Hi, I really need some advice as to what to do with my pup.  He is very nearly 12 months old pastoral breed.  He has been shown fairly regularly since he was 6 months old with no problems.
Last week at ringcraft he "grumbled" once whilst being gone over, I didn't think too much of it as he is fairly vocal and often makes the same sort of noise when playing or being stroked.  However last night at ringcraft he was making the same noise alot more and was sort of rigid, obviously not happy.  He is also sort of fixing eye contact slightly with the person going over him.
He was fairly outgoing and friendly but in the last month his behaviour has changed, I have not doubt testosterone is playing a big part in this but am not really sure how to handle it.  He has become alot more of a "boy" but at the same time seems to have become more nervy, ie lots of puffing up and eyeing other male dogs if he's on a lead and can hide behind me but still submissive when he meets another dog whilst off lead.
What do I do?  Keep pushing and ask as many people as possible to go over him and give him treats etc, ease off and let him take things at his own pace??
I did change his food over about a month ago, he went from Burns to raw, could this be having a bad effect maybe?  At home with 3 other dogs his behaviour is unchanged
Any advice very gratefully received, thanks

Is there a point when a judge goes over the dog that he starts to do this? I'm just wondering out loud if he is in pain somewhere? What are the breed traits for your breed? Is this a complete no no, as in the bolshy behaviour?

If this was my breed (Malinois so also pastoral) I'd more or less EXPECT it to happen at this age. They do tend to go through various fear stages and the one around a year of age is notorious. It's hard to deal with but I wouldn't push it, rather give showing and ringcraft a break for a while and just get people in a non-show situation to offer a treat and go over less formally. If you push a growling fearful dog you could end up with a snap next which obviously mustn't happen. You have my sympathy as I have been through it more times than I want to remember. I'm even doing an experiment with one of mine -not showing (or ringcraft) at ALL until she is 2 years old, to see if it makes a difference.

I wouldn't push it and make it an issue.  He's definitely growing into his testosterone right now and standing still whilst someone goes over him is really going against the grain.  At home I would handle him a lot & when you think he is in the right mood go over him more formally, and reward him for not grumbling - then I would get someone else who he is more likely to grumble at to do the same thing.  I would focus on rewarding non-grumbling and not check/punish or do anything except withold reward if he grumbles.  I am sure this will resolve with age - it's just that you want to show him meanwhile . . .

I haven't had him checked over at the vets yet to be completely honest.  I would take him like a shot if I thought he was in pain but I can go over him/groom him etc with no reaction.   Last week it was his near hind, last night it was pretty much anywhere.  
He is the first dog that I have shown, breed trait wise very alert and responsive
At home he's great, relaxed and cuddley and the most chilled out of the 4 dogs. 

Thank you for your replys.  I think I was hoping for a miracle cure but know that you are right in saying don't push things.  Looks like Crufts won't be happening then :-(

Main thing is to get him sorted tho so thank you for your advice

> Looks like Crufts won't be happening then :-(
>

I have the same breed as Marianne (Malinois). Our first one was shown, she was happy with it at 6 months no probs at all but around 9-10 months began to back off and then that turned unto barking if the judge tried to get close. We gave her a break as we had qualified for Crufts and then thought she'd be ok to show. We were wrong, she trotted round beautifully but as soon as the judge approached her she barked and barked and wouldn't let her near. We were asked to leave the ring.

My point I guess is, like others have said I wouldn't push it. Now she is 4 and it has taken until around a year ago for her to accept people touching her that she doesn't know and probably could be shown again but we won't bother, she is an agility dog at heart and is much happier doing that. (and nobody needs to touch her!)

What breed?

one of my bitches who is now 5yrs ..as a puppy she did well at  shows and seemed to just take it all in her stride , at one ch show we were in the ring in puppy class which was quite large , I could hear  a low growl not even suspecting it was my dog .. I was looking around then realised it was my girl... I noticed as the judge got closer she got louder.... he body became more rigid and I could tell something was spooking her... I left the ring, made my excuses to the steward before she was looked at I stood outside with her trying to figure out what was disturbing her so much ..it was liken to when a young pup sees for example a paper bag blowing in the wind and they are not sure what it is ....
My hubby and I realised it was the judges outfit :) she had on a top that had large circular plastic pink rings dangling all over her top which shone in different light , my girl was really disturbed by it.... this was a specialist judge so when I saw this person at another show I walked my girl past her a few times she wasnt bother by her at all.
I missed out a couple of shows then took the plunge and entered her again ... she was fine.
What I am saying is it could be something so simple that people are doing wearing saying etc that can make a pup feel uneasy.
I personally wouldnt ask everyone under the sun to go over my dog ... it can take just one person to ruin a good dog .