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Handling training Show dog training

Don’t let your dog train you!

Don’t let your dog train you!
Dogs are intelligent animals and no doubt outsmart their owners at times! I thought I would share my story where Giles trained me back in 2010, hopefully you can learn by my mistake!

Being an Irish Red and White setter, we have numerically small classes. When he came out there were two other dog puppies and a larger number of bitches. At champ shows he generally only had 2-3 in his class and open shows varied between 2-8. He was always beaten by his sister so never got a best puppy in breed and group experience.

When he was about 18 months he took his first BOB and had his first group and his first large class of about 25! During this time he got bored, sat down and wouldn’t move in the line! So I made my first mistake, I lured him with a treat and then gave it to him, so again he sat down, refused to move, I lured with a treat and gave it to him and this went on a few times. You can see where this went. If he Sat and refused to move, he got a treat!!!!!

I have since then given myself a serious telling off as nearly two years on, he still tries it on, although now I don’t get the treats out, I just gently remind him we are moving!

I have learnt my lesson and happy to admit, my dog trained me! But I will never let it happen again, until next time!

Moral of the story….never underestimate the intelligence of a dog!

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Top Tips

Top Tip #6

Top Tip #6
Watch the top show dogs and their handlers and mimic the handler when you see something you like.

You will learn so much just by watching others, especially those in your breed, or a breed handled in a similar way.

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Top Tips

Top Tip #5

Top Tip #5
Nutrition: A good diet and the right foods will help keep your dog fit and trim and keep his coat and skin in good condition.

There is no best food, different brands suit different dogs and different budgets.

But the right diet is important for any dog.

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Top Tips

Top Tip #4

Top Tip #4
Don’t let the dog stress you out when mis-behaving. If you start loosing your patience, they will only get worse and play you up more. Instead, take a deep breath and start again.

Easier said than done but if you get stressed with your dog it will only go down the lead.

Also watch for this if you are getting someone else who you don’t know to show your dog. I have notice in the past where handlers think they can handle any dog and they show their own dogs, or well trained dogs to near perfection, but when they are given a not so well trained, or a naughty dog, I have witness them loosing patience and either yanking the dog around, or worse. 🙁 There’s never a need for this in my opinion. If you need to, find a handler who you can get to know and start to trust, if possible ask them to do some training with your dog to build a bond before heading to a show.

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Getting started

Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship
Dog showing is a competitive hobby, you will enter them so you can compete and try to win and to get the judges opinion on your dog(s). For some, their sights will be best of breed and group wins, for others it might just be to get a place in a class, or the dog to behave and have a good experience. However, whichever level you are aiming for, this hobby should be enjoyable for all.

If you can’t take being beaten in a dog show, give up. Watch the bad losers at shows, they are easy to spot. They pout, mumble obscenities, storm out of the ring and more often than not, pack up and go home (and I’ve even seen RCC cards thrown in the nearest bin, at the time I would have loved to be the one winning a RCC!). You will never see them offer a congratulations to the winners or speak well of another’s win. Please don’t emulate this type of person. Accept your wins and losses graciously, even when you might not agree. The judges decision is final and that is KC rules that we all sign to on our entry forms.

Many people treat a dog show as a social outing as well as a competition. If you can do this you will enjoy showing much more. Many friendships have started and lasted though showing.

Enjoy your showing, win or loose. You always take the best dog home……your dog!

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Uncategorized

Fuel Crisis

Fuel Crisis
With the current news reports on panic buying of fuel and many stations over the country unable to keep up with demand, has this affected your decission to go to any shows you have entered? Answers on the poll below!

[polldaddy poll=6091102]

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Top Tips

Top Tip #3

Top Tip #3
Always keep an eye on what your dogs doing.

Your dog might be friendly, but this doesn’t mean all other dogs are. Don’t allow your dog to just wander up to strange dogs for the safety of your own dog.

If you have a male, do not let them eyeball other males. Especially ringside as it can upset dogs in the ring if even a small to-do breaks out.

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Top Tips

Top Tip #2

Top Tip #2
Know and understand your dogs faults

By knowing your dogs faults will allow you as a handler to either disguise them, or understand why another dog beats you. Although we all like to think our dogs are perfect, reality is that the perfect dog hasn’t been bred yet.

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Top Tips

Top Tip #1

I thought I would spoil all my blog followers even more, with regular Top Tips to fill in the space between the longer blogs. So starting with number 1….

Top Tip #1
You always take the best dog(s) home with you.

No matter what you won or didn’t win at a show, you are always taking home your dog(s). Your pets and loved companions and the ones you have to live with. I know I wouldn’t change my dog for the world.

Categories
Getting started Handling training Show dog training

Standing you dog – part 2

Standing you dog – part 2
When standing your dog they can either be stacked or free stood. Most breeds will have a certain way of standing them, although some breeds it is acceptable to either stack and top and tail, or free stand them. Below I will explain about free standing your dog. If you have a stacked dog, please refer to Standing your dog – part 1 blog post.

Free stood dogs
Free stood dogs are those who are stood with little or no touching and the handler normally stands in front of the dog.

It can be said that a free-stood dog is more difficult to show although I find a free stood dog is harder to train. Once trained a free stood dog can be a dream to show.

It does require a certain amount of understanding between dog and handler to get the perfect stance but with training and patience it does happen.

If required then you can position your dog’s feet by hand, then adopt a position in front of them. Some breeds though are traditionally stood with no intervention from the handler.

No matter how you stand your dog though, it is important that you keep their attention on you and on the job in hand.

If your dog is a fidget, move them back then walk him forward into the stand or take you dog round in a circle. Personally I prefer to teach my dogs ‘backwards’ and ‘forwards’.

To keep your dogs attention there are many ways to try and each dog will be different. Winning Paws can help you work out the best way to stand your dog and keep their attention so they stay still.

A free stood bitch who requires no touching. She will happily stand still watching her handler.
This is a free stood puppy who was being baited to help keep her still and to bring her legs into position. (This was her second show in the UK and only met me as many times, so bribery was needed!)