german show ring handling - Page 1

how many of you handle your own dog in the show ring?  how many of you have someone else handle while you run in front squeaking toys and screaming like a maniac?  which way do you find works better?

It is always better to have somebody else to handle your dog while you "run in front.........screaming like a maniac".

i've heard that before, and that's what i've done in the past, but my dog has A LOT of drive, and gets waaay too excited.  he doesn't have that much show training, but he's so busy trying to get to me in any way possible, that he never really gaits.  so i was wondering if it would be better that i handle him myself.

or is that something that something that would get fixed in show training?

thanks for your post.

UVW, that sounds like my dog. You have to hide. Let your dog hear your voice to keep its attention, but you may have to sneak from hiding spot to hiding spot so your dog doesn't figure out where you are. I also handled my dog once myself, with a family member calling her. She liked that person enough to gait to them, but she didn't get out of control like she always did when I was out front. I tried it 2 other times with people she cared less about, and it was hopeless.

Let me speak from experience, dogs like that are tough for a novice to show, if you want your dog to display its full potential, get someone who knows what they're doing to help you out. My dog lost some very good places several times due to poor ring training and lack of experience.

I've had both done.  My male did fine either way and kinda has the hang of it for when we "have" to.  Has one more time for his resurvey this year.  My female if anyone else handlers her, I have to be out of site, otherwise she's horrible.  So, the last time I handled her and it wasn't too bad.

" he doesn't have that much show training, but he's so busy trying to get to me in any way possible, that he never really gaits."      "My dog lost some very good places several times due to poor ring training "

May I be so bold as to suggest therein lies the problem. If you want to do well in something you MUST train and practice for it. So the answer to question - "or is that something that something that would get fixed in show training?" - is a resounding yes.

Ring training is actually very easy - most people just don't take the time. The first part you can do by yourself , the second you really need the help of a friend and better yet a friend with a dog.  The first step is to teach the dog a command(radical thought) for his show gait. I used to use the word "gait". With many dogs this can easily be done as part of their daily walk. Most dogs will display an eagerness to get out in front of you and go either immediately upon leaving the house or when returning to it when they see home. Use that natural urge and put a word to it. At this point do not be concerned about the fine points - you want the dog to go to the end of the lead and be eager but not out of control and you want to associate a command word with the behavior. Once this is done the second step with a friend refines this to useable show ring behavior.

With the help of your friend you will need to 1.practice with another dog taking turns who is in front so your dog gets comfortable in both positions. 2. you need to teach the dog to take corners ( try word command again- it helps) 3. you need to determine the best speed for showing the dog's side gait and coming and going.  These may be two different speeds. Have your friend watch you to help you find those best speeds and then practice going at that pace. You should control( while on lead) the pace your dog goes at - not the dog in front of you or behind you- IF you want the dog to look the best it can. Don't forget to practice the off lead gaiting as well but if you establish a gait command and speed that will become easier.  Finally teach your dog to stack either by walking into it or hand stacking but again get him comfortable doing it and holding it. Some dogs are by nature "left handed" meaning they naturally stack more comfortably in a reverse position from what is normal in the ring. If you are a good showman you can find a way to let him do that when the judge is looking. Don't forget to condition the dog to teeth , tattoo and ball checks.

I found that cul de sacs are great places to practice this. The shape mimics a ring and often it will draw a small crowd of neighborhood kids which is just a great addition to training. The most important thing howeve is practice, practice, practice.
 

TIG, that's exactly what I just said to him...I learned the hard way with my first dog, therefore I'm suggesting he take the ring training a bit more seriously if he wants the dog to do well. I never in my post presumed to be clueless about why my dog never placed to her potential. I lost V1 at the NASS, that hurt like hell. And I did take the time, my friend who handled her for me and I worked her almost every day, we just apparently weren't giving her what she needed. 

 My second dog did a hell of a lot better, but she was also 110% easier. I'm going to be handling my daughter's puppy for her this year, and you bet I'm going work with some people in person who know what they're doing. Most people don't learn well from reading a wall of text, it's an art you have to see and watch and try it yourself to learn, in my opinion.

I ran into a gorgeous young male at a forest preverve, whose parents thought "ring training" meant letting him drag them around a bit every day. I saw him later at an event, and while he won, they were chided on his poor presentation.

Don't get me wrong, I think your explantion was lovely, and would work for many dogs and young pups especially ( I will take your advice on the turns for sure!), but if you have a drivey beast it isn't that easy, they'll damn near dig a trench to get to you.

I too taught my dogs a command to go out ahead of me.  Usually a calm "go on" and then calmly used the leash to keep them trotting and took it from there.  I plan on breed surveying my female later this year, so I definitely want to work the gaiting some.  As she much prefers to run vs. trotting, even though when she trots it is quite pretty!

I purchased me a show female pup she was was 10 weeks old now she  is 4 months old  we have been working on her stacking and might i add she is doing well. When i put leash on her she does well right by my side no tugging.She is big time food motivated she knowsI always have treats in pockets.Totally focused on me.Take her for walks downtown people amazed  how well she does for being 4 months old.I think she  knows she looks damn good lol Was wondering if there are books or dvds out there to prepare a dog for the ring.<the do's and don'ts>

well, in the german show ring.  the dogs run at the end of the leash in front of the handler.  in the working classes the dogs also have to do an off leash fast heel around the ring with the other dogs.  sounds like your girl is doing very well with puppy training but for the german ring they need to run out in front of the handler.