Registered: Jun 2003
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 3847

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to settle a dog down for a bench show?
I have the one female that I've been showing and for the last 3 shows she has not wanted to stand still. I move a foot she moves another, she keeps leaning forward almost wanting to jump off the bench, and its just getting very aggravating.
I bring her into the club 10-15 minutes before the show starts trying to get her used to everything, but this almost seems to get her even more hyped up because she wants to go see the other dogs, food, etc.
At the last show I just wanted to pull her off the bench and throw her in the box because she was acting up so bad.

You can't discipline them during the show, so what can I do to get her to get the act together during the show?

At home she stands perfect. I can step away and she stays. I set her up in different areas, outside, inside, out by the kennel, dogs running around by her, TV, radio - She's still anywhere but at the show.

Any amount of help or advice is welcome! I have to be doing something wrong here and I want to correct it.

Thanks All,
Laura

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Registered: Jan 2007
Location: Al
Posts: 3070

Try taking her to crowded places and make her stand, maybe take your bench to a park, where there are kids playing and work with her, somthing to get her use to a crowd or play a radio with talking going on just somthing to think about

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Registered: Feb 2006
Location: Flat Rock, NC
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How old is the dog?

I know I have an English female when she was younger just went into DT's at most shows. She did ok at bigger shows but hate small shows.

But on the other hand the older she got the better she got at showing so It may be the age. Their are some calming agents that you can buy and I have actually used a horse calmer paste on this female when she was younger.

Hope this helps.

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Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Texas
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Could be that your dog is picking up on YOUR nervousness.

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Registered: Jan 2009
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 91

Here is a training tool that is very helpful in training a dog to stack at a dog show. I use these at home to train my AKC show dogs to stack and stand still. They come in all sizes and are very highly regarded.


www.happylegs.com

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Registered: Jun 2008
Location: SC
Posts: 1012

I usually get to local shows about an hour early, especially with my young dogs. They're usually MUCH worse there than at bigger ones! I just get them out of the box and tie them out, or walk them around with me, maybe gait them and put them on the bench once or twice a couple short times. They've usually calmed down a good bit by the time the show starts, especially if it's warm out.

Here is a thought though, based on something I learned back when I fooled with show horses. Would it be a bad idea to take them to a local show, maybe an inexpensive, close one where the win doesn't matter for a schooling session? In the past I showed horses that would start to believe every now and then that they wouldn't be corrected in the show ring. Once I started noticing that, I would school them in the class every now and then just to prove that they couldn't get away with bad behavior every time they entered the show ring. I would think this principle would work with dogs as well. A smart one probably knows the difference between practice sessions at home and being shown. I'm not saying do anything that could constitute as abuse to bystanders, but why not take the time to correct the dog at a local show just so she figures out that being away from home doesn't mean she can misbehave? I know I've done it at local shows before, and it changed their attitudes. Like I said, nothing extreme, just enough to get them to behave. Just a random thought LOL, I'm not sure if local judges would condone this or not. Maybe a few other people will have some input.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: North Carolina
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if you can take the dog to other shows and not show, just put the dog thru the motions. practice before, let the show happen and then take dog up - it may think its their turn. you can do some disciplining there, but be careful of who's watching or try to be discreet at discipline.

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Registered: Aug 2006
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If the dog is just nervous try a few drops of a product called Rescue Remedy the wife shows poms in another registry and this stuff works great. you can google it.

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Registered: Jun 2005
Location: TEXAS
Posts: 1600

quote:

---

Originally posted by newwalkerhound
Here is a training tool that is very helpful in training a dog to stack at a dog show. I use these at home to train my AKC show dogs to stack and stand still. They come in all sizes and are very highly regarded.


www.happylegs.com

---

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 3847

Thank You for all the responses.
This is just so nerve racking knowing that she can do it, but doesn't.

One thing I haven't done is take her around to parks, etc. But I honestly think she knows the difference between practice and the real thing.

She's a 2 1/2 years old show champ. She acted like this when she was younger, but then she really came together. We practice near daily so I don't get it.

I've never seen the calming paste or stuff like that, but I'm a little iffy on giving my dogs things like that.

I do get nervous at the shows, but I was fairly confident at the last show. We practiced for two weeks straight and I really thought it would pay off.

I would love to let her know I'm not going to tolerate it during a show, but I really don't want anyone to say something. At the last show I was pinching, pulling and holding, didn't faze her.

That Happy Legs thing looks very neat. I can see where it would help. Don't have the cash for it, but I might see if I can get creative with something similar.

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Registered: Jun 2005
Location: TEXAS
Posts: 1600

I really don't have the $ either so if you think of something let me know!!!!!!!!!!!! I believe they do know the difference, I have a male that does great here then sometimes he's good sometimes not. I can remember leaving one show and my arm was killing me from pulling and trying so hard to get him to show.

