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: show dogs
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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
Learning curve
You will never stop learning when it comes to showing dogs (or anything else!) but is there such a thing as learning too much? I don’t think so.
Talking about purely show ring training/ handling, you can never learn too much. Try to go on as many workshops as you can with different trainers. Each trainer will have different handling and training styles and each day your dog may perform differently, as well as many other factors.
Be careful though as you may get conflicting advise. This is where you need to use these different styles to find the one that best suits you and your dog and to develop your own style of showing.
If you find a trainer you like and enjoy their sessions, go on the same one a year or two later. You might pick up on something you missed previously.
Enjoy the training sessions as use them to your advantage.
Happy training!
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Top Tip #15
Top Tip #15
Keep your dogs and your own movement fluid. Don’t stop on corners but round them off to keep your dog moving.
Also, spend the time to teach your dog the turns and don’t touch their face to direct them.
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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!