Up until recently my boy has had quite a successful show career. He has got 2 cc's and 2 reserve cc's. I desperately want to get that 3rd cc but he is coming up for 5 and a half and quite frankly he is bored with showing. He is 18 and a half stone and it is like dragging a sack of potatoes around the ring. Away from the ring he is his usual bouncy, happy, fantastic moving self, in fact you would not think that the "show" dog and the "Pet" dog were the same. Is this something I am going to have to accept and retire him gracefully or is there something that I can do to revive his interest and make showing fun for him again. This is my first show dog and I would gratefully appreciate any advice given so that I can learn from it for the future. Thanks.

A break from showing can often get them enjoying then again. I have a Veteran bitch who after motherhood enjoyed showing, but is just so laid back that she would slouch and lean, and not show off.

I take her out very rarely now, and she finds it all a real hoot and shows her socks off. This doesn't help yor situation much, as if you take him to fewer showws, your chances of that elusive third CC are reduced.

18 AND A HALF STONE???????????????????????????

What breed is that????

Mastiffs

I have tried the non showing approach - he had a show in Feb, then Crufts and his last show was Bath. We are not showing again until July. I have even tried winding him up big time with a squeaky toy before he goes into the ring, he bounces around, wagging his tail etc looking really happy then the minute he gets into the ring it is almost as though a cloud of depression shrouds him. I need a miracle if I am to have any hope with him in the future and yet he is a magnificent specimen !! Oh, by the way, he is an English Mastiff :)

Hi,
I found the following section in a book by Dr E. Franklin. It is about dalmatians, but it can apply to any breed.
"The third class of difficult dog is also rare, but it is known to most exhibitors. It is the dog, often excellent in appearance and behaviour at home, which becomes completely bored in the ring. To rouse it from this gloomy stateis often impossible, and a ringsider might well imagine the dog to be ill-treated, so glum and apathetic does it appear. It hates a show, though once away it often becomes a different animal altogether. If a little experience does not correct this behaviour such a dog is better left at home."

It must be really frustrating for you as he's been so successful, and so nearly has his title, but if a long break from the ring doesn't renew his interest you may have to call it a day with him. :( But at least you know you're not the first who has had this happen, and you won't be the last.

It is quite possible that you may have to give up. However, I had a dog who is still the record-holder for the fastest JW in the breed, who also won 2CC's & 2RCC's and then became bored. I tried everything and just like yours, he would show his head off outside the ring. Eventually I gave up and let him go to a friend abroad. He was a different dog and won BIS All Breeds all over the continent. The new handler was the opposite sex to me, and I have always thought that it was the change of home and handler that did the trick. Why not give it a try - if you can find someone to take on an 18 and a half stoner.

Good Luck

id be tempted to try a different handler, at least to see if youd get your 3rd cc ,if not then have him kept away from you and get someone else to bring him to the ringside so you only get him seconds before you take him in,

Thanks for your replies. I have tried getting my husband to show him but quite frankly whereas my dog knows what he is doing the husband does not, well not very well anyway. I think I will get someone completely different to show him and I will stay well away from the ring. Hopefully then I may stand a chance of getting that 3rd CC and then I will retire him ready to become a daddy at christmas hopefully.