Frustration When Showing Dogs....

[louisetope]

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I expect many of you share this problem - a really nice dog who won't show himself in the ring, but looks great when natural. It's so frustrating. I guess it just proves that a whippet's natural habitat is out running in the fields!

Have attached 2 photographs of the same dog - in one he looks awful 'cos he's on a show lead and I have stacked him for the photograph. The other picture is just one I captured when we were out for a walk the other day. the difference is quite obvious!

And that is why Murray is retired from the showring! :wub:

Louise

 

[Seraphina]

You call that bad? :lol: When put on the table at show mine brace themseves, totaly destroying front angulation, hunch up back, drop down at stiffle (the IG look) and have the "please do not hit me" expression on their faces. :b However i found if I persevered, eventually they all got used to being shown and in the end actually enjoyed coming to shows.

 

[posh totty]

i have an ig just like that! bold as brass at home and out walking but pathetic heap when on a show lead! silly thing is he is the first in the car to go to a show , laps up all attention with relish then belly crawls round towing like a staffie til we are out of the ring then on anyones lap for cuddles!!! (w00t) he no longer shows either lol he is head of cuddle dept here now :lol:

 

[louisetope]

i have an ig just like that! bold as brass at home and out walking but pathetic heap when on a show lead! silly thing is he is the first in the car to go to a show , laps up all attention with relish then belly crawls round towing like a staffie til we are out of the ring then on anyones lap for cuddles!!!  (w00t)   he no longer shows either lol  he is head of cuddle dept here now  :lol:

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Murray is head of Squirrel Patrol (w00t)

Louise

 

[~JO~]

Brilliant photos Louise - My archie is exactly the same! Looks so wonderful out and about but on a show lead and its a whole other story :lol:

His problem is that he is completely unbiddable and has no desire to please anyone except himself and hates being told what to do...not ideal for a showdog :lol:

It'll be his last show this summer

 

[Vanna]

Ivan is just the same. He looks gorgeous on a walk, but you wouldn't believe it's the same dog in the ring!

 

[whippetmad]

He still very handsome though :wub: :wub:

 

[whippynit]

I have the same trouble with my Holly! :lol: hence, i dont show her, aswell as the fact that shes v big for a bitch, but i do think she looks lovely when stood naturally sometimes - then i stack her and she totally clamps up and looks dreadful! :wacko: ... but i love her to bits all the same! :huggles: :wub: will try and add some piccies

 

[Zephyr]

Poor Murray :huggles: - you'd think you were about to torture him (w00t) - whippets know how to show their feelings don't they!! :lol:

I too have had plenty of moments when Zephyr just doesn't feel in the mood, and he lets me know! :sweating: :teehee: He really has nothing to complain about when most of the time at the show he is doing this! -_-

 

[julie_s]

:lol: I was just going to make a post asking for advice about the very same thing!

So while we're on the subject I hope it's OK if I ask for some advice...

My daughter Robyn has been taking our pup Ruby (11 months) to a few companion shows and ring craft classes. The problem is she seems to hate being up on the table and is worse than Murray! She leans back, with her head down as well as hunching up and looking depressed... yet she stands beautifully naturally at home. She also slopes round the ring with a stilted movement... although she has improved a bit in this area.

Now the question is... does she keep trying shows with her (is there any chance she'll get better?) or retire gracefully. Someone at ringcraft suggested we try a herbal remedy to calm her nerves... but it seems a bit extreme just to go to a few wee companion shows?

I think if it was my choice... I'd give the shows a miss as it doesn't seem to be Ruby's thing but Robyn really enjoys showing and they do win a rossette every time they go to a show including a 5th :thumbsup: place in a large puppy class on one of the not so nervous/bored days (Robyn's face was a picture when they got pulled out into the final pick)!

Anyway any advice would be gratefully received...

 

[Gill Andrew]

"The problem is she seems to hate being up on the table"

Although we usually stack our dogs on the table, it is perfectly acceptable to stand them on the floor so if Robyn is having problems with Ruby on the table, just ask the judge if it is ok if she stacks her on the floor and then loads of praise and titbits if necessary as a reward for putting up with this showing lark.

If your daughter is really enjoying showing her, carry on for a while as Ruby may decide for herself that she really isn't going to get slaughtered every time she sets foot inside a ring and start to relax and show her true potential - apart from which kids love to win a rosette or two!

You could try giving her a couple of drops of Rescue Remedy if you feel that she is really nervous (or take some yourself before you watch). It won't do her any harm.

