Top Tip #38
Do other activities as well as show training to bond with your dog. Try conditioning exercises or trick training for quick wins.
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Tag: dog shows
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Marketing
Marketing
Definition of marketing; the action or business of promoting and selling products or services
Marketing is a must in any business to sell products and services and to win in their market.
Over the last few years I have noticed the increase in marketing in dogs to “sell” dogs as being the best (Top Dog, Top Sire, Top Kennel etc). Of course this isn’t new. You just need to look back though the dog papers and annuals from the early 1900’s) to see that adverts have been taken out to “sell” the best dogs to viewers around including fellow exhibitors and judges.
But is it going a step to far for what is a hobby? We now see clothing being worn around shows highlighting details a dogs or Junior Handlers wins rather than just the normal identification of kennel names.
Social media plays a big part too, just like for businesses, it’s a great way to target a large audience and you can often find after shows full adverts highlighting a dogs win, rather than just the post and a picture.
But is it correct? Should a hobby be full of adverts which could influence results for future shows? Or is it just a way of sharing and celebrating success with friends all around the world?
Most judges aren’t influenced by adverts so therefore I believe that the marketing of show dogs must be more to share success with friends.
I just hope this doesn’t go any further and once again be only for the rich who can afford to keep up with the latest trends, leaving the rest behind.
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Dog Show people
Dog Show people
I just had to share this with you all.
Dog Show people are a special breed, not usually recognised by the KC.
They usually have crates in their living rooms, keep messy houses, but their kennels are spotless.
They can always find a show catalogue within an arms reach and have kids who know more about the ‘birds and the bees’ when they are five year old than most people know at 40.
Dog Show people will drive 200 miles, spend £50 on petrol and £20 on meals, to bring home a piece of card.
Dog Show people drive vans. They can never be reached on weekends, unless you happen to be at the same show.
They have trouble getting to work on time but can be at ringside by 8:00am.
Dog show people will give up a £250,000 home to move to a shack on 10 acres so they can have a £150,000 dog kennel.
Dog Show people have children who grow up believing ‘Bitch’ is just another household word.
Dog show people do not have neat gardens.
Dog show people may pay the mortgage 10 days late BUT never miss a closing date for entries.
Dog show people would rather be audited by the Inland Revenue than investigated by the KC.
Dog show people use dog food bags for rubbish and rubbish bins for dog food.
Dog show people talk on the phone for hours to another dog person in a language known only to dog people.
(Author Unknown)
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Top Tip #35
Top Tip #35
Teach your dog to stand still for a period of time. Gradually start off with sorter periods of time and slowly increase the time.
Try not to let your dog break from the stand. If they do, calmly re-place the legs. Your task is to praise the dog before they fidget. With training, the lengh of time your dog stands still will increase. Ideal for those large classes!
Once your dog has stood, give loads of praise and have a game/reward them.
Handling has always been associated from the start with Pedigree/show dogs. Afterall, the art of handling classes has developed from skills used in the breed classes.
But, like everything, handling has developed in to a hobby and competition in it’s own right. The Adult Handling finals started being a seperate entity to any Kennl Club registered show and the YKC weekends host handling compeititions, along with the handling classes at Companion Dog Shows which sit under the novelty classes which are open to pedigree and cross breeds alike.
Though this we have seen an increase in handlers (junior and adult) competing in handling with cross breeds or non KC registered pedigrees.
The YKC allow handlers to compete with cross breeds at their training/activity weekends and have the chance to qualify for the YKC handling at Crufts.
When handling a cross breed there is no set way like with a pedigree, but most would advise you handle your dog to the breed it most resembles.
The same rules still apply, you want to move your dog at the correct speed and is stood so it’s “four-square”.
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Top Tip #32
Top Tip #32
Join a committee of either your local canine society or breed club.
You will learn so much being on a committee and have the chance to see the world of showing from a different light.
Your help will also be appreciated by the club and it’s members.
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Stacking your dog
Stacking your dog
If you have a stacked breed, consider how you pick up your dogs legs; below are some do’s and don’ts of placing your dogs legs.
Do…
…place your dogs legs one at a time
…gently place your dogs feet on the ground
…pick your dogs leg up from the centre of the leg
…stay calm and take your time
…keep the stacking calm and rythmatic (one foot, two foot, 3 foot, 4 foot, head, tail, present)
…remind them of the command
Do not…
…pick your dog up from the under-carriage
…drop your dogs legs from height
…be rough with your dog
…use jerky movement
…throw your dog off balance
Remember to stand your dog in front of a mirror so you can see how you have stacked them to make sure that they are correct or ask your trainer to watch how you do it and give any advice to improve if needed.
Have a look at some more advice of stacking your dogs on the blog post Standing your dog – part I
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Top Tip #27
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. 🙂
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Top Tip #26
Top Tip #26
Keep a note of all the judges you have been under and how you did for your future reference.
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Which class to enter?
Which class to enter?
You pick up your first schedule for a dog show and your new puppy is old enough, but what class should you enter? There are often hundreds of classes at an Open show and even more at a Championship show. but only a handful will be applicable to you and your dog.
If you enter online, then they will only give you the choice of classes you are eligible to enter but looking though a schedule can be daunting.
Breed/AVNSC classes
If your breed has separate classes, this is where you should make your first entry, otherwise you will need to enter Any Variety Not Separately Classified (AVNSC). There could be mixed sex classes or separate classes for dogs and bitches, so read carefully.
Enter the lowest class you can enter, so with a puppy, look for Puppy or Junior, if your starting to show an older dog, look for graduate or post graduate. The full definition of classes will be in the schedule or can be found on the Kennel Clubs Website from page 37 here.
Don’t get too excited and put a 6 months old puppy into a class where he could be up against older dogs. Also consider that you pay for the judge’s opinion, so if you want to do more than one class, look at the variety classes where it’s likely to be a different judge.
Variety and stakes classes
There will be variety or stakes classes for any breed of dog to enter at most shows. They are excellent practise for showing against other breeds. The classification of classes will be similar to that in the breed classes.