Showing on a loose lead

[Rachel]

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Caroline wrote some very interesting things in a letter to Joanna Russell in Dogs World December 7.  Amongst them this:

"Showing is a game for most of us and should be fun for both owner and dog.  Far too much is seen of dogs being strung up on the end of a thin show slip ( why do we do that to whippets when we normally walk them on wide collars?), being tugged/jerked because they have forgotten they should be mind-readers when their owner doesn't bother talking to them!

"In all the years of being involved in ringcraft classes, I always encourage people to develop a rapport with their dogs and motivate them into going forward, preferably happily on a loose lead, with lots of praise and encouragement (be it with word of food).  It looks far more attractive to judges and surely must make showing more of a pleasure for both dog and owner if they are as one."

I was taught at my ringcraft to show on a tight lead, and consequently my dog hated the movement bit.  Do others show on a loose lead?  I would like to do this with my new showdog, but not if it will mean points off for not doing it properly!

Any thoughts?

 

[Millie]

Hi Rachel,

I agree with Caroline. There are no hard and fast rules on how you show your dog. The whole aim is to get the best performance from your dogs and if you find moving them on a loose lead works best for you then why not.

 

[dawn]

Hi Rachel

I find that no two dogs show the same, they all have their different little ways and it is just discovering the technique with which show their assets off to the best.

You dont have to "string them up" to keep a taught lead.

Basically it all depends on YOUR dog as they are all different, it is a case of trial and error and find what is best to show YOUR dog's movement at its best.  

(Edited by dawn at 8:55 pm on Dec. 22, 2001)

 

[ASkelley]

If you have your whippet on a very tight lead (Stringing up)  it may choke, and there is every possibility that it will lift its front legs, giving untypical movement.  If possible, in my opinion it is much better to show the dog on as loose a lead as you can.  Whippets should move freely forward, and not step short as far too many do nowadays.  A.Skelley.  Ringmore.

 

[Millie]

At a general open show recently, I decided I would see what would happen if I showed my Male whippet on a loose lead, as I would show a collie, dropped down to his side. The differance was amazing, he moved so well, the judge, Cathrine Fisher-Home's words were, "He couldn't be denied the B.O.B on movement alone" Looks like he's one dog that will be shown this way from now on!

 

[Samantha Chase]

I find with our's to show on a loose lead is much more pleasant and easier for both the hound and ourselves.  They move better, look better and enjoy it more.  It was common in North America up to about 10 years ago to always show on a tight lead, happily that is now not the case, although some still do, they certainly look out of place in the ring.  And when we see someone "stringing up a dog" it will be thought that they either are new, or trying to stretch out a short neck!  In fact, in the U.S. especially, loose leads are the "unwritten rule", with much "free stacking".  This gives the dog a much more natural and relaxed look - of course it means the really good dog will look good naturally and the poor ones (especially those with short necks and poor front assembly or bad rears), will stand out even more.    

 

[Katana]

Showing on a loose lead is no problem at all, you pay your money and are there to show your dog off to it's best advantage and if that is standing and moving on a loose lead then there is no problem. I do not string mine up, Whippets are not Terriers.

 

[Lydia]

Agree with all the above posts.Especially A.Skelley's about stringing a whippet up.It will make the dog more short stepping,and higher than normal.

When training a new puppy,you want to practise standing in a show poise,for a few mins each day, before worrying about moving on a show lead.The pup needs to develop it's balance and muscles, to move forward freely,when on a loose lead.If you string it up,it will start to lean on the lead and never be balanced when moving.You then are left with a worse problem to try and sort out.

After saying all this though,when you are presenting your dog for a judge to examine and see,you do not need loads of lead,flapping around.This will encourage the pup to play with the lead,and, looks very untidy when you are showing your dog.

You need to have the lead,so it is straight from the dogs head/neck,to your hand,but not so that you are forcing your pup's head up,and, then causing to lift it's little legs up.

Good luck with your new pup,when will you be entering him/her for shows ?

Lyd

 

[dessie]

I stand by what I said originally!! Once the dog has been taught at ringcraft to go on a loose lead then you can 'tidy' it up so that you have got a bit of control on the head and it really depends on the size of the ring you are in ......... the bigger ring the looser I would let the lead go but there is NEVER any need to have the lead so tight that the dog cannot swallow properly (i.e. stringing it up).

The main thing is that showing should be enjoyable for both dog and owner, sometimes it's a misery for the owner but it should never be like that for the dog!!!

 

[BeeJay]

>sometimes it's a misery for the owner

LOL!

 

[June Jonigk]

It's many years since I've shown a whippet, but once we went to the South Yorks Hound Show, and showed our bitch. The judge was from the Netherlands, and didn't like to see whippets 'strung up' - ours as it happened moved really well with a loose lead. There was a very well known breeder there, whose whippet stood like a statue on the table, but when he moved it he had to string it up, or it walked with it's head hanging. The judge made him move it again, and told him to drop the lead - he wasn't very happy!! Our bitch was placed 2nd, and the well known breeders bitch was thrown out. The judge spoke to us later in the day, and said he loved our bitch, she reminded him of the Samarkands breeding - possibly as she had Samarkands in her pedigree! He was upset, as this well known breeder had complained to him afterwards, and told him he didn't know what he was doing!! Sad that this judge said he'd think twice before judging in this country again.

 

[aslan]

My dogs are always shown on loose leads but the collar (and I use fine choker chains) is alway up under the ears. There is a knack to learning the required tension for the collar to stay up but not be tight and your lead to be "loose". In this fashion Layla does the triangle pretty much by herself - I am just running beside her - and often not beside her as she likes to be out in front! When we come to the corners all it takes is a very slight 'steering' of the lead for her to turn. Otto and Pip don't 'own' their movement as much as Layla does but I use the collar and lead in the same fashion. The lead doesn't droop - it is in a straight line from dog to hand but with just enough tension to keep it so - but not tight.

I don't like all-in-one string slip leads at all and won't use them - I find they choke worse than any 'choker'.

Whippets should not run with their head up in the air at 12 o'clock, this is unnatural. To keep their balance when moving (and I mean a fast trot, not a walk) they need to drop their head to about 10 o'clock, some dogs carry it even lower. Sportingfields Jazz Fest runs with his head and topline almost all at the one level and although I saw his handler Elizabeth Leven hold the lead straight up from his head - the tension on that lead was not tight. He was still moving freely on a 'loose lead' even though to many eyes it may have looked as though he was "strung up".

A Whippet should feel like a feather at the end of your lead.

 

[janfiers]

Totally agree with everything that's been said. I show all mine slightly differently but one in particular will just put the brakes on totally if she feels a lead any where near her head, so she has it right down onto her shoulders and she will go all day that way. Another dog moves so positively that I have all on to keep up with him and sometimes it might look as if he is 'strung up' but the lead is actually quite loose. He's telling me, come on mum, keep up. Dogs are like people they all have their ways and if we can understand them, they will give us lots of good times in the show ring, even if we don't win.

 

[~JO~]

I am definately going to try showing on a loose lead now, my older boy really doesn't like being pulled around and I think he will move much better on a loose lead.

I have always wondered about it, but noticed that hardly anyone does it so haven't been brave enough so far. Millie - did you try this for any particular reason, eg. was your dog a reluctant show dog?? or was it just a experiment?