The Run Up to a Competition!

In the run up to a competition, you feel a mixture of emotions: nerves, determination and, above all, excitement. Usually, when I compete, I do it for fun; it's great to get out and about and try something new. However, that doesn't mean that there isn't a lot of preparation to be done- it is the world's biggest dog show, Crufts, you're competing to qualify for, after all! This weekend, Discover Dogs is back at Earls Court, London, and, with 3,000 dogs competing at the dog show, organisation is key to success in the rings.

6 Months Before
When I first competed at Discover Dogs a few years ago, it was in a grooming competition. In the months running up to the show, my human had bought all the equipment required to clip my Springer fluff and had practised giving me a fancy (they hoped!) hairdo. I had obviously been the perfect candidate for them to practise on. I don't seem to recall trying to roll over every time my human brushed my coat, nor do I remember that one time I apparently rolled so close to the edge that half my body was hanging treacherously over the side of the grooming table, supposedly resulting in my human creating a dodgy patch where all the hair had been shaved off... Months, even years, of practice have gone into the work displayed by handlers and dogs at Discover Dogs, so every minute counts in the competitions.

Two Months Before
60 days until the competition, and it's time to send in your entry forms. Usually, at this point, when I was competing in grooming competitions, my human would give me my final trim before the big day, allowing enough time for my winter coat to make its way back to its full glory.

One Week Before
7 days until the show... Panic! In the final few days before the show, the humans must make sure that all the equipment they need for the competition is found and packed, ready for the big day. For a big show like Discover Dogs, I like to tweet about it and find out who else is attending the show. Often, at the largest of dog shows, 'Tweet Ups' are organised, where people you've only met on Twitter all meet up and socialise- but in person! It's loads of fun, and a fabulous way to meet similar, dog-obsessed people. It's super for us doggies too- we have plenty of dogs to play with!

The Big Day
The day has finally arrived. All those months of practise have been leading up to today and now it's time to make sure it pays off. 6am is when my humans like to give me a bath, which I'm never too pleased about. I mean, why start what promises to be an exciting day with something as horrific as a bath?Urgh... Those pesky, persistent humans. After a towelling down (now, this part I like!), my humans brush through my coat, making sure I'm looking as dapper as ever. With something like a grooming competition, it's beneficial to remove all the tangles before you ever the ring to avoid accidentally missing one when you're under pressure. Bags packed and coat washed. It's time to jump in the crate in the boot of the car and head off to the event! Once we've arrived, my humans check where to go and take me inside to find our booth for the day. At many dog shows, each canine is given a bay where you can leave all your stuff and where my humans put my crate, so I can have a snooze when I want to have a break. As my grooming qualifiers always started at 10am, there was little time to look around the show before the competition, so usually I would be called up within 45 minutes of arriving at the show- crazy! Adrenaline running high, there's just enough time to be fed a quick sausage (mmm...) and then it's time to enter the ring... Good luck!

Even though I'm not competing at Discover Dogs this year, I cannot wait until the show begins! If you haven't already got your tickets to the show, you can purchase them here. For more information of the show, visit www.discoverdogs.org.uk.
Good luck to all the competitors- I'm sure you'll all do great!

Talk soon, Jasper x