hi , i have a problem with my 5mth puppy at ringcraft. he gets so over excited on the table when they try to go over him.  well thats the problem they cannot go over him as its got worse and worse in the past month. i have been showing two years i am not nervous at all, i dont know what im doing wrong. hes sooo friendly!
i know hes only a baby and i wouldnt expect him to perfectly stand still but how can i settle him down?
i have tried taking him for a walk before but it makes no difference, they told me to stop the treats which makes no difference. also ringcraft have told me to be very firm with him, i gave him a very firm ' stand ' and he stood good for about 5 seconds and them jumped all over again so the woman stood him and he squealed which i didnt like.  i will not be going to ring craft this week i dont feel like it.
im wondering shall i leave it a couple of months to give him a rest or will that make him worse next time. i dont want to ruin him obviously. oh and his 1st ch show is next month (omg).
also he walks beutifully and walks into a stand well too. anyway hope you can help.

ps am i trying to hard? lol

Try teaching 'watch'...start with titbit close to pups face but count 1 second before 'giving'
If he tries to take withdraw the titbit ( but restrain him in case he falls).
Work up to 5 seconds giving the 'take it' command. Any move, jiggle or lunge then hide titbit. There must be a decent gap between you and pups face for there to be a clear indication that he understands what you mean.
This also gets a lengthened concentration span on the ground too.

You will likely get a few " hes only a baby" posts but I dont feel it's unreasonable for a 5 month pup to keep still for 5-10 seconds.
Using the 'watch' command with a clear release signal at the end of the exercise, actually produces a very animated and lively puppy/adult in my experience.

thanks toolz. he does know the 'watch me' command, as you say he goes over the edge of the table so i have to grab him and stand him again, so i stopped doing it. i havent got a release command so i will try that.  thanks again.

Start on the floor, with you kneeling next to him. Make him wait then give the treat. Timing is everything -sometimes handlers inadvertantly reward the dog for moving forward- important to get the treat into the mouth before he reaches to get it. Increase the time gap and when steady move onto a table.

Hi, I have had the same problem, my girl is now 13mths and still unpredictable, every judge comments on her tail which goes like the clappers! We have found at ringcraft that approaching the dog from the back works, if she can't see the 'judge' approaching then she is much calmer, her tail reaches supersonic speeds as soon as she feels their hands but I stand at her head and  keep her focused on me and it does work,obviously this isn't done in a real show situation but this just gets the dog used to standing still whilst having hands on her. Don't let it put you off, there's been many a time I've wanted to give up but when you get that one time when they behave it all becomes worth it.
If you have entered the champ show then go, it'd be a pretty harsh judge that penalised a puppy for being over friendly.
Good luck and don't give up!!

if im honest i was going to jack the show, now ive read your posts i will be going lol and it is a breed specialist and my other 2 bitches are entered. im just finding this pup hard to train and yes it puts you off a bit.

Have one like it too.   At 17 months she will stand but quivers like mad, which makes her look nervous - she isn't, she's just really excited and trying to behave :-D    she wagged her tail so hard and fast at one show that the tip started bleeding     If she knows the judge, or they are too welcoming, she just throws herself at them, paws around the neck, wriggling and slurping LOL  anyone would think she'd never been to ringcraft :(

Being overly friendly isn't a problem  :-)    Being shy or afraid of the judge is.
I'd defenitely show him, pups are meant to enjoy their first show. As long as he goes home with happy memories, having had a great time,
it doesn't matter if he stood still or not on the table.
Try training like suggested, baiting him for only a second or two. On the floor to start with.
I would never let anyone at ringcraft handle my dog in a manner that felt uncomfortable and made it yelp.
Either don't go back, or make clear no one but yourself is to handle the dog.
Good luck,
Karen

I know how you feel Dill, someone at ringcraft suggested I had a badge made to wear in the ring saying 'please don't speak to my dog'!! If there is any suggestion of niceness from the judge she just goes bananas.

If she knows the judge, or they are too welcoming, she just throws herself at them, paws around the neck, wriggling and slurping LOL

I've got one of them too, dread the judge saying anything to her (which I know is wrong :-() as I know she will love em to death LOL

My girl is 5 in December and still tries to twist round and kiss the judge!! Try to be gentle but firm when teaching the wait, like someone else said it's not unreasonable to expect her to learn to stand still for 5 or 10 seconds, but the most important thing at this stage is that she has fun. Don't let anyone stand her so harshly she squeals, you'll just end up with a dog that's scared on the table. I'd rather see a wriggly puppy having too much fun that a statue that's been scared into submission.