Level 1Beginner
Classic beginner mistakes
The answer
The bag is packed, the dog is brushed… but where is the ring? At a first show there is a lot to discover all at once. Good preparation, a few simple landmarks and expectations suited to your dog make the day easier.
Here are nine traps to avoid, split into three levels so you can progress at your own pace.
Beginner — Securing the basics
- Mixing up a started entry and a confirmed entry. Before you set off, check the confirmation, the payment and your dog’s details: breed, sex, class and day of showing. At the 2025 French Championship, unpaid online entries were refused and the exhibitor was responsible for the class declared. The right reflex: reread the confirmation as soon as you receive it and report any mistake quickly.
- Arriving at judging time… in the car park. You still have to get in, set up and find the ring! Arrival instructions vary from show to show. The right reflex: follow your event’s timings and allow the time needed to reach your ring.
MyDogShow tip: plan to arrive at least one hour before judging, unless the organiser says otherwise.
- Waiting for the big day to discover the exercises. Walking on the lead, standing still and accepting a person close by all take preparation. The right reflex: work in short sessions, somewhere calm, with rewards. Start easy before adding distractions.
Intermediate — Making the run in the ring easier
- Copying others instead of listening to the instructions. The previous competitor may be asked something different from you. The right reflex: look at the judge when they speak to you. If you didn’t understand, simply ask: “Could you show me the pattern?” This practical tip avoids unnecessary rushing.
- Repeating until your dog’s concentration is used up. Doing lots of stacks just before going in can make the exercise harder. The stack is the standing position that lets the judge see the dog’s construction. The right reflex: do a brief preparation, reward one success, then leave a break. The RSPCA recommends short sessions and finishing on a familiar exercise.
- Mistaking restlessness or stillness for disobedience. A dog that circles, freezes or tries to move away may be overwhelmed by the environment. The right reflex: watch its posture, create space and stop taking part if it stays worried. Dogs Trust recommends giving the dog the option to withdraw and not forcing interactions.
Advanced — Avoiding the less obvious traps
- Having a friend or relative call the dog from ringside. It seems practical for getting its attention… but it is double handling, which the FCI forbids. The right reflex: ask your companions to stay discreet during judging, without calling, whistling or waving an object to attract your dog.
- Confusing grade, placing and certificate. “Excellent” assesses the dog’s quality; “first” shows its place in the class. The CACIB is a separate certificate, and it is not automatically awarded after a “1st Excellent”. The right reflex: check precisely what has been awarded and ask whether your dog needs to remain available for a comparison.
- Judging the whole day by the result. To progress, it helps to look at the handling too: did your dog walk more calmly? Accept the assessment? Wait better? The right reflex: note one success and just one point to work on. Build the next session around an achievable goal, following the principles of gradual, reward-based learning.
The memory aid: “Entry checked, ring found, instructions heard, dog observed.”