Hi,

    any recommendations for excellent 'dog showing for dummies' book...with rules, comments, grooming expectations, handler appearance etc etc....... general & with specifics for gsp .... thanks......

Welcome aboard. There are lots of good books espec. George Alstons book on showing dogs. I think its called the Winning Edge?. You can just go to dog shows and fun matches and hang out and ask questions and pick up tips. It looks you have a "horse" background from your name so if you show horses its much the same. Where are you located? I can try to hook you up with people who would be wiling to mentor you. If you are close to my area I would be more than willing to take you along and help you. I was lucky to have wonderful mentors and would like to continue the tradition. Where did you get your pup from? perhaps those breeders could give you a hand as well. You have lots of options and dont have to go it alone when you have a shorthair. Lots of us crazies out there just waiting to see someone else get hooked.

thanks for the recommendations...i'll be picking them up in the near future....

yep, i did horses for the past 20 years...and am definately a 'rule geek'...i started that VERY green, started reading on details, & what  a difference it made over the years.....4-H, breed shows, dressage shows, breed inspections, etc all have their own customs/rules/etc.....

while i did dogs years ago, at the time it was really my mom, since i was a kid.....so i like to have the info myself ......  the breeder is definately willing to give advice/make recommendations etc, so  between everything i'm sure i'll be reasonably comfortable in the ring... although if it turns out i get stage fright, i might try to finagle my cute teenager into getting involved

thanks again....