Top Tip #27
Remember to respect your dog, respect other exhibitors, respect the judge, respect the stewards/officials!
Remember to think about everyone else at a show. Although you are there to show your dog off to it’s best, please think of others at the show. 🙂
Junior Handlers at Richmond – Jess Andrews
Jess Andrews is 15 years old and has two Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers called Toffee (Fallowfen Foxy Vixen) and Mollie (Fallowfen Faithful Yoko).
At Richmond 2012 Jess handled Toffee and was shortlisted in the JHA 12-16 Gundog which was judges by Jenifer Fairhall. Toffee was unfortunately withdrawn from the breed classes this year after going lame after the handling but it was Mollie’s first show. Mollie was 3rd in the Toller Junior Bitch and 1st AV Rare Breed Puppy Bitch and Best AV Rare Breed Puppy.
Jessica started handling only four years ago with Toffee after attending a local companion show and finding out about Ringcraft classes.
What Jess loves about handling is working with her dogs to show them off to their full potential, and to have fun whilst doing so.
Jess trains at Stevenage Ringcraft and attended the Winning Paws training day. She says “I would like to thank Ray, Debbie and Roxanne McDonald for all their support and guidance over the years”.
A huge well done to Jess for the handling and for qualifying her Toller puppy for Crufts 2013 at her first show. I know that is what you wanted. Good luck for Crufts with Mollie and in the handling.
Junior Handlers at Richmond – Nathan Hartfield
Nathan Hartfield is 11 years old and at Richmond 2012 handled his Border Collie Moshanta Moonlight Fantasy JW ShCM (Tallis) to second in JHA 6-11 Pastoral. This was judged by Jo Gordon. Nathan and Tallis also competed in Border collie Veteran Bitch and came 4th. A huge well done to them both.
Nathan started Junior Handling three years ago when his mum asked if he would like to do some shows. He said yes and started training with his Mum and his older sister (Danielle).
Nathan is lucky to have an older sister who has already been though the Junior handling ropes with much success herself including runner up handler of the year and he would like to thank her and his mum for training him, as well as the judges who have liked his handling.
When asked what his favourite thing about junior handling is, Nathan replied “spending time with my dogs and friends”.
When asked if he would like to mention anything else, his reply was “to a good site of Winning Paws”.
Thanks Nathan, it’s handlers like you that this site and blog were set up for, I hope you enjoy it and best of luck in your handling for the future and your next big show, Crufts!
Winning Paws First Junior Handling Training session
Yesterday (Saturday, 18 August) was the first handling session I organised under the Winning Paws name. Having been a Junior Handler myself, I wanted to offer the chance for the juniors to attend a training session. I was so pleased I was able to offer this session for free and I enjoyed myself and learnt something, I hope the attendee’s did too. Numbers were kept to a minimum but allowed the handlers to train with a different group of people.
The weather was hot and this meant keeping the dogs in the shade and lots of breaks back inside where it was slightly cooler to allow dogs and handlers to have drinks and a rest. Lots of mini Q&A sessions did lead to some interesting discussions with parents getting involved too.
Well done to those who attended. You all listened well and wish you all the best for your future handling classes.
What’s planned next?
I plan to run some more training sessions in the future and already have a waiting list. If you would be interested in being the first to know about any future training sessions, please get in contact via the website and as soon as any events are planned, I will let you know before posting on the website events page and Facebook.
Future sessions will include;
Don’t forget, I’m also available for group bookings for pre-existing ringcrafts or groups. Contact me for more details and costs.
Top Tip #20
Have “control” of the lead.
Learn to fold the lead in your hand to the desired length quickly, calmly and neatly.
In handling classes this is a must, in breed classes it looks professional and gives a cleaner performance.
Shadowing
What is shadowing?
This is a technique used in handling classes. While the dog is standing, the judge will walk round the dog, or to the other side and expect the handler to move out the way not breaking the golden rule of never getting between the dog and the judge. This means the handler must become the judges “shadow”.
For shadowing, the handler must be able to walk around the dog without the dog moving. This can be practised anywhere and simply the dog needs to learn to stay.
It is easier with a stacked breed where you can hold the head, harder with a free stood dog.
