Registered: Feb 2010
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 227

I would like to know how to train a dog for bench shows. I don't even know where to start. Any advice is welcome. Is there any reading material or videos i could learn from? I have seen bench shows a my local hunting club but theres never more than a couple of dogs in them and I don't know what there doing. No body ever really says much but I don;t ask niether. Please help.

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Registered: Apr 2006
Location:
Posts: 6548

it cost about 10 a lesson you will never learn on the sideline

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Registered: Mar 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2043

if i were you id head to a major hunt and show. people there seem to know alot. i have been lucky the last few weeks to have some of them live close to me and help out.

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Registered: Apr 2008
Location: havana florida
Posts: 1092

go to your local club .someone there should be able to help you out, its not that hard to get one to stand ,the hard part is beatin all the other handlers .

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Registered: Mar 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2043

you know it would be REALLY neat if some of you show people made a video or even just take pictures of the steps you take in setting up a dog and the training behind it..
i know there are alot of people on here would make a great one if they took the time!!!!!!

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: michigan
Posts: 2573

Long time ago I had 2 . First was from Lonnie Mears with the Finley River dogs and the second was Dave McCormack with Blueticks in Canada. Both were pretty good but I think I gave them to somebody getting started a while ago. They may still sell them if you can get ahold of them.
I'm not to tricky myself, just long on elbow grease. Repetition, repetition, repetition til they catch on. Some never do. I think it's important that you know in your head what it is you want the dog to look like or your just spinning your wheels so to speak. The other thing is " no, the dog don't know they're supposed to stand still ". If you're just starting you'll learn just as much as the dog will, hopefully a little faster.

Last edited by Dale Young on 03-24-2010 at 01:47 AM

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Registered: Dec 2009
Location: sullivan county NY
Posts: 96

dale is defff right. i never showed on the bench then i got my new male and what a looker so i seen the bench shows before and i got the specs and built a bench and all the weeeks and weeks we had 3 ft of snow and riggin was out i brought him in to help stoke to wood stove and 7 days a week had him on the bench bout 30 mins a night for a month and more had my wife take pics me showing so i could see what i wanted to adjust and then i got him standing great i had her show him and me look to get him use to diff handler and would you know it 3 weeks ago got best in show with him stood like a stone judge loved him.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: michigan
Posts: 2573

Pictures work but for on the spot right now you can set your bench in front of a mirror and then work your dog so when you look over his back into the mirror you're actually seeing what the judge will see. Turn the bench to see front or back as needed. Again look at pictures in the mag's or GOOD dogs on the bench and know what it is you're working toward. I've had many make Grand locally that I wouldn't even consider taking to Autunm Oaks and then theres the ones that are competitive any where you go. I've had dogs that I considered the best built I ever owned that either wouldn't show a lick or wouldn't stay with it more than 30 seconds, you can't travel across country with that kind. Others are just pretty nice but show like a million bucks every time and win more often. Contrary to many opinions that standing still part is where you're showing the judge what you got compared to a nice dog that you can't tell because they're twisted up like a pretzel fighting thier handler.

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Registered: Apr 2007
Location: Columbus,Ga
Posts: 142

Ya'll seem to be giving some great info on this thread!And you are not just helping the thread starter but me as well thanks a bunch.

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Registered: Jul 2008
Location: NH
Posts: 190

A good dog will stand "cat pawed" meaning high on his toes versus flat footed like a duck. From the left side of the dog, put your hand between his front legs, lift and slowly lower his from paws to the bench...MAKE HIM REACH! This helps the dog stand"cat pawed". Also to help the dog stand cat pawed, you can place plastic bottle caps from a 2 liter soda( sharp edge up) right behind the pads of his front feet. When he tries to go flat footed, his pad will hit the bottle cap and he should get back on his toes. Another idea is to put this front paws at the very edge of the bench, this also makes the dog want to stand straight.

