Show Dog

If you are breeding to improve the breed the best way to tell if you are successful is to show your dog. Not wanting to take on two things at once I will need to find someone to show my dogs for me. Also since I am breeding dogs not just for conformation but other competitions as well. I decided to focus on junior handlers for a few reasons The main one being that by time I have bred a dog ready to show I will know and trust someone to hire. Why don't I buy a dog that is ready to show? What would be the fun in that? I may get such a dog at a later date when I am ready, however for right now it is junior handlers. Classes of junior handlers are:

• Junior: At least 9 years old but under 12 years old on the day of the show.
• Intermediate: At least 12 years old but under 15 years old on the day of the show.
• Senior: At least 15 years old but under 18 years old on the day of the show.

Lets start with the AKC Beginners Guide to Dog Shows This give you a general idea about what dogs shows ( conformation )are all about. Junior handlers can only do conformation under the apprenticeship of an Adult handler. All dog shows use trained dogs. You can not just put a dog into competition even if it has a great pedigree. You can't do it with a handler either. Both need to be trained.

How to Train Your Dog for a Dog Show From Wikipedia

1. Teach your dog to stack or stand squarely and still. Some breeds are free stacked, with the handler standing in front of them while the dog watches the handler and stands still and alert. Other breeds are hand stacked with each leg manually placed in position while the handler stands or kneels close to them.

   Sometimes with wiggly dogs it is easier to stack them on blocks, boards or bricks that are elevated a few inches off the ground so the dog learns to trust where you set his feet and feels secure with your placement, but if he moves his feet on his own he becomes unbalanced. Never scold, but be firm. You want the stacking experience to be positive and consistent but not scary for your dog.

   Front legs should be straight (or as straight as is allowed for your breed) and should be under the shoulder blades. Rear legs should be vertical from the hock down (for most breeds, most notably different is the German Shepherd Dog, who has a distinctive stack). Feet should be facing forward.

2. Work on your dog's expression. You want him to also look alert and happy when he is stacked. Most breeds need to have their attention on the handler and the judge, and have their ears perked and their eyes on your hand or straight ahead. To do this you have two controls, the lead/collar and the bait. The bait is your dog's treats, and most puppies are started with nibbling on bait while the bait is held at the level where the head and neck are high and correct. As your dog gets used to holding his head here, then try pulling the bait away quickly to get his attention and focus on the bait. Also, as he gets used to focusing on the bait, you can use the collar to help keep his head still, by putting the collar up close behind their ears and holding it up firmly, but not so high as to string him up and stretch his neck up too much.

3. Practice gaiting. Gaiting is moving your dog in a way to allow the judge to see their movement and structure. The correct gait is a trot. A trotting dog’s right front leg and left back leg move forward at the same time, then the left front with the right back. Trotting is the correct pace because it shows the dog’s true structure the best. So, depending on the size of your dog, you will need to adjust your pace so that dog is trotting at the correct speed. The best way to do this is practice. You'll want to hold your whole lead in your left hand and the dog will trot on your left side. Start by getting your dog's attention and take a few steps forward before setting your pace. Trot your dog in a straight line, approximately 30-40 feet then turn around and trot him back. Once you return to the spot that you started, get your dog's attention and try to get him to free-stack as best you can and focus on the treat that you have in your right hand. That is a "Down and Back," one of the foundations of how your dog will be evaluated in the ring. Oftentimes, when you show, you'll only be asked to take your dog down and back, and then around the ring to the end of the line.

