit to shoot you.
hmmm, well since you're not allowed to use any artifical substance on a dog's coat I'm sure you never saw this :D You can buy these things at the show caravans at the grounds, but to start with good food, a bath, a polish with a piece of soft cloth and a rub over with your hands will probably do. What colour is your dog? The whites and reds never look as shiny as the blacks and brindles.
Thanks Sandra777 for some tips.
The show that I went to see, a steward was was speaking to another owner that was entering her dog in she show (the lady had another breed of dog). The steward spoke to the lady like dirt so I thought gee, if they are all like that, I feel sorry for the new commers.
Buddy is a tiger brindle.
Im just nerves thats all and The show is over two months away, so I would hate to see me on the day
Also buddy is still in that puppy stage where when he see's another dog, all he wants to do is play with them. The only time he does see other dogs are when we go for his walks. I know they say that they should get over that when you take them to the training classes but Buddy hasnt. So im worried thats what he will probably do on the day .
We dont have a doggy day care in Tassie which sucks because he would really enjoy that.
I do have a couple of friends that has dogs but because im a Mum and my partner works away, I work weekends and my friends work monday to friday or they have School, so it can be hard for me to find time to work around them so we can go for a walk together with our dogs.
Im going to take him to a agility show at the end of the month, not going to enter him in it, just going to take him there so he can see other dogs and try and keep him calm when he is around them.
But I guess these things take time and practise :D
