Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 6:38 pm Post subject: a few basic questions :D
I'm taking Alfie and Billy to a fun dog show next week that our dog club has every year to raise money for dog charities, alot of people take it very seriously but alot also take part just for fun.
Anyway my questions are.... Is it best to have a slip lead for the show or would a normal lead be ok?
Any tips for a total novice on how best to show my dog?
I'm doing it for fun really but i'd love to bring home a trophe or at least a rosette
Any tips or secrets on how to make Alfie look as great as i know he is would be really appreciated
A slip lead looks nicer than a lead and collar, partly because a slip lead doesn't interupt the dogs neck and so shows the labradors nice clean lines.
Does Alfie stand for you with you infront of him? That is the crutial point. Or would he stand up looking up at you if you have a treat in your hand and stand him sort of croooked across your body. remember we don't 'stack' labradors (kneel down and hold them up or have them stand and hold their head and tail up) we 'freestand them infront of us. A dog thqat the judge can get a decent look at (and you show your dog off in a stand much better than a sit) will reep the reward for its proper 'showstance' grin.
make sure you listen to the judge and the pattern she will want you to move your dog in. She will want to see it move as well as stand still. So she might just want you to trot it down the ring and back. If she does, use a nice brisk pace, pull it back into a trot if it canters as a judge wants to see the dog at a trot.
But she might want you to move it in a triangle. So use the FULL space the ring gievs you. Those with little dogs just do this titchy little triangle, you need to open your dog up and show it propelry using the whole ring to make your triangle.
never go first. Always try and look for someone who looks like they know what they are doing and slot in behind them then copy them.
In a nutshell a show class generally runs like this:
everyone goes in, takes their place round the outside of the ring and the judge takes a first long look at each dog as she walks round the ring. When the judge is at the dog a couple before yours, stand your dog up and get him alert and standing nicely, then relax when she has passed by again. Trying to look perfect the whole time she is looking round the ring at 10, 20, more dogs is hopeless, its when she looks at YOU you want to be standing them right.
Keep half an eye on the judge, don't stand and gossip nervously too much. If you see her sneek a look round the ring, try and have your dog standing nicely.
Then one by one she will have you take your dog individually infront of her and she will want to have a look at it. So try and stand it for her nicely first as she stands back and looks. Then she will come in and look at his head, body, tail and feel all over him. get your dog used to hands being run over him incvluding over his meat and two veg without him squirming too much
have a tasty treat and hold it in your hands and 'bait' him whilst the judge runs her hands over him. Hold the treat but leg the dog tug at it in a stand. She cannot really see your dog if it sits all the time.
Hold your treat and thigh height even if the dog keeps stepping towards it. It is better than holding it at boob height and the dog keep sitting and looking up at it
Then when she has gone over your dog she will ask you to move him in the same pattern everyone else has so watch what they did and move him briskly at a trot. then back to the judge, stand himup, she will stand back for one last look, then say 'thank you!' and you go and join the end of the line.
When everyone has been seen she will want you to stand them up whilst she walks along and makes her decision on placings. Watch her closely, when she is miles away relax, and then just get the best out of your dog when she is closeby.... when she stands back for one last look have him at his best if you can but relax and breath and remember that if she sits - if she likes him she will give him time to stand up again not discount him.
Enjoy it!
Di
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The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
wow thank you Di for your informative post It helps to know what to expect and what i'll have to do
Alfie knows "stand" and will do it especially if i can hold a treat!!! He doesn't mind being touched all over but he hates having his front paws touched too much (i think it tickles him ) he doesn't growl or anything, he just pulls his paws away
I'm really looking forward to it, we was practising the trot at dog class last night and my trainer said Alfie has a lovely trot
I'm helping with one of the stands to raise money so i'll have a good view to watch all the other dogs in the show too
...I've always found if you are dumped from a class, going up and questioning whether the judge actually KNEW both of their parents is a wonderful recipe for being placed in classes entered under that judge later in the day - not
Just to give you a leg up, some of the best winning labardors of the day are called 'Bracken,
Walpole, Bronson, Charlie, Smokey' etc etc....use these names repeatedly as you stand your dog up and the judge *might* think they have someone under them supporting their local charity show that is better known at crufts! WINK.... and other I have found to emphasise what a magnificent labrador you have there is to say 'Oh Mrs judge I AM sorry he is not standing fantastically, its that very LONG day yesterday picking up out shooting that has taken the edge off his enthusiasm....' ha ha!
errrr... only half laughing
Di
____________
The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
... chuckle... oh that was the long dead CH Kupros Master Mariner, but I was just trying to make an amusing point which you have now TRASHED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah. Thanks. I'll leave your dog off that list next time then...
(wink)
Di
____________
The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
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