Hi everyone,
I wonder if anyone in therir wisdom can give me some much needed advice?
I am new to all aspects of showing and have been doing so since Feb. I first took Ruby my Briard to Ring craft classes in November, but we are the only Briard people there, so I am getting alot of conflicting advice from the classes and other Briard people at shows, and quite frankly we are getting very confussed, to say the least. Plus the fact she is pacing badly.Is there any "really hands on books" on the market that might help?

We have entered a few shows and haven't been doing too badly (she says tongue in cheek), by my lack of confidence and knowledge shows badly and I am, sure it is transfering down the lead to Ruby. At Birmingham at the weekend she ahyed away from the Judge, not liking her rear end beeing touched, and then at ring craft last night she was even worse! Her coat is not looking its best and she really doesn't want to do anything she is told, even as far as shooting off in different directions when taking her round the ring, she was never this bad. She is just coming up to 10 months, do you think she may be coming into season?
Any advise would be very gratefully received.
Haz

Hi
Don't know anything about briards but just wanted to say that both my boys have gone through stages during their puppy/junior months.One minute they show like a dream the next they are figiting or disinterested.I've found that just being consistant and carrying on with training classes and it comes together eventually.When my dogs have started to pace I just go back,turn a circle and start to move them asap .As far as not liking her back end being touched I would be firm but gentle and put one hand under her belly and one on the collar and just say stand in a firm voice.Lots of prais eof course afterwards.
My youngster is going through a stage of being totally uninterested in being in the ring after being a real little star for the first 6 months of his show 'career'.Last time out he decided to 'spit' his bait across the ring and stand like a right old nag(trying to be polite) but I'm sure he'll sort himself out-soon I hope!!
Sure other more experienced people will offer advice but thought I'd tell you whats worked for me
Good luck,stick at it,
Regards Archer

Hi, it's nice to have a fellow briard owner on the board. I have a 19 month old Briard who I show very occasionally. She too has a problem with pacing - apparently it is a very common thing with Briards. I have been told that it is often because you are not moving fast enough for the dog, but also they can be quite lazy. My breeder suggested to give a little tug on the lead as you start to move off to give her a bit of a wake up. Now I have the other problem that she keeps jumping up, trying to play. I am going to a show on Saturday and I am dreading it as it is the first since Crufts where she totally embarassed me! With regards to your dog not liking her rear end touched - Saffy my dog did not like her mouth touched at first (I started her show career late at about 10 months). What I did was to say 'teeth' and touch her mouth, gradually working up to looking at her mouth properly, but rewarding her with a piece of liver each time - it only took a week to get her totally fine with it.

I am by no means an expert - very inexperienced really, but I hope this helps a bit.

Fiona and Saffy

Ps where did you get your Briard from?

Hi Fiona,
Thank you for your tips,
I got my Briard from Chris James of Wychbold Briards.
Haz