Pros And Cons Racing And Showing

[k4tie-d]

we are in the process of getting our first whippet we have found one thats avalible and hopfully if all goes well we will be getting her in about 7weeks time.

the thing is i have always said that i would like to look in to racing as i think it would be somthing that the whole family might enjoy. and up untill now my partner has always said he not fussed and just wants a new member to the family.

but since we have found out that about this pup my OH's mum has been non stop on about showing it

(she has 2 bearded collies and used to do crufts with them back in the day.)

anyway since she has been saying this my partner has now sided with her and thinks showing would be a good idea and doesnt really want to even look at the racing side.

Please dont get me wrong iv got nothing against showing iv actually been watching crufts on the tv and will be watching tonight just to see what its all about. but im not sure it would be somthing i would be into. and if i did want to get into it i wouldnt be happy about HIS MUM taking over and doing it all. :angry:

i really just want to know what all the pros and cons are of both and what people thought.

is it possible to race and show?? i didnt really think it was but i feel like im being ganged up on and we dont even have the puppy yet

but if you guys could give me some advice you could maybe give me some arguements FOR racing so my OH might consider going along to a race just to see.

or maybe arguments for me to look more into showing.

or maybe you will talk us out of both altogether

this has been stressing me out for the past 2 days as his mum has just been on and on about it and close to blowing my top at her and telling her if she wants to show that bad get her own dog :rant:

anyway no matter what happens the pup will first and formost 100% be a loved family pet and for the time being thats the plan but as this will be my first dog (apart from parents when i was wee) i feel like OH and his mum and more noligable than me and i feel like im going to cave soon as i dont have the experiance to fight my corner. Its even more anoying that this its not 100% yet for this pup so i feel like this subject shouldnt even be coming up yet

sorry for going on but please i need your help and advice. :thumbsup:

thanks

katie

x

 

[June Jonigk]

Having done both, racing is the pastime I prefer. I like the fact that when my dog wins, he does so because he is the best on that day. Showing for me does not have that, if you win, it is just someones opinion, your dog is awarded the best on that day, but it's only that judges opinion.

Having said that, if your pup is from show breeding, you will most probably do better in showing than racing. We started racing with show bred whippets, and it is still fun, but they tend to be much slower than racing bred whippets. Apart from the Championships, there is normally consolation racing, so the first two dogs go through to main racing, 3rd and 4th go into consolation racing. The best thing of all is seeing them screaming, jumping up and down, and desperate to do what comes natural to them - chasing to kill - even if it is a plastic carrier bag :lol: We raced for quite a while before buying a race bred whippet, and had just as much fun with the show breds. I still remember the day we won a consolation final, and were proud as punch of our show bred girl. If you don't want to be too serious about winning, and enjoy seeing your dog enjoy themselves, then try racing.

Most people would agree that you can't really do both. For racing you need the dog fit and not carrying any excess weight, but for showing they require some weight on. Each to their own really. Perhaps try showing, but make sure you do the ringcraft training (and not the mother in law :thumbsup: ), then see how that goes, and maybe try racing at a later date. Better still go along to both, and see what grabs you :wacko: Good luck in whatever you chose :luck:

 

[midlanderkeith]

we are in the process of getting our first whippet we have found one thats avalible and hopfully if all goes well we will be getting her in about 7weeks time.  the thing is i have always said that i would like to look in to racing as i think it would be somthing that the whole family might enjoy. and up untill now my partner has always said he not fussed and just wants a new member to the family.

but since we have found out that about this pup my OH's mum has been non stop on about showing it 

(she has 2 bearded collies and used to do crufts with them back in the day.)

anyway since she has been saying this my partner has now sided with her and thinks showing would be a good idea and doesnt really want to even look at the racing side.

Please dont get me wrong iv got nothing against showing iv actually been watching crufts on the tv and will be watching tonight just to see what its all about. but im not sure it would be somthing i would be into.    and if i did want to get into it i wouldnt be happy about HIS MUM taking over and doing it all.  :angry:

i really just want to know what all the pros and cons are of both and what people thought. 

is it possible to race and show??  i didnt really think it was but i feel like im being ganged up on and we dont even have the puppy yet 

but if you guys could give me some advice you could maybe give me some arguements FOR racing so my OH might consider going along to a race just to see.

or maybe arguments for me to look more into showing.

or maybe you will talk us out of both altogether 

this has been stressing me out for the past 2 days as his mum has just been on and on about it and close to blowing my top at her and telling her if she wants to show that bad get her own dog  :rant:

anyway no matter what happens the pup will first and formost 100% be a loved family pet and for the time being thats the plan but as this will be my first dog (apart from parents when i was wee)  i feel like OH and his mum and more noligable than me and i feel like im going to cave soon as i dont have the experiance to fight my corner. Its even more anoying that this its not 100% yet for this pup so i feel like this subject shouldnt even be coming up yet

sorry for going on but please i need your help and advice.  :thumbsup:

thanks

katie

x

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Katie, you arent going on as you call it, i read your posts and can see that you have thought long and hard, and done your homework on the breed, and for that i admire you, good advice from June, now heres mine, get the puppy, and stop worrying and getting yourself all stressed out, youve nowt to get stressed about, you have a mind of your own yes, follow it, any help or advice you need, dont feel any qualms by asking folks on k9

good luck with your pup, pleased for you

:cheers:

keith x

 

[k4tie-d]

thanks june, youv summed up what i was trying to say when i was trying to defened the racing corner earlier, i had said that i thought there would be more of a buzz and sence of achievement from racing than showing. not in it for winning at all i just thought it would be somthing fun for us as a family to do together and somthing for the pup to do that hopfully it would enjoy.

where or not OH wants to i think im still going to go along to the racing to watch in a couple of weeks.

and keith what can i say it mean alot that you would say that about me. i read almost all of your posts mainly due to your great pics of beautifull jill :wub: :wub: but also beacuse you seem to know ALOT!!

i think im just getting stressed as i feel we have found or perfect pup but untill she is here thers always that niggaling thing in the back of your head that says somthings gona go wrong and wer not gona get her :b and that i think is amplifying this debate which up until now didnt matter.

thanks for your help and hopfully in about 7weeks time you can let me know what you all think of her. keep your fingers crossed for us please

 

[rls22]

As showing is my hobby then obviously that's what I will recommend!! :- "

However, firstly it may depend on the 'type' of whippet that appeals to you. If it is the show type whippets then as June says you will never be as successful in racing as you would with a whippet from racing lines and vice versa. So this might have some effect on the field you decide to pursue.

I really do love showing our dogs. I go with my sister, which is lovely. We have made some really lovely friends and fortunately have done very well with our dogs along the way.

One of the things I love about showing is that it is all based on someone's opinion - that way you see different dogs winning each week, as each judge will interpet the breed standard differently. How boring if the same 8 dogs won their class at every single show :blink:

So one week we might have a great day, both dogs winning their class and the next week they're chucked out! :lol: Either way we still have a great time, the dogs and us love it.

I'm sure it is a great atmosphere with the racing whippet ppl too - either way I'm sure you would make lots of great friends and do something with your dog that you really enjoy.

Just a note on sense of achievement - there is nothing more amazing than winning with your dog at a show, to know that in that persons eyes your dog is the best example of the breed makes you incredibly proud. Our dog winning the CC last year is probably the proudest moment of my life :b :huggles:

 

[bertha]

Hi, I do both, can't be too stressed about anything. Do what you want to do, both are fun, don't take it too seriously or else you will get stressed.

I like my dogs to enjoy what I ask them to do, if they hate the shows we have fun on the track, they may not win but they love the chase!

good luck :cheers: