Hi all.

We had our first ringcraft class last night (11 weeks) and my pup did very well, held her stack on command, was great being handled on the table, ignored and greeted other dogs, and generally she was a doll. However, she was awful walking around the ring. My breed are usually walked with a brisk trot, but she would barely move, preferring to sit or even be dragged! I tried coaxing, running, chatting to her; she just shut down completely. Literally as soon as we got outside she started walking about easily, instantly much more relaxed.

Will it just take time? Does anyone have any tips for stubborn pups? We're practising daily in the garden and outside on walks, and I use a very high value treat mix, but would love to know if this has happened to anyone else! She's confident otherwise and many commented on how confident she is, so she isn't timid.

I've seen this loads of times at ringcraft and I can't remember a single dog that didn't get it in the end. Just plenty of coaxing and once up of their feet, keep on moving.

Is she walking towards all the other dogs grouped together and its putting her off. I've seen pups have to be almost dragged up the mat, towards the waiting dogs and yet on the downward trip back to the judge trot normally

What is the surface that she is walking on ?
One of mine was great on rubber matting but her sister eyed it with suspicion and would try to get onto the wooden floor.

Thanks Rose, I'm hoping she picks it up soon with coaxing. She wouldn't move even when we were on a plain straight with no dogs either side or in front, I'm presuming she just shut down. It's a comfort to know that others who've done this pick it up in the end; her first show is at the end of April, but I can't well drag her around the ring as I'm sure you know!

Sassinak, it was a rubber matting, she tends to slip on the wooden floor and come to think her mother didn't walk terribly well on wooden floor due to slipping about a bit.

Sounds like normal behaviour to me for some pups when they first go to ringcraft. I would never drag a puppy it could put them off completely.
The first few times they go to ringcraft I would just keep it very happy and fun. Don't have any great expectations if they take a few steps toward you on the mat praise and reward and leave it at that, then build on it next time.
I have seen lots of pups that just want to sit and watch the first week, and that is fine, lots of new people smells and strange dogs can be quite overwhelming to a young pup. All dogs are different, and learn things at different rates, some learn more by watching than doing. Just take things slowly and you will be suprised how well they come on.
I have seen many dogs that showed good potential as a puppy ruined and as flat as a pancake in the ring as the handler tried to do too much too soon and it has long since been fun for the dog.
Enjoy your pup, and good luck in the ring, but the first show in April will probably only be the first of many so don't worry to much about it. My pup made a complete mess of her first outing in the ring, but in her second show season she has had quite a few firsts and a couple of Res CC's but if she came last or was not placed when we come out of the ring we still have lots of fun and play.
As she stood so well for you I would be over the moon with that for a first outing, and the rest will fall into place.

I've seen a very uncertain little Toy breed bitch overcome reluctance to move on the mats. The trainer asked someone with a more experienced dog to come out and walk alongside the reluctant one. The other dog was one that the pup knew, I think. Anyway, they finished up trotting along side by side.

Personally I usually take things very steady with a new pup, often sitting and watching to begin with, and then joining in with some of it, generally not overdoing things. Of course, some take to it more easily than others so it's often a case of playing it by ear depending on your puppy.

Take another adult with her, skip ringcraft and just ask if you can try walking your two together...the direction they want to go in is a start.
Little ones like to walk with a family member to start with.

I can't agree with you more about the too much too soon comment; someone in my breed said once 'If you have one of those rare puppies that takes to it well and learns quickly, DON'T PUSH IT!' so I'm trying to keep things nice and friendly. I hasten to add that I didn't drag her, but more that when I moved off she didn't, if you catch my drift. I coaxed the rest of the way.

I'll be sure to take your advice everyone; next week a friend with a dog we know is coming as she loves the companion shows, and this should really help. My pup is very outgoing normally but yesterday she was quite subdued. Hopefully having a friend there next week and more practise should help. I made sure we only stayed for one class of about eight dogs, so not too long for her first time.

Thanks again everyone; I really appreciate it!

My latest Papillon pup was like this at ringcraft. Happy to stand and stand on the table and be gone over, didn't like to move. We took her to a show with her dad, and she was fine walking around the show hall with him, not worried at all, in the ring she again was reluctant to move. Second show she moved more in the ring, third show was no problem at all -in fact she loved it and kept pulling towards the ring as soon as she saw it. (Of course, the ring is one of these nice places where sausages appear!!)

When I took my super confident bouncy enthusiastic lively boy to puppy classes for the first time he looked as though the sky was falling in.  I think that some venues, some noises, and some experiences are just plain weird and it affects each pup differently almost depending on mood and time of day.  At ring craft after a few weeks of being completely fine and relaxed he had another odd moment and just flattened himself on the floor and yelled - you'd have thought he was being tortured as every eye swivelled to see who was mistreating her puppy!!  A minute later and you'd never have guessed he'd had a wobble and neither I, or several observers,  could find anything to explain it.

My only issue with ring craft is that it's a time of evening that my dogs prefer to be asleep, particularly as puppies.  I could often only manage 20 minutes before the latest one would flake out for a snooze - ready to ping into action later when we got home!!  Do you know he's still inclined to nod off if we are waiting in the group ring too long - our sessions were obviously less about learning ring craft and more about how to sleep with an audience (and umpteen dogs galumphing past).  He's nearly 18 months old...

I'd just keep turning up and see how she goes - she'll probably settle a little more each time.  Running with a lead is an odd thing for them to understand, and coordinate

Sounds like you're doing the right things - like you say, don't drag her, just keep coaxing, extra tasty treats, if she can try walking along side your friend and her dog that can help. And time just to stand on this funny rubber floor and work out that it's perfectly ok to walk on it. We've got our first puppy class tomorrow and now I've suddenly realised that I should remember about rubber matting when I go in - I wonder what Lottie will make of it! It's such fun having our new babies out and about isn't it!!

Ooh I'd love to have a reluctant mover! all of mine have come in, thugged about the place, stood nicely and tried to sprint rather then move.. much harder to reign one in then coax one ime!!

My bitch was known as the whirling dervish. She would erupt through then door spinning, prancing and trying to be a pogo stick lol She was very happy and enthusiastic :)

I know what you mean - mine are still idiots into their veteran years. But I'd rather have one had enjoyed it too much than not at all. :-)

The sausages certainly appear in the ring and ringside, I use a treat mix with the fave being fishsticks, so she's forever looking to see what I have. We'll be sure to keep going back each week, and there are lots of experienced showers there that just laughed and nodded knowingly when she plonked herself. I think I'd prefer a puller at the moment to be honest!

It's certainly fun having a new pup out and about, a bit straining, but fun!

I have a little girl Shih Tzu - she is faultless but she drops her tail in the ring - she is scared of strange dogs - not the people just the dogs - I only have a few weeks left to get her confidence for Crufts.
I have tried various potions and none seem to work she just falls asleep. In particular she is scared of the big dogs. I made the mistake of going first and she was scared of the shih tzu puppy  behind her so I am going to try and get last if I can :0( Is it true that it can be the smell of the other dogs that scares them the most? If one comes near she growls presumably that is fear.