To start with, I would stand the dog in the normal position. From here I will do slight movements, commanding the dog to stay and then praising. Building this up from just little movements, helps teach the dog what you want. I.e a free stood breed, while standing in front of the dog, my first movements would just be shifting my body weight.
Then you want to move onto taking a small step to the side. I.e if you are top and tailing your dog, I would take a small step to my left, giving the stay command, going back to the original position and praising the dog.
Keep building this up until your moving more and more. Praise the dog while they are standing still only. If they move, start again.
This technique builds the dogs confidence and teaches them the command.
Have fun training!
Have confidence…
When you go in to the ring, be with confident and think positive that you and your dog will work well together and enjoy it. This is likely to help you show and handle well in the ring.
We all have times when we have entered the ring thinking “The dogs’ going to play up” or “I don’t want to be here” and most likely come out saying, “He wouldn’t move” or “He’s being a right little monster”.
This is because your attitude will travel down the lead to the dog and they will pick up on it.
So remember, relax, have fun and enjoy each show,
The great debate – Junior Handling
There has been a lot of debate recently on forums, Facebook and the dog papers regarding Junior Handling and what is/isn’t correct, what judges should be looking for etc.
This has been something of discussion for many years ringside and amongst friends. Many years ago I remember Jackie Hurley (Jersey Junior Handling Association, JJHA) spent time offering Junior Handling judges days based on her thoughts about handling. Something I have not seen anyone else do. I think she also produced a judges list based on new judges and experienced judges.
My pet hate has always been handlers that can’t perform the basics, although can jump around their dog and want to do patterns maybe not seen in the breed rings!
I like to see handlers who can show their dog to its best advantage. When asked for a triangle I expect to be shown the dogs movement. So when a handler is showing the rear or front movement, the dog should be in the judge’s line of sight without the judge having to move. When showing the side movement, the dogs should be parallel to the judge to ensure the dog’s movement for the judge is seen at the best angle. Therefore straight lines are important; however corners are a different matter. The faster the dog and handler is moving, the harder it is to do a tight turn while keeping the speed. So therefore a good handler will do a turn which will keep the dog moving.
On an up and down, the straight lines are as important as in the triangle, so the judge can view and asses the front and rear movement. The turn at the top can then come into debate. Should it be a show turn (keeping the dog between the handler and judge) or an about turn which will break that rule? The about turn is used in the show ring as taking a dog round you will keep them moving, although sometimes when showing your dog, a show turn is better for a particular dog for a few reasons! So should both be allowed? Or do we keep the challenge for the handlers to not get between the dog and the judge?
So what about send-ons? This can be asked of either when doing circuits or when a handler is asked for a straight up and down and round to the end. In the breed ring we would break the rule of getting between the dog and the judge, but in the handling we would do a movement possibly never seen in the show ring. It’s a movement that has to be trained and isn’t naturally to a dog. I have seen many handlers who can’t seem to gasp this movement. But you do have to train the dog to do this and gain their confidence.
But overall, IN MY OPINION, Junior Handling should be about judging how good the handler is at showing their dog. It doesn’t matter if the dog they take in isn’t the greatest example of it’s breed, or even a crossbreed, but does the handler allow the judge to be able to assess their dog in all ways while blending into the background.
Maybe it’s time to get a group together of ex juniors and parents who can produce a “Breed Standard” blueprint for handlers and have a judges list, seminars etc which will help societies select judges that know about junior handling?
Jack of all trades…..
One of the greatest myths of show dogs that I hear, is that you can’t do anything else with them. So many people come to me saying that they have been told to stop basic/puppy obedience and stop teaching sit, down etc if they want to continue showing and they should only teach their dog stand
To me this is one of the biggest myths, although you will need to work harder if you want to teach your dog more. Just make sure you work evenly on teaching your dog to do everything that you want to do with your dog.
To me, basic puppy training with a local obedience club is paramount in any of my dogs training to be well socialised pets (and show dogs) and there is no reason why you can’t compete in obedience one day and go to a show dog the next day or throw in some agility, gundog work or Rally-O while you’re at it!
Top Tip #14
Remember at all times you are there to show your dog, not yourself, even in handling classes, a good handler is the one able to show their dog of to it’s best and will not distract the judges eye from the dog.