Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Junior Handlers at Richmond – Jess Andrews

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 Toffee was unfortunately withdrawn from the breed classes this year after going lame after the handling but it was Mollie’s first show.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.

Give the dog an edge by handling/training

How do you give the dog an edge by handling/training?
Each and every dog is different and therefore may need to be handled/shown slightly differently to get the most out of them. By getting the most out of your dog will help them have that extra edge in the ring above their competition which can be the difference between Best of Breed and unplaced.

Top tips to get the best from your dog (things to think about)

1) Find the right lead
2) What motivates your dog
3) How does it best like being handled
4) What are they sensitive to
5) Make sure you are relaxed
6)Remember your dog has to want to do this for you
7) How much can you talk to your dog?

Getting the best from your dog is often trial and error and this is where One to One training at Winning Paws can help. We can use our experience to help you and your dog perform together.

We will assess what you do and follow up with advice and guidance on next steps. We have a range of tools that can help.

Case studies
Below are two case studies of dogs I handle/have handled. These tips won’t work for every dog, as I said above, each dog is different.

1) The pacing Gordon Setter. I have handled this Gordon Setter since she came out as a 6 month old puppy but being a puppy a young setter she was prone to pacing. I had been handling her on a leather slip lead at a couple of shows and all the usual tricks to stop pacing weren’t proving 100% successful. One show I found a gold chain slip lead in the bottom of the bag, and from that day forward she has never paced since (it just cost her owner a new black chain and black leather lead!)

2) The tail of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (Toller). Tollers are expected to hold their tails up when alert. Judges like to see the correct tail carriage when the dogs trot in the ring. By watching this lad in the ring we were able to notice he ran with his tail up, if he was allowed to run out in front slightly. Giving him that extra length of lead and changing the position of the lead has led to a dog that goes round the ring with a lovely tail carriage! (Of course, when he see’s something like ducks, his tail always goes up, but it wasn’t feasible to take ducks to a dog show!)