I want to start showing dogs...

Look for your local kennel club.  Folks there will often support a junior.  I know of handlers who will mentor juniors, local kennel clubs are usually the best place to start.  At ring side, owner handlers are usually your best bet for information, they are less likely to be running off to another ring.  As to what dog to show, I dont think that necessarily matters.  Rarer dogs (those with fewer annual registrations) are often more likely to be owner handled.  HIgh number registrations typically mean pros in the ring, which can be tough to beat in dobes, goldens, labs, danes and other more popular breeds.  I would get what you want with an eye to how often do you want to run up against pros.

It's not just about high registration numbers. Breeds which typically have a lot of very specific grooming (poodles and the wirecoated terriers) are also handler-heavy. Pembrokes are fairly handler-heavy but an OH can still finish a good dog that's presented well.

Good for you!! I'm enjoying reading the responses, as I am just starting to show myself.  It's a different outlook I hadn't considered... and I definitely have my work cut out for me in the ring!  Weims are popular and pro handled often.

As far as picking a breed, I'll tell ya how i narrowed it down. First of all, I was honest with myself, as lovely as those long coats are..... I didn't want to deal with it. I didn't want to brush a dog several times a day, and worry about tear stains and tangles.  So any coated dogs were out for me.  I then thought about the size of dog I'd be living with. I didn't want another small dog (I love small dogs, but I wanted a dog who could keep up with me and not worry about predators as much) but I didn't want a giant breed.  So that brought up medium/large dogs, without lotsa coat/hair.  So, then I looked at what the dogs are used for, and other goals I had.  I want to compete in agility and rally/obedience. So I wanted a dog that was going to be agile and smart.  So, now I knew I didn't want a dog that was coated, too big or too small, was agile and smart/trainable and then I added velcro.  I wanted a dog that would stick with me, and was athletically inclined to hike for miles and miles.

So, that brought me to my short list. From there I researched those breeds, and spoke with breeders.  When looking through the breed histories and pictures of these different breeds, I kept coming back to weims, I knew that in my heart that was the breed I wanted.  When i found a weim breeder who put miniature agility equipment in with the puppies (as well as all the sensory work and temperament testing) I was sold.

Hence, Logan :)  So, while I'm like you, I love all number of breeds... if you are honest with yourself about what you want to deal with daily, it may help you to narrow down the list of dog breeds you're truly interested in.  Post your short list and I'm sure that you'll get opinions from those with experience with those breeds. 

Have fun at the show!!
 

A great place to start, esp since you can get a great network of juniors across the county, is www.bestjunior.com. It is a website just for Juniors and has a very active message board where you can learn a lot. I have had several of my assistants tell me how much they love it and have met some great people through it. You might be able to find some breeders who have retired dogs hanging around the house that you can sign on to for juniors while you are learning and trying to find the breed that you like. Both my retired Beagles are owned by juniors who show them on the weekends. They still live with me, but have a blast going to the shows and showing with their "kids". Oliver enjoys it so much that I cant show him anymore. He gives me this look that says "MOM this isnt what we do, we do obedience, I do conformation with my girls!".

As mentioned before, narrow down what you will and will not do (brushing, clipping, hair, small, large, etc) and go from there. Good luck!!

One first consideration, do you want to concentrate more on junior showmanship, or in the breed ring competition? In junior showmanship, you are judged on how you present the dog, YOU are judged, not the dog. In the breed competition, you will be in the regular competition like you see on TV, right up against the big boys. Some juniors do both, but it might be easier to start in Juniors.

If you want to compete in the breed ring, avoid the breeds with large entries. If you are competing for points against 30 others, well only one can win. That can be discouraging. It is also better to get into a breed with fewer professional handlers. Avoid the extremely rare breeds because you can't get points or majors if you have no competition. But the most important thing is to get a breed that you absolutely love and can be devoted to.

You can look up the past entries for shows. Go to www.akc.org and then to events and events search. Look up old shows in your area and find the results for a certain breed, See how many were entered.

Going to local shows is the best idea. Good luck!

