Tag: show

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Getting started

Preparing to show – by Geraldine Hatch

Geraldine Hatch is new to showing and has kindly written about her advise for starting to show. I would like to thank her for writing about her experience of preparing to show your dog – from a newbies perspective.

Preparing to show – by Geraldine Hatch
When I got Frankie, my Eurasier, I promised the breeder I would show her. As well as being new to this breed I am quite new to showing, so have been on a huge learning curve the past 6 months.

I wanted to write this article for Winning Paws to share my experiences and help others who are new to showing. So, here are tips from me, from what I have learnt on this journey:-

Attend a ringcraft
This is a great place to socialise you dog, learn how to present your dog and yourself in the show ring and make lots of friends. I also found it a really useful place to ask questions about how to find shows and which classes to enter.

Get your entry in on time!
I didn’t realise before I started showing that the entries have to submitted so far in advance. There are a few different websites who do show entries. These can be quite confusing with all the different classes, so ask for help if you are not sure.

Check the order of judging
This is a great tip. Using whichever website you used to do your entry, you can check the order of judging and get an idea of what time you will be on. It will tell you which ring you are in, and how many breeds are in before you.

Check your journey in advance
I have found that a lot of show venues do not come up on my navigation device. Some are on farm grounds which may not have a postcode. My advice would be familiarising yourself with the route the night before and making sure it works.

Aim to arrive at the show early, this will make parking easier and also help you secure a place by your ring – lots are venues have limited space. Arriving early will also settle you and the dog, give you time to find and use the toilets and have a practice!

Grooming your dog
If you haven’t had the breed before, find out from your breeder the optimum time for doing your show preparation. I started off bathing the day before, but found this left my dog with a coat which was too soft and fluffy and not right the texture so I now do it 3 days before my which works much better.

What to wear
This really worried me. Luckily I was able to ask at ringcraft, but I have also lived and learned. Lots of people wear suits at champ shows. Open shows can be more casual while still looking smart and I normally wear trousers and a shirt or blazer. I would definitely suggest making sure you have comfortable shoes which you can easily move your dog in. I remember buying some shoes in the perfect shade of purple to match my suit – only to find they slipped off when I tried to trot!. I would also recommend wearing layers, shoes venues can be extremes of temperature, and you can never really tell until you get there. It is a good idea to look at what type of venue you are going to.

I once wore ballet style flats (it was the summer!) to an equestrian centre and spent the day with feet full of sand and wood chippings!

Find a companion
Dog shows can make for long days and boring car journeys. If you can find a friend to share the experience (and travel costs!) with it will be much more fun.

It is easy to make friends at ringcraft and find somebody who shows in the same group as you.

Have fun!
There was a long wait until my first show – Windsor champ show – when Frankie was 6 months and a few days old. After finding my bench and ring and doing a bit of practice (these can be other posts altogether!) we were on! All the build up and nerves and our time in the spotlight was over in a couple of minutes. It was so worth it though as we came away with a Crufts qualification as well as being hooked and hasn’t looked back since.

My biggest tip would be to enjoy it.

Caromarda Lets Dance For Albionspitz
Caromarda Lets Dance For Albionspitz

 

Categories
Show dog training

A round of applause

A round of applause
A group of people clapping (and cheering) can be off putting for dogs, especially while they are in the ring and you are asking your dog to stand still.

It is important to get your dog used to cheering, clapping etc that may go on ringside. Normally you can predict the huge cheers for your own ring (when the class is being placed or when a ticket is being handed out). However, you can’t predict for other rings around yours, and it could happen before your judge has made their decision, while your dog is bring gone over, or while your dog is moving.

If you attend ringcraft, ask them to make an applause, and regulary clap and cheer around your dog.

Desensitising your dog to this sound may help you in the ring one day!

Categories
Getting started Show dog training

Where can I train?

Where can I train?

This is a question with a simple, one worded answer…everywhere!

Training can be done anywhere and everywhere. Training must be kept fun, and part of this is keeping your training short, sweet and spontaneous.

Use you spare seconds in a day to do training and including a variety of rewards. Asking for a stand before letting your dog off the lead for a run, or going into a trot on a roadwalk incorporate training in time you are already spending with your dog. Also, asking for a free stand before you chuck the ball (again!) are great ways to incorporate training into your daily walks.

Getting a few seconds of training in during advert breaks of TV is another ideal time. Get in a few stands and lots of praise. Always end with treats or a game for your dog, and most of all, have fun.

 

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Uncategorized

Top Tip #40

Top Tip #40
Remember to always listen to the judge and what they request in handling or breed classes.

Categories
Getting started

Unsporting exhibitors

Unsporting exhibitors
Unfortunately, in dog showing, there are a few people who feel the only way to win is to be unsporting towards their fellow exhibitors. However, if you are unlucky enough to come up against one of these people it’s good to know what they are likely to do, and how you can help yourself.

This can be likewise for newer exhibitors, who maybe just haven’t thought that what they are doing is unsporting and can be considered nobbling another exhibit!

Likely unsporting tactics can include throwing bait, excessive use of a squeaky toy, getting too close to your dog on the stand, or on the move, or trying to distract the handler.

Throwing/ dropping of bait
Some exhibitors like to throw bait to get an alert look from their dog, their dogs are trained to just watch the food that is thrown, but your dog may want to chase it to eat! Likewise some exhibitors may just drop bait on the floor.

