Expectations for 3-6 month SV style show? - Page 1

Hello. I have seen a post re expectations for 9-12 month old dogs. What about at age 3-6 months? The show coordinator has informed me that the pup does not really need to stack...that they simply trot around the ring. What am I missing? What else happens and what are they looking for? Confidence? Spirit? What tips would you give a newcomer to the sport? (A professional handler would not likely be brought in at this stage as the owner is really doing it more for experience and the pup's future is not dependant on show placement). Thanks in advance

I'm curious about that too. Hope someone answers this question.

Kmaot, Ranchinglady, puppies need to gather ring experience as well as being near other dogs, so the early show experience is wonderful for them. One can definately determine some traits about a young puppy can be determined. Myself, I like to see the puppy very eager to enter the ring, pull like crazy and show that he enjoys himself-pure attitude and confidence. Bob-O

Wow, my typing this morning while speaking on the telephone and petting a dog. Multitasking and messing up. My post should have said: Kmaot, Ranchinglady, puppies need to gather ring experience as well as being near other dogs, so the early show experience is wonderful for them. One can definitely determine some traits about young puppies at this time in their lives. Myself, I like to see the puppy very eager to enter the ring, pull like crazy and show that he enjoys himself-pure attitude and confidence. Bob-O

In my experience these young puppies are not usually asked to trot, but only walk around the ring, obviously if they pull and look keen it helps so have someone he knows well calling the pup, but try to control him with the lead so he walks rather than lunging and galloping towards the caller. The judge does not usually do the individaul exam for this category, but some attempt at stacking is normally made while the puppies are not walking. I agree its a great experience for the puppy, you may find some of the puppies are already more trained for showing, but its not really a big deal at that age. Good luck!

For the past 4 years we have sponsored a conformation show with an SV judge. They do, in fact, have the puppies trot around the ring, but of course, the amount of trotting is limited and they are very lenient because the pups are often along side the handler, looking to turn around to bark or i play with the dog behind or in front of it, wanting to run outside the ring, and just generally wild and a little crazy (assuming they are confident enough to be out). The judges do look at the dogs stacked briefly, but again, one can often not get so young a pup to cooperate. They may check tattoos and for the males, testicles. But more generally, they are looking for over all structure, bone strength, pigment, eye color and impression of temperament and health. The ratings earned are not "official" and are not actually recorded, even though one receives an a card showing the rating. Even with a VP rating, which is the highest one can get in this class, it means little. And it means even less if the class is small. Unfortunately, too many breeders advertise a pup with a VP rating and fail to be truthful about how little it means. All it means is the pup is "very promising". And that means the pup needs time to grow and develop and we will see what comes of this pup. For example, male pups may not get their second testicle. Or a pup may not get all their teeth in, or they may develop an over bite, or one or both ears may be weak or not stand etc. So assuming your pup is properly vaccinated and protected and healthy itself, it can be a lot of fun to take it to a show just for the fun of it. Probably it is more important is to see what goes on with the older dogs, especially those 12 months and older. Once one understands what will occur at that age, it gives you some indication of the types of training you will want to give your pup for later events when it is older. For example, if a dog is not tolerant of a judge checking for a tattoo or teeth, it can be irritating to say the least. Teaching a dog to be comfortable enough to let someone stack it properly is not something usually done overnight. Teaching a dog to actually do the trotting they are looking for is not done overnight. So the more one knows, the more you have to work on. The trick is to do it all gradually and make it a positive experience for the dog at all levels. Finally, the pup should see other pups, but should probably not be nose to nose with other pups from different kennels unless you really know and trust the owner of that kennel to keep their dogs healthy. Dogs do and can pick up viruses, parasites and bacterial infections at events. So do use some common sense.

great posts! thank you.

I second that Ranchinglady. Totally informative and covers off almost everything I was questioning!! Silly question coming though.....any particular type of lead and collar that is "always" used on pups in shows?

I never use anything fancy to show any dog. I use a 3 mm stainless steel Herm Spinger collar (doubled back on itself to appropriate length if it is too big) and a 6-8 foot very light, thin width leather leash. But it can be anything that works and is not cumbersome and choking the dog. Again, you are simply trying to get the pup out there and participating. My advice is not to spend a lot of money on stuff to show a puppy where, once again, the rating really means nothing. Even in larger shows, including local and regional and even some countries Sieger Shows, one must look at the number of entries in each class and the quality of competition in each class. What does it matter if one gets a high rating, or even first place if there were only 1, 3, 5, or 10 dogs in any class, especially if the quality falls off rapidly. What one should be doing is comparing each dog to the breed standard and trying to envision how each dog meets or does not meet it. Going to shows, even small ones, is a way to improve ones' "eye" for a well conformed GSD but that, of course, is not the only thing that is important in a GSD. People who are skilled know before they ever enter a show what rating the dog will get. What they sometimes will not know is what place the dog will get and a lot depends on the competion, and sometimes, yes, the judge and how he/she sees the breed standard and applies his/her particular "eye". This is one reason I do not get so wrapped up in all this. But I see others who are crushed if they do not get what they think they should. I know what the quality of my dogs is from a conformation standpoint. I understand their faults and what I would like to improve IF and WHEN I ever breed one of them. And no GSD is perfect. There is much more to a GSD than a show rating, as you know. After age two, the dog can never get anything higher than an SG if not titled. So if a dog WERE the perfect specimen and could not be titled for some reason, then that is something to look at carefully and think about whether that dog should be bred ever. Just looking at any of the URMA books from any given Sieger Show year in Germany, one can see that the conformation of the dogs rapidly deteriorates so that one sees more and more faults farther back in the class. This is especially true of the females. So like others have said, and I say again, if you do it, just go out and have fun, but keep it all in perspective. Then you can enjoy the experience and that probably will carry over to the dog. Good luck.

Great reply Hodie. I hope others read this thread if they are looking to start to show their pup. Perspective can be a wonderful thing. Truly...even per the breeder she is at an awkward age in that class and her sister (breeder has her) looks gangly and the breeder just wouldn't show at this point. This is just for my education and for fun for the pup and me.