pulling to much at a show - Page 1

Hi, I was wondering I just showed my Female 7 month old GSD at a show. She got First place and I am very proud of her. But one thing is bugging me She pulled her handler so much that her toung turned blue. We did double handeling and she was pulling so hard that I had to hide and not call her at all. The first show I brought her to she got second place because she didn't pull enough now I am scared that because she pulls to much she might again get second place. What should I do to help her relax and not freak out when I go around the ring in front of her??? Please help Jess

I am trying to visualize this, the tongue turning blue is not fitting in the picture. How do you have the collar on her, or what kind of collar are you using? Sound like someone put some good ring training on her. There are probably some people reading this that wish they had your problem. Stephen

The female is very atached to me she goes crazy if I leave her with someone else. Her handler is also a GSD breeder and he has been breeding dogs for over 20 years. He could not believe how stong the 6 month old pup was he had blisters after the show on his hands. Yes the dog has had a lot of ring training and she uses a choke collor that is NOT ON CHOKE! but she pulled sho much I got scared that she would kill herself she was breathing so funny. She is a very active dog and so I expected her to pull but not this much. I have worked her on ring handeling since she was little so I am glad she did well but I never thought she would pull this much. What should I do or do you think she will grow out of this and get used to showing?

Hasn't she got a special show collar? They are specially bent so that the dog doesn't strangle themself! Try that, that should help. Good luck with your little girl.

Wow, Thanks, I need to find one by saturday. Thanks for that Idea. I hope I can find one. Jess

Hi Jess, been reading this and just being nosey what breeding is your female ? And good luck by the way. LCx

That is a good thing. One other thing that you might consider is "letting some air out of the tire prior to"

Well done with your young girl, she is very keen to work. Maybe you should stay out of sight when she is shown and just call or whistle or something. I have had a lot of dogs (male and female) who were hard pullers and sometimes their tongues looked a little blue, the advice about the proper collar is good - you can get metal collars that are curved and they do not press against the trachea/neck - the dogs works into them rather than against them. In the UK we are supplied by a Breeder who gets his collars and leads from Germany direct. Does her tongue go blue at training also? or just when at shows? Only known one female in UK (who is a Champion by the way) who pulled hard, tongue blue and breathing heavy & rasping - she had a narrowed trachea, she is now 12 years old and healthy and well, did not stop her being a Champ, but looks distressing to others. She was shown on the collar mentioned above. Probably just a very keen young lady you have - perhaps as she gets more confident that you are not leaving her she will settle in time - I found the dogs who were closest to me were the pullers in the ring - they just want to get to you. You should be able to get a collar like that somewhere especially if you are showing her - there must be a supplier who sells at the shows. Very good luck with your girl.

other than the turning blue and breathing difficulties it was the exact same thing when i showed my girl in Pittsburg lol she was 13 months and was not winded ready to go again handler hand blistered i have never seen my dog get worn out by any activity lol I too had to hide, she developed not waning to leave me at the show. Congrats on your showing and good luck!! I had excersized her and kept her uncrated most of the show hoping to take the edge of her it did help.

Hi, Thanks all for the tips I will get one of thoughs show collars as soon as I can. For Lara Croft her name is Bicha v. Abington's Jessy. She is out of my female. You can find her in the database. Bicha is in top form so the blue tonge is not because she is out of shape. A SV judge said she was in excellent condition. I even ran her before the show but she is very energetic. loves to work so I guess she just needs to learn some show manners.thanks again Jess