To overcome this, teach your dog to leave food on command. This is a good training tip for all dogs, not just show dogs. Put food on the floor when training and ask your dog to leave. Any half decent companion dog training class will teach this activity and some Ringcraft classes may also help you with this if you ask.

Training your dog to “head up” will also help if the smell is left on the ground. (Yes, this is all about training your dog for all possible scenarios.)

Squeaky toy
Squeaky toys can be difficult to deal with if you have a toy obsessed dog, but again, training your dog for the possibility of coming across this can help. Teach your dog the command “watch me” to encourage them to always focus on you. Once you have a strong “watch me” you can get people around you to squeak toys, encourage your dog to ignore the sound and watch you. You will have to reward with something of even higher value though!

Also, always take in a multitude of items for your dog. I often have different treats, rabbit skin and a squeaky toy and although will rarely use, I can if someone is distracting my dog!

Boxed into a corner
Some exhibitors, deliberately, or not, may box you into a corner if you allow them. Do not stand your dog in a corner, either set up across the corner, or if you feel boxed in, take your dog to the end of the line and set up there. Do this quietly and calmly, don’t upset your dog by getting agitated.

Pushing their dog forward in the line / covering your dog from the judges view
When you are standing in the line, make sure when you enter into the ring, you leave enough room from the dog in front of you. If someone comes in behind you that crowds your dog from behind, you have a little room in front to move forward, so still giving you a decent space for your dog.

If an exhibitors steps out of line and moves forward, covering your dog, just move your dog to the back of the line, or ask the steward to space everyone out a bit more.

Running up your dog’s rear end
Sometimes you get a handler who runs their dog up your dog’s rear end. I would get your dog used to other dogs running close to them, so it doesn’t upset them if it happens, but feel free to suddenly stop and ask the exhibitor if they would like to go in front. Hopefully though, most judges will spot this happening and sort it out for you.

Hope this covers most of the situations you may unfortunately come up against. If you hve experienced any of the above, discuss it here.

Categories
Handling training

Showing Teeth – Video

Showing Teeth – Video

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIMaXzypzME]

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Showing a dogs teeth

 

Categories
Handling training Show dog training

The up and down together

The up and down together
The up and down together is used in the breed ring when a judge would like to compare two dog’s rear and front movement together.  In handling it shows control of the handlers and can compare two handler’s straight lines and presentation.  Sometimes a judge will want the up and down once or twice, some will stay put and some will move to one side (this is where it gets complicated).

The idea is that the two dogs are kept together at all times and to achieve this one handler will start their dog on the right side and the other handler will start their dog on the left side and at the top, if the judge hasn’t moved, both handlers should do an inward turn so the dogs are still moving together.

If the judge moves to one side, the handler furthest away from the judge goes back first and the other handler follows behind.  Then, stopping one behind the other they both would turn and follow each other the other way back to present in front of the judge.

Move the dogs at the correct speed.  If one is slower than the other then wait for them at the turn.

Before you set off on the up and down ask the handler you are running with if they are ready.  You don’t want to go trotting off to find the other handler hasn’t yet got their lead sorted.

Once the movement is finished dogs should be stood parallel to the judge with the gap directly opposite the judge’s feet.  Both dogs should be back to back or facing the same direction.  Never have the dogs facing each other (eyeballing) as if they are two male dogs then this could cause trouble.

Sometimes you may find that you come up against a handler who doesn’t know this exercise very well and they get confused.  If they do get confused then politely tell/guide them where to go on the turns.  This shows the judge that you understand what is meant to happen and is better than having someone else ruin your chances of winning.

This can also be a great training tool to use in training to get control from your dog and get them to ignore other dogs. Even if you never need to do this exercise in the ring, training it will help teach your dog to ignore other dogs running close by in another ring.

Categories
Judging

What makes a good judge?

What makes a good judge?
I recently asked on the Winning Paws Facebook page what makes a good judge. After reading some comments about different judges at Crufts (mixture of good and bad), I thought it would make an interesting discussion to see what peoples thoughts are. I also know as an exhibitor myself I will not go under “poor” judges more than once, even if they have done my dogs well.

It seems to  be common that what makes a good judge is one that can (and does) smile in the ring. Something so simple yet noticed by exhibitors. One comment from Elaine Bradley summed it up for me “To have a sense of humour, be pleasant and be able to smile.”

Another is to be kind and gentle and put at ease the dog AND the handler. Especially new or young people in showing like a judge who gives time to explain what they want in a simple way.

I have seen it myself before, judges wander into the ring and think they are the centre of attention. They don’t smile and they think they are above everyone else, even the exhibitors (who without they would have no appointment!)

So to anyone wanting to judge – smile
To anyone who currently judges – smile
And to all those judges who do smile – THANK YOU!

Categories
Uncategorized

Top Tip #39

Top Tip #39
Make sure you always read the show schedule if you are entering a new class. It’s important that you keep track of your dogs wins at open and champ shows to ensure you don’t enter a class your dog is over qualified for and therefore risk having your reward taken away from you and getting a fine.

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Uncategorized

The British Weather

The British Weather
The British weather is always there to test us when we least want it and quiet often weather conditions over our shows are not ideal. Last year Blackpool was cancelled due to rain and this weekend just gone, many people didn’t make it to Manchester due to the snow and ice.

This weekend a new group was set up on Facebook to use Social Media for good to help spread the word of weather conditions around the country to show venues. I would advise anyone who is one Facebook to join the group. Turn off notifications so you don’t get pings every time someone posts though!

Dog Show Weather and Travel News UK

I would class this as one of the most useful groups on Facebook for dog showers!