Babrie is a 22 month old female (of Course) she is good to take in the ring  will self stand, when most of our breed stack, but she will not keep her head off the ground on the way round the ring. She lost a 1st place last week when then judge picked her out first and the did a rerun with another bitch because her head was down and she could no longer see her "exellent neck should lines" she put her down to second.

I bait her in the ring to try and keep her attention, I am sure she should have been a male as she has her head to the floor and sniffs every tree and lampost, can anyone think of anything.

I have started clicking her leash when she puts her head down and saying head up then she takes notice, not not for long. Any Idea's

Lynn

Have you tried a tiny amount of Lavender oil her chest. It just may keep her head off the ground and away from the nice smells.  Worth a try.

Take a piece of bate on general walks, encourage dog to jog along side you in a jolly manner and bate their nose - without allowing them to take it, saying 'head up'. If the head remains up give them the bate. leave it for 5 mins and repeat. Make it a game they soon get the idea.

Thanks I will try that.

Lynn

i have a rotti 9 month old she is brilliant @ ringcraft holds her head up loverly ,but when she gets in the ring her ears go back and her head goes down she totallly ignores me when i take her round wont even take bait
could you possibly give me any advicebesides give up
many thanks
maria

Hi Kiss n tell my Bullmastiffs the same she's eight months old, and the transition from outside the ring to inside is unbelievable dont give carry on, thats sounds good about baiting them in everyday give that ago i am.  I wish i could help but i can't it all comes along with experience so keep in there and i'm sure we'll both pick it up as we go along me including.  Good luck.

warm regards Susan

Yes my Luke does this - the 2 shows he's entered have been outside, and he finds the grass irresistable :-( I'll try the baiting idea, too, but I think the new sniffs might still win....:(

hi susan,
good luck and im sure with time and dedication we will get there in the end.
take care
& good luck

Hi
Mine does the same too. Head down and forgets everything we've done. I'd read that putting smelly oil on the chest/chin area helps, but when I tried that he just lay down and rubbed himself on the ground until he'd removed as much as he could and then carried on sniffing.  I'm trying to get him addicted to one treat that he only gets during ring practice in the hope that it might spark his interest in the ring, but although he responds fantastically to it indoors I don't hold out too much hope for outdoors. I've also tried toys, but then he gets overexcited and tries to jump up and bark! If I have a breakthrough with anything though, I'll let you know...don't hold your breath though!

I've watched the experienced  showers keep the treat in thier pocket and show it occasionally with thier right  knee bent forward and just showing the treat in the pocket it seems to make the dog lift its head a little more and you get a better stand I'm  practicing this at the moment but she still jumps up for it or I can see her thinking "OH I'll sit and I might get it" so still working on that one!!

Yep that one works a treat but you have to let the dog know it is in your pocket before you go into the ring and keep showing him/her where it is.  I find little bits of sausage work best.  When brushing up your stand outside the ring hold onto the treat just infront of the nose and allow dog to nibble but not to take it all.  When you have got the desired result use your prefered praise word and give the rest of the treat.  However, not all dogs are food orientated.

thanks echo will keep practicing .....the problem I have is that they tend to sit once they see the treat because in OB training they are treat trained.

When you get to the stand stay in OB you will find that they get to know the difference.  Try different praise words when you get the stand right for the show ring, 'nice stand', try to avoid the words you use in OB.  I have the same problem with the Tibetan so I dont OB train her only ring work or she goes into tight heel work when I want her on a loose lead, sits for a treat when I want her to stand.  Frustrating isnt it.  Ps I don't give or show the Tibetan treats in the ring, she can smell the sausages on my hand and the promise of a treat seems to be enough for her. 

See i have the same problems the food or toys motivate her in the house but as soon as where in the ring she's not interested at all.  I have realised though that i'm getting really nervous so it's going down the lead to her and she's thinking the ring isn't a nice place for her to be because her mums all nervous so i need to break that circle, and be more relaxed like today she went really well because it was an open show and i was more relaxed so in turn she was.

Warm regards Susan