Hi , I have just come from a show today were a lady approached me and said that my 8 month old boxer was choke chain shy:( i have been stringing him as i have tried to bait him using liver ,liver cake, cheese and hot dog sausage and he looses interest too quick. Can anyone advise on another form of bait that i can use ? I have also tried to get him to stand with a sqeeky ball and he just jumps up at me :( the only one thing he likes is a sock ! which he throws around and loves playing tug of war with it lol would it be inappropriate to bring this sock to the shows ? Thanks Natalie x

>which he throws around and loves playing tug of war with it lol would it be inappropriate to bring this sock to the shows ?

It would definitely be inappropriate in the ring. Anything which might distract the other dogs (squeaky toys, throwing bait etc) is very bad manners.

Your boy is still very much a baby, and quickly losing interest at standing still is normal at this stage.

One of my Papillons is only interested in a piece of an old t-shirt. He plays tug with it and we now ONLY produce it in the ring, and my daughter tugs with him whilst waiting when other dogs are gone over (obviously gently, not causing any hassle for anyone else) -when she sets him up she just lets him see it. He won his class last weekend no doubt thanks to that piece of cloth as any other time he has failed to put his tail up.

Do you mean you are stringing him on the stand or on the move?

Some dogs are better on a slip lead that is soft and cotton, some will
show on leather slip leads. Thiese can be useful if your dog doesn't show well
on a choke chain.

When baiting him to stand are you 'feeding' him or showing him the bait between your fingers and making him
'watch' (whilst holding your hand infront of his nose) and wait whilst standing him?
I.e whilst you are either standing infront or kneeling down to the side of him with right hand being
the 'bait' hand and the left to use to hold tail etc/

You can use grilled sausages if no allergies tesco's have a butchers range of chicken sausages
that mine quite like or use plain ol pork sausages. Make Tuna cake instead of liver cake as a new novelty.
But with any baited breed you need to keep these as high value treats just when showing as they will get bored
of same ol treats...fish 4 dogs do fish skins in little cubes mine love those.
Or even use their complete food biscuits :)
If he will stand for the sock as long as you don't lob it around or interfere with the other exhibits then can't
see a problem..the funniest sight I've personally seen in the ring when showing my dogs is someone
showed their Boxer with a yellow marigold on their hand...now that was wierd lol.

It's better not to have your puppy as a 'stuffed tinned soldier' as those that are over shown/schooled are quite bored
when it's time to get out and about at shows and will down tools or be quite miserable,
granted you don't want to have a hooligan pouncing on the judge especially after finishing the up and down...
But let puppy enjoy the showing and you need to enjoy it yourself..as long as there is a little control perfection
as a puppy in my view isn't the most important...as long as they get it by the time they go into junior
judges will normally allow puppies a little leeway with puppy behaviour/co-operation.
As long as they can stand reasonably still when the judge is going over them, and for when the judge has gone over all
the dogs and is looking at the whole class then that's all you need.
As puppies I wouldn't expect my dog to be standing the whole class, whilst all the other dogs are being judged and when the judge looks for the final time before selecting his placings. I watch the judge have them standing for the first look, then relax whilst the judge goes over dogs, stand for your assessment and then hope to have a reasonable movement on the patterns requested, free stand or stack for judge at the end of up and down, and then move nicely (hopefully) for when you join the end of the line and then relax your puppy til the final dog has been seen and just as they start to move towards the end of the line then attempt a stand.
That way hopefully the attention span is long enough to effect a reasonable stand for the judge :)

Another place to get some good advice is some breed clubs do monthly matches where you can go and there
are helpful exhibitors that go and can give you help and advice on how to show your pup and get the best out of them.

Good luck with showing your Boxer puppy - hope you have lots of fun!
I've been doing it over 20 years now...and still keep going and have met & made some great friends at shows :)

It is true to say the throwing things around is frowned upon in most breeds but I have seen large pieces of food thrown in the Boxer ring along with rabbit feet and such like so it may be acceptable in the Boxer ring because if the handler does not do it the judge often will.

Hi boxacrazy , Yes i string him on the stand , then i loosen the choke chain on the move as he resists to move otherwise and pulls away. He is fine when it comes to the mooving part :) lol and he is ok with the judge looking at his teeth and mouth and going over him. I do attend the merseyside boxer club with him and i thought i was getting somewere by stringing him , but having spoken to his breeder the other day and now this lady at the show today the technique i have been shown and have been using is wrong for my pup :( the lady today told me to put my hand under his chin and then my other hand under his chest and lift him up by that and then when his front paws are in position then move his back legs slightly and then lift his tail.The lady today said he was in a Rocking horse position ??? This is my 3rd show with him and i have no expereience what so ever from my breeder and this lady today seems they are both singing of the same hym sheet and have both told me the same so i am goin to try and practise this until his next show which is on the 18th dec .
Hahaha i love your story of the marigold thats probably going to end up me hahahaha its either going to be a sock or a glove he goes mad for leather gloves lol He is a lovley pup and he is soooo laid back we have nicknamed him BOB as in bob marley as he seemed to take everything in his stride and is come day go day with him haha but as soon as my 8 yr old lil girl is near him or a sock or glove he comes to life bouncing round everywere. On previous shows he has came 3rd and 4th and today he was 2nd do you know were i can find the critique for him ? and also do the judges say what i did wrong with him in the ring so that i can improve the next time ? Thanks Natalie x

