I have a 3year old sbt who just will not walk nicely in the ring.He's fine just before outside the ring,walks a treat.What gets me though,the judges must like him as he usually gets placed in limit,he gained his stud book number last year.If only he would walk properly up and down the mat,I feel he could achieve so much more.Its so frustrating.Somebody please help!!!!!!!!!

what does he do in the ring then?

Please give details of the problem, is it that he is more interested in the other dogs than you, or is it the actual walking and if so in what way. JH

No he's not interested in the other dogs at all,he just stands there looking around,but when its his turn something clicks in his head and he pulls!!

I have this problem with one of my boys too drives me frantic he got a first at Crufts in Limit dog but didn't get close to getting a CC or the res CC.

He walks perfectly at home even in the street no pulling no hoping about no bouncing etc but u get him in the ring and bam he's off like a headless chicken even with his breeder handling him.

I have found that when we practice at home and out on the street etc if I change direction the min he starts to pull works wonders with him - if I can get a practice in before his turn in the ring proper then he's better but if I can't then the headless chicken spring lamb impression starts up again.

I have this problem with my Boxer she's a devil >:)
Sometimes she can be really good, but the majority of
the time she's a hyper-active bouncing full-on Boxer.
When she was younger she threw away alot of her chances
in the ring. Now she is in semi-retirement at 4y.o. :)
Life in the ring is so much easier with her daughter, but
then I took her to obedience and her mum was neglected
in the obedience line of things as she was so promising in
the show-ring.
Misty still loves and lives life to the full :) If you see a
bouncing red maniac in the ring that goes about 150 mph
while a handler is trying to go an even pace it's probably me :))

A lot of it is just practice, both at ringcraft and privately. It might help to teach a special word for showing, use this word whilst you are practicing and then whilst you are in the ring. I would suggest that part of the problem might be you - are you getting nervous knowing how badly he walks sometimes so you then communicate your nerves and frustration down the lead? So many of us do, it can help sometimes if you get someone to video you in the ring so you can watch what you do. So often I have watched people showing dogs in my breed and moving them at the wrong pace, holding the lead strangely and generally making the dog look bad. As the judge turns away to the next dog the handler relaxes and walks normally back to side of the ring with the dog moving beautifully alongside them!

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

we've been to a trainer who told us to "practice"
I take him to ringcraft every week where he is fine,
We practice at home.....perfect walks up and down on loose lead turns beautifully and free stands
We've now tried a proffesional handler in the ring because I thought it might be me,but he is still mad!!
He'll stand so the judge can go over him......then the judge will say "can you walk your dog up and down the mat twice please?This is where my dog decides he's going to get there and back in record time like a bullet from a gun.
He CAN do it ,he has done it a couple of times ...........argh!!!i could throttle him sometimes!!

Sorry Riggs we all have this sort of prob. afraid you are just going to keep trying until you find the right button to push. Try talking sweet nothings to him as you walk to try and keep his attention on you, if he is used to you being cross he may well be so supprised he may oblige - if it works you will be asking us how to get your dog to look forward as he walks. Just can't will can you. All the best. Jackie H

I am a major novice here ..but can pass on some advice I was given ...we were told to use a word especially for the *show trot* if you like ..we use Nicely for Hudson ..we will see at Blackpool if it works or not :D

I think we will have more probs with him trying to get at the other dogs in the ring though. Why is he so bonkers at saying hello to other dogs?

Arghhh!

Melody, wait until you have experiences like ours at Working and Pastoral Breeds of Wales Kiera lunged at two women walking past us in an attempt to steal their Burgers. In the process of doing so she hit a table up in the air and knocked a pint of beer over herself. This was five minutes before going into the show ring. She stank! (but still won :D ) The judge must have liked a drink ;)

LOL :D

Naomi ...you and me and Keira and Thug HAVE to meet up soon ...Keira sounds like a female Hudson

LOL

:D

ive managed to get the trot off to a t but when i stack storm she STARTS FIDGETING it drives me potty do you know i used to train dogs for a living!!!
but this show training, it takes some doing!!!!
i did used to have that problem storm set off like she was in a weight pull
i started to use a training collar i didnt want to but it works, what i did next was like an obedience training to keep her with me and worked on it fron there so now if i run or walk she trots along there is no more walking the dog
i walk she trots alongside me at correct speedalthough i have to walk quite fast!!!

Hi! what breed is she again.

My breed are terrible fidgets, and are fre stood.

I took a new owner under my wing last year, and it took him ages to get the right speed and handling skill to present his bitch. She paced if he was slow, galloped gleefully if he went to fast. she would sniff if lead too loose, if too tight it put her movement out!

He really had just thought you turn up in the ring and that is that! LOL

He did extremely well after his coaching, winning 10 first prizes out of 8 Champ shows. I didn't bred his bitch, but am really proud of them!

Hi Steph I show large hounds who are given to figiting.
I find the best thing to do with them is leave them alone.
If you start fiddleing with their legs then you will become frought and the dog upset,one day it will all click and your dog will stand for you