I have always been a fan of Dog shows, growing up I always viewed it as a beautiful art form that I had the deepest respect for. When I was eighteen years old, I started my journey training German Shepherds with a partner and began competing in my first shows. Since that time I have gathered a lot of knowledge from my many mentors, and while I will never claim to know everything, I firmly believe that it is always proper to share any knowledge I have gained with others.

So, after years of showing with highs and lows, I decided to publish my experiences so that others could learn from them too. Here are some tips if you have ever considering stepping into the ring yourself.

First timers are first timers for many different reasons. Maybe you have a dog that is ready to show, or maybe your puppy is the first pup out of your line who is ready to show.

We all have our own story when it comes to showing dogs. I was lucky enough to get my first real experience with showing when I was still in my teenage years old and it was during a local AKC conformation show, not at Westminster.

The first time I entered the ring, I spent a lot of time thinking about things that were not in my control. As a result, I over thought everything and became very nervous. The truth is, though you can't control everything about your dog's training or performance during your first few shows, there are some things you can prepare for and set up so that you are more likely to succeed when the moment comes. What you can control is how much time you spend preparing for your first show. The more time you put into the preparation, the more likely it is that things will go smoothly and that your dog will perform well.

The first thing you can do is to find out what kind of show you will be competing in. Is it a conformation or obedience event? If it's conformation, your dog may need to be groomed differently than if they were going to be doing obedience. It's also important that you know what classes are available and how many entries each one has so that you can decide which one best suits your dog's needs.

The second thing you can do is make sure that you have all the supplies and equipment necessary for showing your dog. If there are classes available for grooming, obedience and conformation, I would highly recommend checking them out it's important that you take a little time to learn a few of the basics, and even make a few friends or even mentors along the way.

Finally, and arguably the most important thing is to remember to have fun. As my husband likes to remind me constantly, having fun has positive biological effects. When we do pleasurable activities, it releases dopamine which leads to positivity and can counteract more uncomfortable feelings of hopelessness and stress. Having fun allows us the opportunity to connect and create bonds with others, especially your dog, and the bond with a dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth will ever be.

More recently and with more experience, I have had a better mindset going into the ring. I wanted to learn and grow as a person and so that's what I did. The Ring is not scary or intimidating if you're open to new challenges and experiences. Don't overthink things you don't know; ask questions when you don't understand something; and remember that failing at something doesn't make you a failure as a person, and that the word FAIL is an acronym. First Attempt In Learning. You can always try again! The wonderful thing about our sport is that it is for everyone, 5 to 105.

At this point I see every show as a chance to learn. I'm looking forward to seeing how much more growth my next journey on the road will grant me.

Until then, remember as the old song says:

"Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow
Don't worry about what you don't know
Life's a dance you learn as you go"