First SV show experience - Help needed! - Page 1

Hello everyone,

My 1 year old female GSD is entered in her first SV show the end of June.

I have a few questions though as I am totally new to this type of environment and training.

1. Where do I find handlers? I have decided to hire someone to show her on the day and am not sure how to go about this. Should I contact the hostng club? I do have a relationship with the club so that shouldn't be a problem.

2. Would the hired handler want to work with my pup before the show a few times in order to train?

3. What sorts of things should we be working on for this? So far I have been having her stacked and having others mess with her feet, ears, mouth and legs, etc. She likes to wiggle when she is being given attention so this is something we are working hard on. Also, have been working on her running out in front with a command which is fairly easy for her.

4. What type of lead should I get? I was planning on just having her wear her fursaver and use my 6' leather lead (obedience) but someone told me I needed something longer? Any recommendations?

Thanks so much for your help, greatly appreciated!!!

fur savers are fine for the GSD and are the preferred collar for shows.

keep on training/conditioning her to stack, get teeth examined, etc. always make it a good experience.

it helps to teach the dog a "sound" that they will look for. I like to use a bell but it could be anything, horn, squeeky toy, whistle.
use the sound at feeding, playing hide and seek, anything you come up with to cause the dog to get excited over the sound.

most prefer a long leash, 8' or more but you can get by with a 6'. a handler will probably have their own. it does no good to have a long leash if the dog won't move on the end of it, so you need to teach this. a good way (takes two people) is to go for walks and you stay ahead of the dog with someone else on the lead. the dog will move out on the end of the leash getting to you. turn around occasionaly and offer treat or praise and use the "sound".

lastly, use this as a learning experience. there will probably be people there with a lot of experience presenting dogs at their best in the ring, so don't be too dissapointed if your first time is not perfect.

hth,
Rik

Good for you having a go. What is the date of your show?

Rik has given you some good advice, the longer leash is prefered because your dog has to learn to lead out to the end in order for her to show her best, at home you could always join 2 leashes together for practice.
As you have already organised for a handler 1)has that person handled a GSD in the ring before?
                                                                2) is it a person you know?
                                                                3) could you possibly meet up before the show just for some experience?

Not to put you off but many of the dogs that you will be competing against will already have had the experiences of a number of shows and they will be more polished in their performance so don't worry too much.

When I first tried showing my breeder told me to find a handler BUT I thought really it can't be that difficult --- Boy was I in for a surprise, Felt like a real fool, my dog only wanted to be beside me, all most tripped me, she jumped all over me:):).

Thanks everyone!

The show is on June 24th and is being held by the Scarborough Select GSD SchH club. They are a great group of people and are sooo helpful and willing to help and talk to us newbies in the sport!

I would really like to find someone in the next week or two so we could get some practice in. I know not to expect greatness, and don't - it's just another experience for her outside of schutzhund training.

I of course, want to walk away with the best but know better.. lol.

Any ideas on who/where to go for handlers who would be willing to work with us? I am going to send a email off to the host club as well.

Also, any advice on where to purchase (online) a nice leather show lead?

Thanks again!

You can probably find a handler ring side. Contact the club and see if they know of anyone specific. 

http://www.caninetrainingsystems.com/videos.php

has a series of dvd's on SV conformation - including show prep and conditioning.

Thank you everyone! :)

I have found a great experienced handler who is willing to help me out. I am hoping to get 1 or 2 sessions in before the show so that *I* know what to expect... lol. I would also like to handle in the future so will soak up all I can during these training sessions and the show itself. Next is her BH which we will hopefully trial for in the spring along her with her IPO1.