The last thing in the world that an exhibitor wants to happen in the show ring , is that their dog will not show properly. You need to be able to stack the dog when you first go into the ring so the judge can get his or hers first impressions of the dog. You want the dog to stand for the examination. You want the judge to easily go over your dog without having to fight while examining the dogs bite. It is no fun, having to wrestle with a shy or timid dog that will back away from the judge and maneuver themselves around the exhibitor because they don’t want to be touched. When moving of the dog, weather it be the down and back to the judge , a triangle, or moving the dog around the ring, we want the dog to move properly so the judge can evaluate the dogs movement. The judge can not evaluate the movement, if the dog is side winding, pacing, or moving in an erratic motion. There are certain steps that you can undertake to prevent an embarrassing day at the show. In most cities there are local Kennel Clubs that provide excellent conformation classes. These classes will help you get your dog accustomed to all different types of situations. Sometimes a local professional handler, an experienced owner handler, or even a judge, will offer these classes, in conjunction with the Club. You should make it your business to find out if any are in your area. There are also some handlers that give private training lessons for your dog. If you are short on time, they also usually have a type of boot camp, whereas you can send your dog for a two to four week stretch. At these classes, listen to the instructors directions and opinions. Feel free to ask all those questions that you have always wanted to ask. There is no such thing as a dumb question. Sometimes the question you want answered is the same as a fellow classmate. You need to take the lessons you have learned home with you, and work your dog at home every day. You only need to work at it for 5 to 10 minutes a day. Your dog will show improvement with each lesson. At home, there are other techniques that you can do to help you accomplish your goals. Ask any friends who stop by to run their hands over your dog. Have them touch the dog from teeth to tail and all things in between; especially if its a male. Socializing your dog is an important part of training. If you have a grooming table, you can have your puppy as young as 5 weeks start their training for the Stand and Stay for examination. Practice your training on different surfaces, such as grass, concrete, and plastic matting like the kind they show on. This will help make the dog feel comfortable in any situations that may arise at the show sites. That polished "Show look" that is seen in great Champions can be accomplished with due diligence on the part of a caring owner, and determined exhibitor. |
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