K9 Fancier July 7th, 8th. - Page 1

The dog show is this weekend.  Any one else going to be there.  It's in Kalamazoo, MIchigan at the fair grounds, just like The Premier.  Going to be a great weekend I think.  Hope to see some of you out there.

SW, i know you show, could you tell me what/how you practice for conformation ? any advice would be great, i went to see mt first show last week, and im thinking about ahowing my female(LITTLE LATE)but i dont know anyone around my way that show and my trainer said he would help,but he DOESN'T show, so any suggestions would be helpful? thanks katie

Practice in your back yard, and go and watch a few shows to learn the show etiquette and how to handle your dog around the ring.  When you first go into the ring, the judge will have you stack your dog for her/him.  Make sure your dog can stack and hold it.  Then they will have you run around the ring with your dog.  Make sure and go at a faster pace so that they can see the gate of your dog well.  A lot of judges are for movement in the GSD.  Then they will have you run down to one corner and back so that they can see how his/her rear is etc. to make sure the dog is sound.  I have had 3 judges do a quick temperament test on Chaos in the ring as to check his temperament.  They have each dog do this one at a time, then they have you all go around the ring together and he/she looks them all over again.  The first time in or 2, you have butterflies, but they soon go away.  I am in the ring to have fun with Chaos, and show them a wonderful dog.  The judge does his/her pick and the rest are out!  Then you go to group, if group is offered, and you have to go against the rest of the herding dogs to see who gets best of group.  It's all a lot of fun, and I'm looking forward to this weekends show.  I have been told that Chaos looks somewhat like a obedience dog in the ring running with me, and he is somewhat afraid to run out in front like he should because he has been corrected for so long to heel by my side.  We are working on letting him run out front.  I hope he does it this weekend.  Any way, like I said, just practice in your back yard on stack, running in a circle, and also he/she must let the judge look at the teeth.  Very important to check the bite of the teeth.  Good luck with it if you decide to show, and you will have a lot of fun.  Let me know if you need to know anything else.

i will try it!!!!!!! thanks and i will let you know how it goes.