getting a puppy ready for show?? - Page 1

what and at what age does one start gettting a puppy ready for show? What exactly happpens at a lets say 4-6 month puppy show? What are they required to do?

The puppy should be able to trot around the ring at the end of the leash. And should be able to be stacked for a short time. Generally the double handler calls the puppy so the ears are up and the attention is good. Hope this helps. Respectfully, Carl Morgan

I just bought a great series of tapes on conditioning your conformation dog...it goes into great detail on what is being looked at faults training ect. I wish I would have bought these tapes years ago. I have already learned a great deal, and think that all GSD breeders should get them...I like them that much. http://www.caninetrainingsystems.com/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?keywords=Conformation&search=action Heather

Thanks you both..I will look into those tapes. I just didn't know exactly what I had to have him do.. He does well on the leash , eager and all, but the stacking thing is not his favorite thing to do...ha any suggestions?

I will clicker train the stand. I have found that if I try and place the dog into a stand then they will not stand as well. If I use the treat and my foot, so basicly I have the dog in front of me or on my side...I will then slip my foot under the dog and tickle the dogs belly with my foot...at the same time I will hold a treat in front of his nose..and lure him up...click treat and good boy, good boy....then start all over...Once I can tell him to stand and not have to slip my foot under him, I will add the stay, and have him stand stay...add distractions ect...then I will start to move his feet where I want them, and with each foot say stay and click/treat...then with distractions and have him stay when you are about 6ft away...he will perk up and look happy without you haveing to be dominate over him...he will also stay in the stacked position and not be jumping all over the place and each time the judge looks over here will be your very well behaved dog in a nice stacked stand stay. Looks good Heather

ahh, I was trying to place his feet before getting the stay thing down pat...that makes sense.. Thanks I will try again tomorrow...I haven't had to use treats to train him in anything else, but I will try it with this part..cuz it just ain't happening..lol How long does this usually take, I know all pups are different, but I want to have an idea of how long before I should try something else.. Thanks for your help Heather

I have had a good stand command down in a few days...but when I am working on this I make it lots of fun....I will only ask the dog to stand, not stand stay at first, then I will tell her FREE and we will play for a min or so...lots of fun you want her to look very happy and energetic. Then repeat, when you are working on the stay part, don't move to fast...start with no distractions and then add them slowly...once I know I have a good stand stay where I dont' have to replace the dog at all...I will then take her other places and do this...park, walmart with all the people coming in and out of the doors...petco...I wll also pay my son/and clients a dollar if they can get her to move...it is a fun game and I get all the distractions I could ever want. lol NOTE; I dont' correct the dog at all...this is a game, she has to look very happy and if you start correcting her during this she will get the scared look or concerned look that you see in alot of dogs. No problem on the training tips, this is the fun part of the dogs.... Heather