Good luck

Gill

 

[julie_s]

or take some yourself before you watch

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:lol: Thanks for the advice Gill... I will certainly try the rescue remedy for me :sweating: and maybe the dog :- " if I haven't emptied the bottle myself. We didn't know you could stack them on the ground, we're complete novices but that would help a lot I think I'll suggest she tries that with Ruby next week at ringcraft. I'm hoping that some of the next few shows we go to will be outside as we went to one recently and the dog seemed a bit more relaxed.

 

[devonmaid]

my noodles brother is staying for a while ,i dont think hes ever really been on a lead or stacked

but i got him in a lovely natural pose today in the garden

 

[alfie]

As many of you know, my lovely Mabel is very 'challenging' to show :- "

She is sooo frustrating to show, as sometimes she can make herself look like a sack of spuds if she's not in the mood, and other times when she decides to co-operate, she looks lovely o

Trouble is, I never know how she's going to behave until we get in the ring.... :blink:

For Julie- I would suggest that your daughter practices standing Ruby on the table at home, giving her treats, even feeding her dinner up there, so that she is used to it when she is at a show. Also try getting lots of people to handle her so she gets used to that as well. Hope this advice helps :thumbsup:

Liz and the Monellis

 

[jok]

Frankie went through a period of feeling uncomfortable being put on the table at shows, following a bad experience for him on a table.

I stacked him on the floor at several shows whilst he regained his confidence - he is absolutely fine now and back on the table :thumbsup:

 

[alfyn]

As many of you know, my lovely Mabel is very 'challenging' to show :- "
She is sooo frustrating to show, as sometimes she can make herself look like a sack of spuds if she's not in the mood, and other times when she decides to co-operate, she looks lovely o

Trouble is, I never know how she's going to behave until we get in the ring.... :blink:

Liz and the Monellis

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Mmmm,you've just described Flyn there

The only time i can get Flyn to show himself,is to take Poppy along when she's a month before her season & then he's on his toes looking for her

Other than that,he finds it soooooo boring -_- & is brilliant at shuffling just before the judge is going to look at him :angry:

I've now decided to retire him now as i find showing him very frustrating & stressful :sweating:

The daft thing is though,he loves going for the day out :wacko:

 

[jok]

As many of you know, my lovely Mabel is very 'challenging' to show :- "
She is sooo frustrating to show, as sometimes she can make herself look like a sack of spuds if she's not in the mood, and other times when she decides to co-operate, she looks lovely o

Trouble is, I never know how she's going to behave until we get in the ring.... :blink:

Liz and the Monellis

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Mmmm,you've just described Flyn there

The only time i can get Flyn to show himself,is to take Poppy along when she's a month before her season & then he's on his toes looking for her

Other than that,he finds it soooooo boring -_- & is brilliant at shuffling just before the judge is going to look at him :angry:

I've now decided to retire him now as i find showing him very frustrating & stressful :sweating:

The daft thing is though,he loves going for the day out :wacko:

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You'll have to take him as a 'bouncer' for your girls :lol:

 

[doris]

I find it frustrating that when anyone else stacks Monty he looks great, when I do he doesn't look 'right' :wacko:

luckily for me, at the moment, he enjoys the attention so quite likes being on the table, but then he is still a baby boy who loves his mum's approval :huggles: sure that will change when he's a grown man who couldn't give a monkeys :- "

 

[Seraphina]

or take some yourself before you watch

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:lol: Thanks for the advice Gill... I will certainly try the rescue remedy for me :sweating: and maybe the dog :- " if I haven't emptied the bottle myself. We didn't know you could stack them on the ground, we're complete novices but that would help a lot I think I'll suggest she tries that with Ruby next week at ringcraft. I'm hoping that some of the next few shows we go to will be outside as we went to one recently and the dog seemed a bit more relaxed.

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I think part of the problem is that the handler is nervous and the dog picks it up, so many people I know find the rescue remedy or some valium helpful (for them not the dogs). My first Borzoi champion hated showing, used to be very car sick, so we would arrive with him feeling sick and needing another bath . He hated everything about the show. But i persevered, and by the time he was close to 2 years old he stopped being car sick :cheers: , and knew all the people and their dogs and would be quite excited to see them all. I guess I also relaxed bit and he started to win.

 

[wildhare]

The only thing that I have found to help is to get the dog some exercise

(a lot) for at least 30 minutes before ring time - I have one that looks

dreadful - all hunched up on the table and while standing in the ring

if I dont take her for a 30 minute walk before going in the ring - 30

minutes at a good trot will loosen them up and seem more relaxed

both on the floor and the table - more attentive also -

dwight