I think stringing in a youngster can make them look like a rocking horse. Long time since I showed Boxers but what I did was set up as advised today then put a piece of food in the hand at his head and pretend to throw it or throw it just a little way. When practising at home I always threw it. Don't have food in your hand when judge is going over though.

As my dogs got older I would free stand them with me infront of them. I baited them with food in a bumbag a nice rustley bag helps and hand fed treat. If I was showing now I'd probably clicker train a free stand.

HTH :-)

You normally only will get a critique for 2nd place at Ch shows althou
some judges will do critiques for open shows but these normally will only
appear in Our Dogs if I remember correctly whereas Dog World will only print
the critique for 1st place at open shows.

The best thing to do is when the judge has completed judging the breed to go up
afterwards and ask - explain that you are learning your craft and wondering if you
can make any improvements etc.

Rocking horse or other will describe it as A'ing So that's where the dogs front legs and rear legs
are over stretched. So the legs appear to look like the bottom of an A letter or a bit like the
way a rocking horse on it's runners looks like ;)
You can use a large mirror (bit like a large picture size wise) on a wall a bit like they do in dance studios, and stand your dog infront of it so that you can see instantly if you have him standing correctly. As you know they should be stood four square but with the legs slightly
further back if needs be depending on the shape of your dog ;) or if you want like an H letter shape.
Either that or get someone to take photo's of you standing your boy if you have a digital camera and you'll soon be seeing what the judge sees when you stand your boy.

It sounds like you need some help in pointers and trying to find the best handling technique that suits your dog.
If you live close/near to your breeder and they show they may be willing to show you how to show your boy.
The other way is to camcord some dog shows of how the breed is shown, you'll see handlers using allsorts of different techniques to show the dogs. You may even be able to buy DVD's or books of Junior handling to help you
with learning the craft. That's why I loved the companions shows as got alot of advice there from people that
were willing to share knowledge and tips.
A general ringcraft class also may help you improve with your handling - these are normally on a once a week basis
and have a match once a month.

Good Luck :)

Thanks very much for all your advise :) :) i wish i lived near my breeder she lives in yorkshire am in liverpool unfortunatley as she has been amazing trying to help me via email. I am waiting for books to arrive from amazon on training :) i am determind not to give up hahaha x

It's funny about the breed differences isn't it, in my breed there's always food being waved in fingers (but not thrown), and sometimes a squeaky toy or two. My friend jingles her car keys in her pocket. Just something to make an interesting sound and get them to prick their ears up (as much as a spaniel can, lol).

i am determind not to give up hahaha

This sounds very familiar LOL...I have bought books galore, many of them very good, but no real substitute for a good ringcraft club. My local club wasn't really a good place to learn so after a few sessions I never went back. I hate sounding so critical when I have so little experience, but I never received any advice on what to do--and I realise now I didn't help matters by never asking anyone, either. Cut to a year later, having gone to obedience classes, etc, but still no ringcraft, and having been to a few open and champ shows where we never did better than 4th--a 3rd at a champ show and a well meant kick up the backside from people in our breed club (in the nicest possible way!) has got us going regularly to a great club about an hour away and it's definitely making a big difference to my confidence which has also calmed the dogs down. Keep going and definitely try to get to a good ringcraft club!

Hi Jay , yes i have been attending ringcraft but a similar story to yours i feel like i not getting anywere , and they shown me how to stand my dog and now i find its wrong ! so i just feel really deflated about it. They must have seen what this lady seen today and they have not said anything just let me carry on :(. What made me feel worse is that this lady told me that "I lost him the class " if it werent for me stringing him he would have been placed 1st. So i am realy annoyed at myself and the ringcraft class which i have been paying to for months to for them to guide me. I am trying to currently find another ringcraft class to go along to but there dusnt seem to be another in my area. I have ordered about 4 books from amazon on ringcraft and boxers , so theres my bedtimes sorted for over christmas hahaha. I am due to attened the ring craft class on wednesday so i may still attend and spk to the trainer and ask her to explain it all to me and show me were i am going wrong and how to get the best out of my pup. Thanks Nataliex

> they shown me how to stand my dog and now i find its wrong !

