Showing
As a Club we are always keen to welcome new participants to showing and are happy to help with friendly advice & support whenever possible. The Sealyham Terrier Club organises two the Royal Kennel Club licenced breed shows per year:
A Championship Show in April and an Open Show in September.
Although club shows are run to a high standard, the atmosphere tends to be relaxed and friendly. At the Championship Show the entry is higher allowing new members or prospective Sealyham owners to view different lines of Sealyhams and speak to their breeders.
All shows held by the STC are open to both members and non members, however, members do get discounted entry rates and of course Trophies are only available to members.
TAKING PART IN DOG SHOWS WITH YOUR SEALYHAM TERRIER
Dog shows are a fantastic way to meet Sealyhams and their owners. Where a dog’s conformation are compared against a breed standard. Ensure your dog is registered with the Royal Kennel Club and is 6 months of age or over. Health is very important, so it's a good idea to make sure your dog is in good shape and ready for showing before taking part. Grooming is a critical aspect of showing a Sealyham. Regular grooming not only enhances the dog's appearance but also promotes good health.
Once you have made the decision to show your Sealyham, find your local ringcraft club, the RKC have a list of all societies registered with them in your area on their website (find your local ringcraft class). These classes are especially beneficial for puppies, helping them learn the basics of becoming a show dog. Your puppy will gain experience socialising with other dogs, get used to the sounds commonly heard at dog shows, and become comfortable being handled by a judge. Once you've decided to enter your first show, the initial step is to complete an online entry. It’s also a good idea to attend a few shows beforehand to observe and understand what’s expected of both you and your dog. Above all, remember to enjoy the experience. To find the show, entry/closing dates and schedules, look on the websites: Fosse Data, Higham Press and the RKC Find a Show, there are others, but these are the main ones. Enter a class at the show that is suitable for your dog for example, Minor Puppy (age 6 – 9 months), Puppy (age 6 – 12 months), Junior (6-18 months) etc. Always check the show schedule to make sure your dog is eligible, as not all classes are offered at every show.
On the day of the competition, ensure both you and your Sealyham are well-prepared. Arrive at the venue with ample time to get settled and acclimated to the surroundings. Perform a final grooming session to ensure your Sealyham looks their best. The judge, observes the dogs in the ‘show stack’ and the movement around the ring. For the individual inspection, he will examine the Sealyham's on a show table; so it's best that they are accustomed to being picked up onto a table and can stand still, they also need to be comfortable with the judge looking at their teeth to check the bite is correct. The judge will ask you to move round in a circle with other dogs in the class and then, on individual inspection, in a triangle, as well as straight up and down. If you are placed 1st or 2nd the judge will write a ‘Critique’ of your dog, what they liked about your dog and why they awarded them their place.
TYPES OF DOG SHOW
There are five different types of show.
Companion Shows, these are fun shows for any dog of any breed to enter for the purpose to raise funds for a good cause.
A limit shows are held by local club and are limited to entries from members. Dogs that have won a Challenge Certificate or obtained any award that counts towards the title of Champion under the rules by the RKC, are not eligible for entry at these shows.
Open shows are open to all registered pedigree dogs and are often considered as the first step to serious dog showing. They can be an excellent place to improve your skills, as the atmosphere can be quite relaxed and they provide a good opportunity to speak to other people involved in the activity.
Premier Shows are managed in the same way as the Open Shows but are a larger version of an Open Show.
Championship Shows are the highest level of dog show in the UK. They are open to all exhibitors. If you achieved a first place in your class (providing it has not been beaten in a subsequent class) you will compete for the dog Challenge Certificate (CC) or Reserve Challenge Certificate (RCC). All unbeaten puppy dogs will compete for Best Puppy Dog and then the bitches will do the same. Dogs and bitches will be judged separately until the dog CC and bitch CC compete for Best of Breed. Any dog that wins three CC's (under three different judges, one of which when it is over a year old) is awarded the title of Champion, which is one of the highest accolades in the show world and it entitles the dog to carry the letters Ch at the front of its name. The Best Puppy of each sex will now compete for Best Puppy in the Breed.
Dog showing can be competitive but it should always be enjoyable. Please show respect to the judges, stewards, your fellow exhibitors and everyone involved in putting a show on - there's a lot of hard work behind the scenes to give everyone the chance to take part and have a good day.