Next, the first bone of the dogs back legs (hock) should be vertical....on another note, don't pull your dogs leg back too far, this will make him look stretched.
The head....this was the hardest for my dog because he was so interested in everything. Trying to keep his head forward and "high"..proud looking. I once benched my dog at an event and he would not sit still....turns out there was a live coon nearby...go figure....we lost that show.

Like the other guys suggested, just open Bloodlines and look at the dogs, you will quickly see the cat paws, rear leg and head position. I worked with my dog in 15 minute intervals with a 5 minute break in between. Every time he stands good, pull him off the bench and praise him up and then put him right back up there. I haven't seen a dog yet that doesn't enjoy getting praised up by their "pack leader".

Whatever you do DON'T DISCIPLINE your dog at the bench, you don't want to associate discipline with the bench AT ALL, the dog never seems to forget it.
Over time your dog will enjoy the time at the bench, he will jump up eagerly, and almost stand correctly on his own...you'll just need to make a few minor adjustments.

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Last edited by nhcooner2 on 03-24-2010 at 05:49 PM

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 4502

I've lost one as well to a nearby coon...dog jumped off bench.

as far as looking at the pics in a book, they are but one moment in time. they will give you an idea, but dont judge the dog based on that one photo. case in point, Bandit, showed like a dream at WC, but looking at his pic - awful, leaning, hanging his head. we spent 5-10 min 'trying' to get him to stand for a 5 sec pic and he refused.

go to shows - any shows. watch the other dogs/handlers. watch what they do and dont do. when you see one that you like they way they handle, follow them (not home), but look for them at other events, ask questions, let them handle your dog and show you. dont get upset if you;re told 'in their opinion' your dog is not national level....we all have 1 or more of those.

practice, just dont over do it. a few minutes a day for young ones and then increase your time as they get older. it was mentioned about discipline - I try to not do that on the bench for young ones, but the older ones that have played this game for a while and KNOW better, they will get it.

good luck.

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Registered: Jul 2008
Location: NH
Posts: 190

The reason for me saying not to discipline at the bench was because it is easy to loose your temper a bit when the dog isn't doing exactly what you want, especially when you know he can.

I will give the dog a few light slaps under his chest to "refocus" him, just don't loose your cool. The dog isn't gonna want to return to a spot where he had is butt kicked.

Here is a great example of a dogs memory...about 1 year ago I had a little problem with porcupines and my hound. So one night I decided it was time for "electricity"....he hasn't touched a porky since that night.

Now last weekend I was out coonhunting and had my dog on a lead. As we walked down this trail, my dog started pulling the other way like I was bringing him to the edge of a cliff to his death. As I looked around I could see a porky a few yards off the trail. Basically the dog was terrified. I had to remove him from the lead, I walked about 40 yards down the trail, as I looked back the dog ran full speed to me.

NOW THAT IS A GOOD MEMORY.

So to simplify things:

Porky scent = Pain
Bench = Fun
Butt kicked at bench = Not so much fun

Get the dog on the bench and enjoy yourself!

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GRFCH NITECH GRWCH GRCH 'PR' CHASES JUNKYARD BLUE GOOSE

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Registered: Oct 2005
Location: SC
Posts: 3709

Don't give up!
I have an 8 month old that has been benched for 4 months. She still insists on giving kisses when she jumps on the bench and heavens forbid someone get in her site range! She wiggles all over.

I will give her this, tho. She was shown for her very first time at the Grand American when she was 6 months old and did a great job. I was so proud of her!

I will go out tonight and work her......kisses and all!

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Registered: Dec 2009
Location: sullivan county NY
Posts: 96

my male who i hunt more then bench just do the bench for fun in my basement he wants to pull sometimes and is distracted but when hes at the show and diff people watchin and dogs i think hes nervouse like me haha and hes like a stone i dont even need to brace his head just hold his tail its like he knows its time to be seriouse kinda like a hunt everynight i cut him with my wife or buddys he will go 10ft and squat and crap and makes us move a 100 yards in a hunt he dont look back

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