If you need a veterinary surgeon, you will find the name of one in your schedule and at the show. The Kennel Club regulations state that one must be on call at any show. You should get the number, ring them and take your dog to them if possible. All bills will be your responsibility. There is a tannoy system at most shows, and there are several veterinary nurses who work dogs, so you may be able to get hold of someone on the spot to advise you. Obedience folk are very willing to offer assistance when needed.

As you go to more shows and gain some experience, you are bound to come across the odd judge who may upset you inadvertently. Do try and remember that he is in charge of the ring and the Show Manager is more than likely to back him in any dispute or complaint you might make. Chalk it up to experience, make a note in your record book, and don’t enter under him again.

Try never to keep a judge waiting. There is nothing more annoying for a judge than hanging around waiting for dogs to work. If you see your judge waiting, offer to go and get your dog. It is discourteous to keep him waiting. Remember that all judges give up their day for you, they get no more than their expenses and some don’t even take that. You will seldom come across a judge who hasn’t worked a dog at sometime, so which ever way you look at it, they have more experience than you, especially if you are new to the sport. You will find most judges very helpful and pleasant, but some can appear quite intimidating if you are new to shows.

Another important point here; some judges allow you to train your dog in the ring if things don’t go too well, others do not. Remember that in the classes we are concerned with here you can talk to your dog as much as you like. If you have to use your lead, you will lose marks, and if you touch your dog you will be heavily marked. Some judges stop judging once you touch your dog, but the Ring Steward should continue calling the round for you. Other judges will stop judging and help you as much as they can. If you come across one who doesn’t like handlers training their dogs in the ring, just politely thank them for their time and leave the ring. There is always next time.

If it was the sit he broke, you can do the down by placing him in your original spot, or you can ask the Judge or the Chief Stay Steward if you can withdraw your dog. Marks will be lost from the point the dog moved. A helper may reposition an offending dog, who may well stay sitting for the remainder of the time, but the dog will still lose the marks. Remember that ‘Last command’ means last command, so any other commands given during the stay test are serious. They would give the handler an unfair advantage over others.

The most common problem we have all had is with our dog following us into the middle of the ring as we leave them in the stays. Quietly put your hand in his collar and keep him beside you. There is nothing else you can do. Under no circumstances take him back to his original spot and reposition him. This can upset other dogs that are near you. It’s a problem you will have to sort out at your training club or in a training ring at a show. People that are parked near you might be happy to practice a stay by your cars. Talk to people and ask them what to do about it. You will find people very willing to help with advice as most people have experienced the problem at one time or another.

When things go wrong in the ring, you can feel very conspicuous. One of the most common problems with new dogs at shows is their ability to act as if they haven’t had a days training in their lives. Don’t let it upset you, the judge will have seen it all before. Take the recall exercise for example. You leave your dog, walk across the ring, and heave a sigh of relief as you turn round to see him still sitting there. You call him ... and all his training disappears from his brain. He starts running round the ring challenging you to catch him. Don’t panic. Well, try not to! Don’t start yelling as this will make matters worse, and you more embarrassed when you think back on the incident.

So, assuming the ground doesn’t open to swallow you up, and He-Who-Lives-Up-Above is having a day off, keep your voice in your normal calm tone, and continue calling him. Run towards the ring entrance, grab his toy off the table, beg someone near for a tit bit. Anything you think might help to bring him to you. But what ever you do, don’t start chasing him round the ring. I doubt you can run as fast as your dog, and you could easily upset any dogs working in the adjoining rings.

If this sort of thing happens, then next time you are at your training club, ask your Instructor to help you teach an instant down. It is a very useful exercise. It can save a dog's life and is a very important part of training. Sometimes, you can stop a dog careering around by saying ‘Down’. Then you can walk calmly up to him, put the lead on and praise him. In fact, many years ago, a drop on recall was part of the ring work in some classes.

Once you are going to Shows you will meet other people who also do Agility, Flyball, Working Trials or Heelwork to Music. You will have plenty of opportunity to branch out in other directions, should you want to. People will tell you where the good clubs are and give you all the help and encouragement you need.

Always remember that our dogs are our dearly loved pets first. Walk them, feed them, groom them and play with them. Learn to understand them and love them. Enjoy their company as you expand their minds, and when things go wrong remember the old saying: ‘It’s never the dogs fault’. Though this might not be strictly true in every sense, work on the assumption that it is. You get it right ... your dog will get it right.