4. Dog Showing.......

 

Before you leave be sure you have everything you will need. 

 Dress professionally and prepare your hair nicely.  Plan for your day. Bring your CONFIRMATION paper. Also helpful tools for showing. Get to the show earlier than your scheduled competition time so you can groom your dog and practice.

When it’s almost show time, you will need to get your armband. To get your armband, go to the ring your competition is at, look in the show book and find out your assigned number. You will then ask the Steward for your number.   The Junior Handler must ask for the armband herself or himself not the parent or guardian. 

Get your dog ready on his/her lead and prepare to get in the ring.  Take care of your dog at all times.  The judges do not want to see your parent or guardian helping you.  After all it is all about how you manage and care for your dog. 

Listen for your number to be called.  When the Steward calls your number walk in the order she or he calls you.   Always listen to the judge’s instructions and always be polite. The judge generally likes to have the dogs/bitches line up according to size because it makes it easier when you move around the ring.  The larger dogs walk and move faster then the smaller dogs and it keeps everyone from bumping one another.  There are a couple of things you will be asked to do in the ring such as..........

Stack your dog: This is when you are presenting your dog to the judge. You present or stack your dog at various times throughout the competition.  To stack your dog you must always work from the front of the dog to the back of the dog.  Front paw placement is first and they should be aligned and then the back paws. 

 

Table Stacking or Ground Stacking: Big dogs are always stacked on the ground and small dogs are stacked on the ground and on the table.  The small dogs are stacked on the ground when the judge is viewing all the dogs at the same time. 

 

Walk your dog:  The judge can ask you to walk your dog around the ring, in an L shape, up and down or in any way he would like to see the dog.

Generally the judge asks everyone to walk around the ring together so he can look all the participants over.  When it is your turn, you will need to stack your dog for the judge while everyone waits their turn.   When you put the dog on the table always look at the judge. 

The judge will then approach the dog and you.  He/she will start the inspection of the dog from front to back.  He/she will ask you to show him/her the “bit”.  That means the teeth.  You will then let go of the lead and use both your hands to pull down the chin and pull up the sides of the dogs nose and show both sides of the teeth including the front.  He or she will tell you to take the dog off the table and walk the dog in any variety that he wishes.  You should have your dog ready and stacked before the last dog goes around.  Also, you always need to be aware of where the judge is in the ring.  Don’t forget always have fun.    

The judge usually asked everyone to go around one more time for a last look.     

Then the judge will pick first, second, third and fourth.  If you didn’t get picked you should show good sportsmanship to the winners who did get first and you should go and congratulate them.  If you did win and people come and congratulate you, you will need to show them courtesy and say thank you back to them. If you didn’t win you should ask someone what you did wrong, and what you should do better next time.  Also, you could ask the judge what you did and what you should have done better. Don’t worry if you did badly because there is always next time. Also never give up!

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