There isn't a right or wrong way to show your dog, everybody handles their dogs differently & remember everybody started somewhere & never got it perfect first time.
As a puppy my first boxer would only bait for me if I was stood infront of him so I had to free stand him and bait from the front, but with extra training in the evenings, infront of a mirror in our car park I was able to start baiting him with me stood at his side and I could set him up easier, he was about 13 months when we cracked it, so don't worry too much & let your baby enjoy it & most of all let yourself enjoy it :) it'll all come together soon & don't be afraid to ask for help or for some one to show you how to do it

I had no training from a boxer specialist as I live on the Isle of Man so I had to train myself how to set up a Boxer, so you are already a step ahead of what I was ;)

> What made me feel worse is that this lady told me that "I lost him the class " if it werent for me stringing him he would have been placed 1st.

In her opinion of course.
Please dont get yourself in knots with this, one of the most common thing to newcomers is to have ringsiders saying you were robbed!

Search your area for a ringcraft with other boxer exhibitors. Attend local open shows with boxers scheduled and ask around.
Sit by the ringside and watch - really watch, you can learn so much from watching good handlers.

Be careful getting the wrong advice at training from trainers with no boxer experience...they really have little idea of the modern trendy practices in the boxer ring.
When you are an 'old hand', then you will no doubt develop your own style but at first it is better to not look quite so 'novicey'.
Look confident, as though you deserve to win and if your pup is good enough - you will...but that will be for the judges to decide not the ringside.

please remember that it is a check chain NOT a choke chain,  designed to check your dog NOT choke it !

Aww thank you for all your advise i only wish i had people like you's in the local ringcraft class , maybe i have to be more outgoing and put myself forward and not feel ashamed to go and ask questions and ask them to show me again until i feel i am able to do it myself. :) x

Try to relax (easier said than done).

Its a hobby, an enjoyable day out for you and your dog. Dont let these worries spoil your showing.

Look confident, as though you deserve to win

as tooolz says, this is so important--I felt like the 'imposter' vibes were coming out of my pores, but it was probably just me breaking into yet another nervous sweat at the thought of mixing in with experts LOL. It's really hard to build up that confidence to the point where you can relax; I haven't managed it yet, but what comes as a surprise is that invariably there are a few other newbies praying they will get round the ring in one piece, and all of us, no matter how experienced, will have 'off days,' so don't be hard on yourself. Yesterday the woman whose dog took first in one of the stakes classes at an open show was embarrassed because she hadn't heard or understood that the judge wanted them to do a circuit, not up and down; but she still won, and we were very happy to come a completely unexpected second!
You've probably already done this, but is there any chance you could watch a video of a boxer class  (an old Crufts dvd or something) and see what they are doing?

If you are free on Saturday you could visit the LKA championship show at the NEC, there will be about 139 Boxers & some of the top handlers in the breed will be there.

NatalieH, don't feel ashamed of asking questions--it's not your fault and you're keen to learn! most people would be pleased that you've asked for help from them--and you never know, they might also be a bit shy of offering help for all sorts of reasons. We were at a club open show recently and had done ok, when a wonderful, no nonsense man (whose name I don't even know) told me to bring my dog outside to the car park RIGHT NOW, and he had us running up and down until he felt we had the right pace and looked right. I'm a good way off being unfit, but I have to say I was glad when he called time on us :). The 20 minutes he gave us, distilled down from the 50+ years of experience he had, was a godsend. 

Yes, look confident even if you don't feel it. My boy used to waltz into the ring with a 'look at me, here's your winner' attitude which I then totally ruined by looking clueless, we did much better once I learned to relax and not look terrified!

Hi Jay15 , yer that sounds really nice of him to do that , like a one to one with you :) am just going to have to try and get in "the click" in the training hahaa maybe bake them some cakes haha and see if one of them can have a one to one with me at this stage i would even pay for some more extra sessions.
Hi Gemma , Are you able to just turn up at the show ? or is it by ticket only ? Thanks

Natalie x

you can buy a ticket on the day--I'm hoping to go myself to watch and learn :)

How much are they ? is it far from Liverpool do you know ? Natalie :) x

It's at the NEC (Birmingham), about 110 miles from Liverpool and maybe a 2 hour drive--maybe there is a coach going from somewhere? It's £7 for the entry ticket and £8 for parking. Boxers are on Day 1 (11/12/2010).

It might also be worth posting a note here to see if anybody from Liverpool is going on Saturday? They might give you a lift there & back proving you share half the fuel & parking? Cheaper all round for everybody :)
If you are able to get down I can give you mt spare pass to get in as I have 3 passed but only 2 dogs & 2 people going in.
PM me if you are interested.

But if you can't get down, there is Manchester Championship show on 22/01/11 at the Stafford County Showground, thats not too far from Liverpool.