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Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Jefferson Ohio~ ashtabula co
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Laura try using mirrors at home or a grocery store parking lot, library where every you can find! mirrors will help and most everyone has them at home good luck

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Registered: Oct 2006
Location: NE Kansas
Posts: 43

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SCBluetickGal
[B]I usually get to local shows about an hour early, especially with my young dogs. They're usually MUCH worse there than at bigger ones! I just get them out of the box and tie them out, or walk them around with me, maybe gait them and put them on the bench once or twice a couple short times. They've usually calmed down a good bit by the time the show starts, especially if it's warm out.



AGREED. I like to get to the local shows about an hour early, walk the dog around, let it potty.

I've heard of people that "road" their dogs before the show. Run them down gravel roads. They say it makes their feet a little tender, and wears them out. I haven't tried that.

Babe

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Registered: Feb 2006
Location: BRIGHTON, TENNESSEE 30 miles north of Memphis
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Roading with the 4-wheeler is what I did right before loading them in the box to leave for a show. For us it was real simple because we live on a dead end black top road. It dead ends into our pasture. We would take them down the road and back, then a loop through the pasture. Usually only about 2 miles @ 7 to 10 mile an hour, depending on the pace of the dog being roaded..Nothing harsh. The hounds actually love it!!
It really helped take the edge off when they got to the club.

We also would get there an hour early to walk the hounds and work on gaiting. then work them quickily a time or two on the bench. Sometimes even just make them stand on the bench while we had conversation with folks there.

We don't show much at all anymore, and we need them to have all the energy they can muster up before the events..So, they don't get roaded right before loading anymore. I sure can tell the difference when we do decide to show at an event.

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Registered: Jun 2005
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Get their early for the event tie her out let her relax and also work her abit before the show and get after her if shes not standing still.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 3847

So try and tucker her out before hand. I've got a 4-wheeler (and two good legs actually ) and I'll definitely try it.
I'll try and hit the events earlier also, lead her around let her see all the happenings over and over again. Something is bound to work.
I'm going to lug my bench around with me to and take her a couple places and try setting her up.

One or all three has to work. Open to more ideas too!

Thanks Again!!

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Registered: Nov 2006
Location: Mayer, MN
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Dogs do pick up on our tension and nerves so work on that from your end or do what you can to include that in your training time. There's no way around the fact that a big show will have the owner and handler up a few notches in nerves and hopes of doing well. That's a normal deal all entrants have to work with. Some dogs will react more to it than others, especially if they are real connected to you.

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Registered: Jul 2003
Location: indiana
Posts: 908

you've gotten a lot of good ideas already, but I'm going to add one more. I had a male that was like that, at home he wouldn't move off the bench till I said it was ok. At a show, well...., let's just say I took alot of teasing about my 'hyper' dog, lol
If you have someone else you trust, let them show your dog once or twice. It needs to be a handler who knows how to be firm with the dog. She (hopefully) will get the idea that she can't act up no matter where she is. It did help mine some. He was just too interested in everything around him to settle down.

Good luck!

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Registered: Aug 2006
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Give Megan a call!! Might be able to help ya out!! Good luck, Danny G.

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Hunt the dog about 6 hours the night before the beauty contest. Should be pretty calm.

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Registered: Jun 2005
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quote:

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Originally posted by john Duemmer
Hunt the dog about 6 hours the night before the beauty contest. Should be pretty calm.

---

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Registered: Aug 2008
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Ask your vet for some Reconcile. It's new but everything I have read about it sounds wonderful.

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Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Jefferson Ohio~ ashtabula co
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I know of one other idea... my daughter just started handling classes for a shepard she is showing akc... the lady is out standing! she has class on every monday night from 630-730 open to all and is $5.00 per handler it is a practice show basicly. if you want directions let me know. This is more conformation but I am sure she would let you bring in your bench and do your thing and if you show this dog at autumn oaks it is same pattern with triangle.

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Registered: Feb 2004
Location: West Kill, NY
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I just granded out one like this. He would not hold still for long at a show. I tried letting other people show him--only ine guy could make him hold still. Several very experienced people could do nothing with him.

Some things that worked:
hunt him until exhausted the night before

about 20 min before the show, put him on the bench and don't stack him, just massage until relaxed, especially around the shoulders

keep him away from the show benches while other dogs are showing

find new places to put your hands. Mine held his head up fine, so I moved that hand from his chin to his chest. He seemed to find the contact at his chest reassuring..
He also hated having his tail held up. I ignored his tail--the other hand was poking his rib cage to get him to stand square.

Mine got his grand at a state youth championship. His handler was very inexperienced, but the hound just liked this kid and stood for him. Of course, it may just be age--he's 3 1/2 now.

Some dogs just have to be held back from the show bench until they mature a bit

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Registered: May 2009
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Maybe you could excercise it a couple hours before the show so she doesn't have the same level of energy. I don't show my dog since he's fixed, but he behaves much better after being run a couple miles.

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