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by Bucko on 21 August 2009 - 23:08
I have years of AKC ob experience and a little SchH training experience, but no conformation experience in AKC or in German style showing. I would like to put a young dog (BH and CD only) in a conformation show this fall, but I don't have a clue as to what I really need to know. Is there any written guidance to help me? Do any of you old-timers with conformation experience have advice for me? My pup is 25 months, so I assume he goes into the "untitled 24+ months" class?
by Horse Man on 22 August 2009 - 02:08
What state do you live in ?
by Bucko on 22 August 2009 - 14:08
Western NE area.
by Slamdunc on 22 August 2009 - 18:08
Bucko,
Do you belong to a SchH club? If you do are there any members that show or Breed Survey their dogs? The best advice I can give you is to talk to people at the club and find a handler for your dog. Most dogs (not all) show better when not handled by their owners in the show ring.
I would begin conditioning your dog by either jogging or biking with the dog. The dog really needs to be in good shape. To stand out it must have the conditioning to run around the ring and look good and not tired. Next, you need to train your dog to trot. I used to handle dogs at Conformation Shows and even Regional and the US Siegar Show for breeders. It's a been a while, but many dogs run around the ring like sled dogs pulling the handler. This is not the picture that you want the judge to see. The top breeders spend a lot of time training their dogs how to gait.
You need to have a good amount of control and obedience on your dog. You need to teach the dog to "stand" so he can be stacked. The dog will be inspected by the judge for teeth and testicles and must be under control and not aggressive.
He will be in the "adult 24 months + class untitled males". BTW, he is not a puppy anymore, he's an adult.
I have seen some very nice dogs get put to the back because they don't show well. While dogs with lessor conformation get moved up because they were trained better and "ring smart."
Start training your dog with a "move out" command I used "bup" which means we are going to gait and get the dog to the correct speed that really shows his stride. If he is a longer dog you may have to go very quickly to gain that perfect stride, for example. A shorter coupled dog you may go slower. Every dog is different
FWIW,
Jim
Do you belong to a SchH club? If you do are there any members that show or Breed Survey their dogs? The best advice I can give you is to talk to people at the club and find a handler for your dog. Most dogs (not all) show better when not handled by their owners in the show ring.
I would begin conditioning your dog by either jogging or biking with the dog. The dog really needs to be in good shape. To stand out it must have the conditioning to run around the ring and look good and not tired. Next, you need to train your dog to trot. I used to handle dogs at Conformation Shows and even Regional and the US Siegar Show for breeders. It's a been a while, but many dogs run around the ring like sled dogs pulling the handler. This is not the picture that you want the judge to see. The top breeders spend a lot of time training their dogs how to gait.
You need to have a good amount of control and obedience on your dog. You need to teach the dog to "stand" so he can be stacked. The dog will be inspected by the judge for teeth and testicles and must be under control and not aggressive.
He will be in the "adult 24 months + class untitled males". BTW, he is not a puppy anymore, he's an adult.
I have seen some very nice dogs get put to the back because they don't show well. While dogs with lessor conformation get moved up because they were trained better and "ring smart."
Start training your dog with a "move out" command I used "bup" which means we are going to gait and get the dog to the correct speed that really shows his stride. If he is a longer dog you may have to go very quickly to gain that perfect stride, for example. A shorter coupled dog you may go slower. Every dog is different
FWIW,
Jim
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