4. Find a kennel club or practice group in your area and try to go to group classes to get you dog used to being in a show ring with other dogs. If you can’t find classes, look for local dog shows that have matches. Matches are informal fun shows that are usually judged by club members or aspiring judges and is great practice for your dog.
5. Tips - If possible, practice stacking and baiting in front of a mirror so you can see your dog from the judge’s perspective
   - Watch as many handlers showing their dogs as you can, watch televised dog shows and also go to as many shows in person as possible. See how your breed is shown specifically and look for the fine nuances that make your breed unique. Watch professionals as they show all breeds and see what sets them apart in how they handle their dogs.
   - Check the rules and regulations of the kennel club, and the registering body of the shows you are entering to familiarize yourself with the requirements.
   - For training, don't think you can just use a regular nylon or leather collar and leash. You need to use real conformation leads or your dog will fail in the show ring. Also, you need to train with the correct leads or your dog will not be comfortable in them in the show. There are two main types of leads you can use:
   o Martingales leads are easy to find, and the dogs love them! This is because they are comfortable, and these leads help to train your dog to keep its head held up high while showing judge's their gait, and while stacking. These can come in chain or nylon varieties, don't confuse the chain variety with the chain lead. This is mostly used on puppies or small dogs, like miniature dachshunds, but some larger dogs still use them. On puppies, only use nylon martingales until they are at least 8 months old.
   o The other commonly used lead is the chain and show lead. This is not as elegant as the martingale, but many handlers use this on larger, boxier breeds such as the Rottweiler. These also help your dog to keep its head held high, and to not run away in the ring. The chain comes in three colors. These are silver, gold, and copper. The lead is very short and is sold separately. The lead can come in as many colors as the martingale.
   - It is easier on puppies if you use the martingale, and if so desired, when the puppy is at least 8 months old you can only start training it to use the chain.
6. Make sure your dog is not spayed or neutered, because if so the dog cannot show, unless you are a junior handler.
   Even if you think your dog has what it takes to be a championship conformation dog, don't always count on it.
   Make sure you bring your dog's registration papers (for the kennel club), its vaccination papers, and its pedigree papers.

Levels of AKC Competition in Obedience

There are three levels of competition in obedience:

NOVICE - For the dog just getting started in obedience. Exercises include:

• Heel on Leash and Figure Eight - show whether the dog has learned to watch its handler and adjust its pace to stay with the handler.
• Heel Free - done off leash.
• Stand for Examination - is of great benefit when the dog needs hands-on care by a veterinarian.
• Recall - provides the handler with the ability to call the dog and get an immediate response at all times.
• Long Sit ( 1 minute) - allows the handler to have control of the dog when visitors come to the home.
• Long Down (3 minutes) - dog must remain in a down position.

OPEN - The second level includes more complicated exercises, which teach the dog to do a variety of tasks and to follow commands either by voice or signal. Exercises include:

• Heel Free and Figure Eight - Same as Novice, but off leash.
• Drop on Recall - can be a lifesaving command for a dog, since it gives the handler control in potentially dangerous situations.
• Retrieve on Flat
• Retrieve Over High Jump
• Broad Jump
• Long Sit (3 minutes) - similar to the long sit in Novice, but the position must be held for a longer period of time with the handler out of the dog's sight.
• Long Down (5 minutes) - dog must remain in a down position.

UTILITY - The third and highest level of obedience competition. Exercises include:

• Signal Exercise - shows the dog's ability to under-stand and correctly respond to the handler's signal to stand, stay, down, sit and come. No voice commands are given; only hand signals are allowed.
• Scent Discrimination - shows the dog's ability to find the handler's scent among a pile of articles.
• Directed Retrieve - proves the dog's ability to follow a directional signal to retrieve a glove and promptly return it to the handler.
• Moving Stand and Examination - the dog must heel, stand and stay as the handler moves away. The dog must stay and accept an examination by the judge and return to the handler on command.
• Directed Jumping - the dog must go away from the handler, turn and sit. Then, the dog must clear whichever jump its handler indicates and promptly return to the handler.

Next for those who are interested in junior handling the AKC's Junior FAQ'S. Then we look into obedience because inorder to participate in any of the competitions the dog must be trained to obey. A couple of places you can look for beginning training are your local dachshund club and the SPCA.