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: winning
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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.
The importance of socialisation
Some show dogs can be made or lost depending to how well they were socialised as a puppy. Even with perfect conformation and breed type, any dog needs the correct temperament to make it in the ring. A dog which is shy with people and wilts like a flower when you take them to new places, will never perform well enough to win in the ring. This said, it’s important to remember the difference with “reserved with strangers” and shy in the ring as some breed standards will describe the breed as the former.
General socialisation
To help with socialisation, take your new puppy everywhere you can with you. Expose him/her to as many new places as possible with as many different people, dogs, situations, noises, etc.
Also attend puppy training/socialisation classes to introduce new dogs and a different hall.
Specific socialisation for show dogs
Introduce from an early age, lots of different kinds of surfaces to walk on including grass, cement, concrete, carpet, linoleum and rubber matting so different surfaces are a norm for a show dogs.
Encourage people to pet her all over her body including down legs and picking up paws. This will help to simulate a judges movements of “going over” your dog and get him/her used to be touched. Also don’t forget to gt your pup used to having strangers looking at her teeth, just be careful not to over do this and never push it when a puppy is teething.
Confidence
All of these experiences will teach you pup to take everything in their stride and give them the confidence.
Confidence is a key trait found in all top show dogs that gives them the winning stride and attitude that judges love to see.
Of course, top top it all, the handler also needs to be confident.
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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!