Dog Show Handling

[Greything]

I am new to the Dog Showing. I attend the Ring Craft classes with my dog and they do help but I wonder if anything else available to help us to get ready? Is it possible to find some professional help/advise?

[Dawnspell]

Dont know much about the show world I'm afraid. Does your breeder show? Theyd have more breed specific tips

[Greything]

Dont know much about the show world I'm afraid. Does your breeder show? Theyd have more breed specific tips

My puppy (girl is imported. Breeder is very experienced in the dog showing but it is difficult to help from very far away .
So I am more or less on my own here.

[Dawnspell]

Thats a shame. Maybe get in contact with the breed club see if there is anyone close by that could help both with ring craft and grooming.

[zeta1454]

With showing, much of this is just knowing that your dog is confident and happy in the ring, comfortable with being examined by the judge and enjoys ‘showing off’

The ring craft classes will give you the basic experience of getting your puppy used to moving correctly around the show ring and to being examined by different people but you can also continue this at home - get as many confident people you know to examine your puppy and practice the ‘moving at heel’ around your garden or in the park. You want your puppy to be focused on you at all times so practice in areas where there are distractions is a good idea and also in indoor and outdoor settings.

We had a puppy which missed out on puppy classes, ring craft and much general socialisation due to the lockdown in 2020 and the two issues we had with her in the ring was lack of experience with examination on the table by different people and showing indoors as the shows we eventually attended were all outdoor events. She has done well and when classes resumed she soon became accustomed to the examination but we are still working on her reluctance to show in enclosed halls etc.

If there are specific issues, as I mentioned above with our puppy, it is just a question of working through these as we are doing e.g. taking her into as many indoor places as possible and hiring the village hall for an hour to get her used to showing in this kind of environment. If there is no particular concern, just continue as you have been with the ring craft and practice the movement, standing, examination and focus on you in as many places as possible. Above all, it must be something your puppy enjoys. If a dog doesn’t take to showing, they will never do well at it and it can be frustrating for you as a handler. Even puppies bred from champion show dogs have their own individual temperaments and characters and, if they are not confident and outgoing, they may struggle in the show ring. We have had dogs that loved to show and others that would sit down in the ring and not move and, when you have a reluctant puppy / dog it may be better not to persist but, if they enjoy the experience it is wonderful for you both to see them ‘strutting their stuff’ in the ring

Try to make the experience a fun one that your puppy regard as something to look forward to and just practice every day when you can even for just a few minutes different aspects of what us required in the ring.

[Greything]

With showing, much of this is just knowing that your dog is confident and happy in the ring, comfortable with being examined by the judge and enjoys ‘showing off’

Thank you very much for your reply. She is working in the ring but would rather be somewhere else.
So will try to improve her experience at the show:). Maybe some amazing food when we are there.

I think I have found what I was looking for, unfortunately we have just missed their class so will have to wait for the next one hopefully in not too distant future.
I would love to learn to free stack her. She assume very beautiful stand while on walks sometimes I just need to teach her to do this on demand .

I have seen some videos of super handlers showing their dogs...and it is just breathtakingly beautiful sometimes and I really would like to understand how to achieve this. I don't know if it is possible for us to achieve such excellence but would love to give it a go

[zeta1454]

With showing, much of this is just knowing that your dog is confident and happy in the ring, comfortable with being examined by the judge and enjoys ‘showing off’

Thank you very much for your reply. She is working in the ring but would rather be somewhere else.
So will try to improve her experience at the show:). Maybe some amazing food when we are there.

I think I have found what I was looking for, unfortunately we have just missed their class so will have to wait for the next one hopefully in not too distant future.
I would love to learn to free stack her. She assume very beautiful stand while on walks sometimes I just need to teach her to do this on demand .

I have seen some videos of super handlers showing their dogs...and it is just breathtakingly beautiful sometimes and I really would like to understand how to achieve this. I don't know if it is possible for us to achieve such excellence but would love to give it a go

If you have found a good class that will be worth the wait as it is much more useful to have someone there to guide you.

In the meantime, have you seen the Jane Killion DVDs ? We follow her protocol in raising our puppies and highly recommend her Puppy Culture series but she does also show her dogs and has several very good DVDs relevant to this including one on free stacking. Have a look at the website - she has a retail outlet in the U.K. now although she is based in the USA and she does also offer streaming for the Puppy Culture programmes for anyone who doesn’t want the DVD format:~

https://shoppuppyculture.com/collections/buy-dvds

[Greything]

If you have found a good class that will be worth the wait as it is much more useful to have someone there to guide you.

In the meantime, have you seen the Jane Killion DVDs ? We follow her protocol in raising our puppies and highly recommend her Puppy Culture series but she does also show her dogs and has several very good DVDs relevant to this including one on free stacking. Have a look at the website - she has a retail outlet in the U.K. now although she is based in the USA and she does also offer streaming for the Puppy Culture programmes for anyone who doesn’t want the DVD format:~

https://shoppuppyculture.com/collections/buy-dvds

Will investigate the DVD you have mentioned. As it is exactly what I was thinking - what to do while waiting for the class/course. I believe it is a good one...will relay my experience after we have attended it in a new year now.

As well today I came across the Animal Care College. They offer some on-line courses on
Dog Showing, Dog behaviour etc. Considering doing this too . Do you have an opinion about this idea.

I am not looking for a career in this field but would like to try and do it as well as we can.

[zeta1454]

It is difficult to comment really as regards a college course without knowing cost, quality of teaching etc. and whether the course is more showing you the technicalities rather than hands on practice. I have found with some courses (not the college you mention) that they are interesting but much of the information is freely available online through YouTube videos or Kennel Club guides. If you have a general interest in dogs and want to know more then they could be useful but better to get some feedback from someone who has done the course if possible before deciding.

A good ring craft class should be able to offer you specific advice and support with your dog as regards showing but for other aspects of dog’s behaviour, anatomy etc. may need looking further afield for more information which could be provided by a well constructed online course.