When you are showing a dog is it okay to talk to it in the ring or is it not allowed. Thanks

Jean

Yes its fine - or at least it is with staffys :)

Thanks I showed Amy a fortnight ago first time ever & I did a lot of talking to her. I thought I best check if its acceptable before we go again :-)

Jean

I couldn't imagine not talking to my babies in the ring!!!!  And their interest would fall.  I once handled a dally that to keep her attention you had to keep talking to her, I used o tell her how my day had been!!!!  kept her attention even if people did thhink i was mad!!!

Rox

When you say talk what do you mean?  Talking to the dog or to other people?

Talking to the dog is fine!

Talking to other people, well asong as you keep the volume down and concentrate on how its going theres no reason why you can't!

Rox

Yes, it's fine.
:)

Certainly is Jean :D

M.

When I did Junior Handling (way back in the dark ages :D :D ) you would be penalised for NOT talking to your dog ;)

Hi, this is really interesting.  I always used to talk to Willow in the ring.  Then I read an article in DW about over handling, and one of the points they picked out was people talking to their dogs too much in the ring.   Now I'm confused - is this over handling - or does anyone really care?
sarah

It's not over handling unless you are talking and making noises continuously in a silly voice really aloud!

I will always talk to my dogs :D  I think thats more because I can't shut-up tho!!! ;)

Rox

I couldn't shut up either I was so excited and nervous I just Kept talking to the puppy then when the judge asked what age she was I about collapsed at his feet. It took a wee minute to answer in fact i think I whispered 7 months.

Jean

Oh age, I normally have to stop and think about how old the one I have is!  My 2 year olds still "18 mths...no sorry his two!!!!"

Atleast it only changes in years at the moment with all my dogs!

Rox

on the subject of age I know that when a dog is a year old in human years its a year old in doggy years but what does it go up in when they get to 2, 3, 4 etc?

It's not that straightforward - see here. Also the dog's size has an effect on the conversion.