Ra's first shows, boy am I Nervous...

[Ashlie]

So Ra is going to two shows the 26th and the 27th of this month.
They'll be his first, so I'm really nervous!

He acts very well beahved around humans, but another dog? Forget it. I've socialized him so he knows how to behave after they've met, but I don't know how I can get him to pay attention to me with other dogs in the ring! He has even turned down raw meat for something more interesting to him (i.e. anothe dog, a smell on the wind, a leaf...)
Advice? I can have a pocket or two full of treats, but in the next couple of weeks I'd like to get some advice on how else to train him to "watch" me. He knows to look at me when I say this, but for how long is always different. Sometimes he won't even bother, and wont' care if I give him a treat or not.

Tips?
I'd appreciate advice from someone with showing/show training experience.

Thanks for reading!

[Camz]

My pup ignores all treats but hotdogs. They are the only thing that will hold her attention, whether we are in a show ring or working on general obedience commands.

If that fails, what alot of dobie people do is throw food on the floor. usually, that at least gets ears up and the dog looking forward.

The terrier people usually have these annoying squeaky toys that make Orchid bark like crazy.

They may work with your dog as well.

Just do the whole positive reinforcement thing. Don't tease too much with the treats: that was my mistake this past weekend at a show.

I'm a newbie at this, too!

PS- do a conformation class. It's really helped me out.

[Ashlie]

Thanks a lot for the advice!

[Kuchi]

He may suprise you. Kuchi does, he's excited around dogs, but in the ring he's show dog. yep hot dogs, cheese and cow lung works for me.

[Ashlie]

I'm always afraid to feed him people food like cheese and hot dogs though. He'll get really bad gass, but I could use boiled chicken I'm sure.
I'll find something that catches his nose!

[Novel]

My dogs tend to get very serious once they walk into the ring. I don't use any treats as I feel it takes away from them listening to me and doing what I want.... and instead focuses them solely on the food, mine and every other handlers!

You can train "stand"... or "steady"... when you want him to stand still. Work on it like you would "stay", and let him have fun. If he moves it won't be the end of the world, and lots of judges want to see the dog have some enthusiasm, even if it's for the other dogs! Just keep him on a short lead and use his attention to other things to your advantage.

[Ashlie]

I'd love to not use treats, but attention and praise are not what he values in the least, unfortunetely. Calling his name and tapping his head/ears doesn't even make him look at me once he's succesfully distracted!



Novel, I thought you were leaving GP?

[Novel]

I'ev been back for a while Ashlie... thanks for missing me!

In my opinion, work on the focus.

[12weimgirl]

Oh gosh I remember my first show and she WAY better than i expected!!! See does better in the show ring than she does at the classes its like she knows lol well good luck!!

[Ashlie]

I took Ra to the dog park this weekend to see how he would do.
He did great!
There was a Rot/Chow mix that kept following us around while Ra was on his lead. I'd run Ra and the other dog would run along my other side, quite a distraction I thought, but Ra completely ignored him! He even took the treats and ATE them instead of spitting them out.
I'm so proud!
I think we'll be just fine!
The shows are going to be between Ra and his half sister, Simone, so we'll see. hoe it turns out. Simone has been doing this a long time and Ra is just starting.

[Novel]

Remember, enjoy yourself and Ra will enjoy himself too!

[Sayuri]

Have fun with Ra! What a great breed you've chosen for yourself! Are you thinking about coursing with him as well?

Your boy sounds a lot like my girl in many respects - once Kimi is in the ring, she isn't interested in food at all, but she is the same in that she doesn't especially value praise over food either. (Our last shows were far more successful, however, after some more work).

I'm going to be taking some handling classes with my Kimi and one of my breeder's new show prospects - both of my mentors highly recommend it. Perhaps it's something you two might enjoy as well?

Good luck!

[Ashlie]

I'd love to get into handling classes! The thing is that the city they are in is PACKED after I get off of work and on weekends. I mean freeways are no go at all.

I've just started getting some info on coursing. I was so excited as I watched the videos on the club sites, it is so awesome to watch the dogs do what they do best!

[Winjammin]

Good luck in his first shows! Like Novel said, just relax and have fun! It'll make Ra relax more and he'll show better. The other thing I didn't see in this thread is something that I learned over time, and still have problems with, and I think everyone else does too:

Don't worry about the competition, just show your dog the best that you can. Dogs do not channel their competitive juices the same way humans do, so when your competitive juices get to flowing, the dog senses you as being nervous, and thus will be nervous himself. The dog will sense the competition in his own way, and lots of times, the dog will rise to the occasion and help you out.

Also, do not expect to win in the dog's first 4-6 shows. It takes them this long to "get it" in the ring, and learn what they are supposed to do. This advice comes from the legendary handlers George Alston and Corky Vroom. If you win in that time, GREAT! But if you don't, then don't worry, your dog is just getting used to competing.

I wish you tons of luck!! I think Ra is a stunning dog, and he should do well. Keep us posted on his results!

[Ashlie]

Thanks so much for the advice!
That is what all my friends who are currently in show keep telling me.
Just have fun. Especially the first times.
I'm so excited!
I've got him in another one in June. Pasadena, a little far, but it's only one day.

Can anyone tell me how the points work?