Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:52 am Post subject: holding ears nicely
Hello,
This is probably a silly question, but I'm just wondering how you all get your doglets to hold their ears nice and alert in the show ring? My boys always get their silly ears on when standing (combine that with Melvin's excitement weeing... not a winning combination ). I've seen some people just say 'ears' and they fix themselves, others make a whistle or a squeak noise and that does the same thing. Does anyone have any great (and not too embarrassing ) suggestions ??
I have this problem with Bomber, he often puts his ears back in the ring. The only way I can get them up and him looking half-intelligent is by throwing a treat up in the air and catching it again so it gets his attention. That is fine when I don't drop the treat
Ditto, Vicki.
I find the best way to stop a dog from flying their ears is to teach them to catch a treat......and say "C'mon, ears!" They generally use their ears in anticipation of you tossing them the treat.
However, there are some dogs that will always persist in flying their ears, no matter what you do, which is a shame as it makes such a difference to their expression.
Have exactly the same problem here with Moz - his head looks so different when his ears are 'proper' - I can feel myself willing him to do it when the judges are coming around
I can't do the 'catch a treat' trick with Moz because he then thinks he is on the starters block and not beyond going back and then simultaneously taking all four feet off the ground (although he does that for not other reason than he can at times as well
I tend to find putting my hand in my pocket and then switching to the other side gets both Clover and Moz going - and as for Hope - well it usually a packet of wotsits (Yes, I know - I have weird dogs ).
Atm Dylan just 'does it' - we shall see what happens when he hits the ring
I tend to find putting my hand in my pocket and then switching to the other side gets both Clover and Moz going - and as for Hope - well it usually a packet of wotsits (Yes, I know - I have weird dogs ).
My gang must be weird too, Sue. They love wotsits and any other cheesy snack I can find - cheddaries are another favourite or even just a packet of cheese or cheese and onion crisps.
Clare - Ross very rarely holds his ears properly but I usually make noise or show him some food. Like Sue I have to be careful to make sure he keeps all four feet on the ground!
My gang must be weird too, Sue. They love wotsits and any other cheesy snack I can find - cheddaries are another favourite or even just a packet of cheese or cheese and onion crisps.
Hehe - Hope is VERY particular LMAO - if I open a packet of crisps at home (and am limited to choice because of my coeliac) - if it's not Wotsits she walks off in
Trouble with Wotsits - is they are just SO messy - the yellow bits get everywhere
Something I've used for a dog when they go a bit flat or started flying their ears is to take a piece of sausage out my pocket, and start to pretend to tear it in half, very slowly indeed (obviously to begin with to train it you do it quickly, but then gradually slow the anticipation down)... they intently watch you doing it... and 'intently' tends to involve ears too...
You know by now, showing has a knack to it, and part of that is not caring how the dog looks till the judge is a dog or two away from you on the first and last 'look-see'. So this tearing a sausage methos obviously can't last for a whole champ show class look-see at the start and end, but is great if you watch the judge and start it with them a couple of dogs away..
A couple of persistant ear flyers through the years have also needed a vocal command attached.. obviously taught soundly at home as all these things do they don't work if you only do them at shows for a dog new to them. I use something drawn out, quiet and exciting to the dog like 'Do you waaaaant sooome....' and its very quiet and calm and tempting, as I pretend to twist the sausage to tear it... (only a small piece not some honking great frankfurther...chuckle).
Good luck. Sadly some ear sets and head shapes do make flying ears easier for a dog and the 'defualt position' than an alert look, and that isn't an easy one to overcome for more than a second or two at a time.
Di
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). I've seen some people just say 'ears' and they fix themselves, others make a whistle or a squeak noise and that does the same thing. Does anyone have any great (and not too embarrassing 
) suggestions ??
