How do you get a dog when walking round the show ring, to hold its head up and look at the owner when walking round, it looks so nice and smart in a show, when i have seen them do this,i am starting ringcraft soon, so i can ask there but i am just curious?is it training/ringcraft or does it just come naturally or is there a tecnique

Practice, mainly! That, and the handler chatting to them. When they are young and inexperienced they look all over the place, but as they settle into the routine and become more confident they are more likely to concentrate on you. That's how I've found it works, anyway.
:)

Are you talking about showing or obediance?  Dogs do not look at their handlers in the showring, they just look straigt ahead.  I was just wondering which one?

Rox

It depends on the breed, Rox. When showing free-standing breeds the handler encourages the dog to look at them.
:)

<<<<<<look at the owner when walking round>>>>> 

that makes me think obedience, espically as shepherds are stacked, and if I want to get picky they are ran aswell!

Rox

BTW don't suppose you could tell my aussie boy he's ment to look at me when i stand infront of him!!!! :D LOL

Rox, try using a titbit you can eat, most dogs will 'watch' if you are eating something they would like. Use 'watch me' or 'head' or whatever and you can soon stop eating strips of baked liver :D

I gave up with all them!  He is more interested in possible girls walking round the ring!!!

I came up with handling him by having lead above the ears, That works more and keeps him under controll for longer!!!

Wish he stood proberly tho, I guess im too used to well behaved girls!!

Rox

  ideally you dont want the dog looking up at you on the move if its a show dog---it will make its front twist around so it can see you, -spoiling its front movement-the best you can get is a head up looking straight ahead or around a touch. -but not twisting/

And as I believe this is GSD we're talking about, they are moved completely differently to any other breed anyway.
:)

Ice Queen is talking about Australian Shepherds!

But what about 'gsd sam' who posted the question in the first place? I was guessing from the username ...

sorry!! my mistake!!

Margot ;)
(getting too late...... think I'm going to bed!!)

what type of gsd do you have a germanic type or english as they are shown in a different style.
Amy

Hi just signed in, so sorry didnt reply sooner.
I know that this may sound very pathetic, but i honestly dont know what type of shepherd i have.
I brought her from a farmer though its not a puppy farm, The mother was owned by the farmer and mated with another farmers shepherd.
there are no actual papers and the pups were not kc reg;
All i know is that our pup is a pure gs not crossed back in the generations, the dogs  were working stock not show or kc reg;
I know i cant show her in any show except exemption or companion but im not that bothered.
so I really dont know if she's english or german???

Sorry Sam, if she is not registered she can only be shown at Companion shows and what type she is will not matter

Hi Jackie many thanks for your reply,
I mainly brought her as a family companion and pet;
In saying that i have endured the odd companion show/exemption for charity and really enjoy this.
I am now curious though exactly what sort my girl is, i just thought a Gs was a Gs, this is just probably showing my ignorance though, so for any experience GS owners i am sorry.

You will need an expert Sam, I only ever had rescue GSD's and did obedience with those I kept, sorted and returned those I did not, for re-homing. Have no idea what the difference is and find it sad that the GSD folk wish to fragment their breed but as I said I am no expert so I probable have no right to even express my sadness.

Hi J, sorry for my ignorance but what does fragment their breed mean? this is all new to me epecially as our girl is new to us so i dont really know a great deal about gsd's.

Into English and German types they are all GSD's but from different backgrounds, I am no longer in the breed and when I was there was not the same sort of strong distinction as there is now, will not say anymore as I will no doubt get up someone's nose again that is supposing I am not still up there. :)

Hi

It Is difficult to say weather your dog is of english type or german type without seeing it, although some people say mine is german because he is lean tall and long, infact he is english but from metropolitan police working lines which is a different type to the more heavier boned english show type that you will see in the show ring, but having said that and this is where it gets complicated you can get the german type that is roached back which looks like its back is arched, and you can get a straight backed german type, you have your english type which is usually a heavier type of dog but it is not always the case, really you can say that they adhere to the breed standard but there are so many different types now and what with the divide between the german and the english type growing bigger watch this space, they are also shown differently the german dogs tend to be shown on a long lead out in front of the handler and the english type shown next to the handler when gaiting round the ring which means when you run with your dog, you do not want your dog looking at you when doing this as you will not have him moving freely if he is always looking at you, i have been showing gsds for the last 4 years and you never stop picking up tips or seeing new things good luck with your gsd and happy showing