Pwca

Pembrokes are fairly handler-heavy

Shelties are that way too.  An experienced OH with a name has a fairly easy time but a nobody, well.

 

 

Here are the dogs I would really like to show...which do you think would make a good beginner dog?

Pembroke Corgi, Chihuahua, Chinese Crested, smooth Fox terrier, rat terrier, German Shorthaired Pointer (I think they are really pretty but havnt done any research on them yet...), Brittany, Dachshund, and Carin terriers.

Cairns are fairly grooming-intensive. They must be hand stripped.

 

I know that (at least in my area), you can finish a Chinese Crested, yourself. My next dog is very, very likely to be a show quality Crested, to be handled by me.  

Boy that list is all over the place, clearly you love all dogs! :)

They each have a lot of different pros and cons to consider.  But being that i have a weim, I'd say can you make sure to get the GSP enough exercise?   They are also a very dominant dog (as a breed rule of thumb).  But I'm sure a breeder would be able to make sure you got a more submissive puppy.  That's really the only breed on your list that I have experience with.  But boy they are a very beautiful dog... I personally like them a lot.

Good luck!
 

Consider a Whippet. Low energy, easy care, minimal grooming... good entries but not INSANELY hard to finish... not too expensive, very healthy, and fun to show. Lots of jrs enjoy them. 

I'm in the same exact boat, here's what I've done so far:

(1) Pick a Breed

(2) Research local & national clubs

(3) Contact breeders & showers locally

(4) Visit & watch local shows

(5) Further Research

(6) Purchase Dog

(7) Become a member of a club & get involved

(8) Do local shows

Those are my steps... I'm at step #5 right now

Sera_J

But being that i have a weim, I'd say can you make sure to get the GSP enough exercise?   They are also a very dominant dog (as a breed rule of thumb).  But I'm sure a breeder would be able to make sure you got a more submissive puppy.  That's really the only breed on your list that I have experience with.  But boy they are a very beautiful dog... I personally like them a lot.

Yeah, GSPs aren't for everyone ROFL. Mine is chewing on a bone at my feet right now. After 8 pm he is the world's biggest couch potato.

If all you want to do is conformation they I would not recommend a GSP. If you want to compete in other dog events, then they are a possibility,

They can require a great deal of exercise---but it is more than physical exercise. They need mental exercise and a job/something to do.

When Gizmo is hanging in the house with me during the daytime, he wants to be DOING something. For example: He will find things to bring to me. He can open our mitten box with the interlocking lid and he'll bring me gloves and hats.  So I keep him busy and he's thrilled. The other day while I was shredding bills he was perfectly happy to practice "sit" "stay" and "down." He was looking at me like "what fun thing are we going to do next?"

I know folks who compete with GSPs in agility, obedience, flyball, conformation, hunting and the consensus is that it can be easier to motivate a male. BTW Unlike some breeds, food is not always a reliable motivator. You may have to think outside the box. Squeeky or stuffed toys might be an alternative. A GSP can be very strong willed and it is best to use their desire to please and use positive motivation from the very beginning. You must be consistent with your rules you cannot be wishy washy. I'm not saying be mean on harsh, just be consistent.  

A GSP was bred to be a close-hunting dog that didn't stray too far from its human. They like to be with their person/family ALL the time. IMO they are not good apartment dogs or dogs for people who work outside the home 40+ hours a week, Their high drive needs to be channeled and if you only channel it at night, a GSP will make you crazy.

If you have the time to really work with a dog and build a relationship, exercise its body and mind daily, compete in a few different types of events,use positive reinforcement and be consistent about rules, then a GSP might work for you.

Boy, re-reading this it sounds harsh. Don't misunderstand me, I think a GSP is the perfect dog for me. Gizmo has a short coat, he has tons of energy outside so he can go 5+ miles with me every am and then chase balls for my kids---but he isn't nuts in the house, he is a love that would willingly do whatever I ask and he's wonderful with my kids. But he is "full throttle" like my whole family and that isn't for everyone.

Best of luck with your decision.