Hi guys,
I'm after a bit of advice.  My youngster (2), had a very bad fright at a show in March.  He is now very frightened of male judges, so much so that he had a "pop" at a judge last weekend.  I'm having no problems with men going over him at home, but in the ring is a different matter.  I don't want to give up on him totally as I feel he's  a good specimin of his breed and did very well up until his bad experience.  It's such a shame as before this happened he loved all people!
I don't know whether to take him out of showing for a while, or will this make him worse when he does finally go back in the ring, or to keep going, but just enter him under female judges.
Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Sarah.

Hi Sarah,

I'd enter him under only female judges for a bit and when at shows ask any men you know that are definitely able to go over a Belgian correctly - ie. especially the approach - to go over him.   My first male had a similar reaction as a youngster because of a bad experience and was fine at ring craft but not in the show environment so we worked gently with him using the best "stooges" at shows and it paid off.   It was about a year before I entered him again under a male judge and he was fine.  Also, I'd only enter him at outdoor shows for a bit - it seems to help too.

OH will be with me at the next few shows where we both have CCs so he'll be happy to help if you want!

Good luck, Teri

I agree with Teri, keep him with female judges, and while at the show find friendly men who know what they're doing and understand that your boy is nervous, and borrow the rings at lunchtime. Poor chap!

ask any men you know that are definitely able to go over a Belgian correctly - ie. especially the approach - to go over him

Tell me about it! I have been overwhelmed by the number of judges, EVEN Belgian ones, that do it totally wrong and make things worse -including some people way "up the top" who should know better........ :rolleyes:

Cheers Teri,
All help and advice much appreciated!

Sarah.

I've just been going through this with Rambo, only with him it was ALL judges -this is why I have been absent from the shows. Still don't know what happened to scare him. I tried all the tricks I was told about -rescue remedy, sereneum, different versions of scullcap & valerian etc etc -all that did was turn him really aggressive towards other dogs as he got TOO cocky. (That stopped as soon as he came off it!) We had the same problem, I could have 5 people go over him OUTSIDE the ring and he was fine, even with total strangers, then when inside the ring he'd freak out. He's getting a lot better now. Basically what has helped was to a) rest him and forget shows for a while, just do obedience b) keep getting people to go over him and TELL them about his problem  c) setting up mock rings at ringcraft with tape so that it LOOKED more like an actual show d) gently grabbing his collar BEFORE anyone touched him, and keep stroking his back -that way he hasn't had a chance to back off as he's restrained, and with stroking him he doesn't know WHO is touching him -us or the judge, e) avoid like the plague any judges not on the BSDA lists and some of them as well! f) and what I think has made the biggest difference- getting him really worked up and happy by playing with him just before he goes in the ring so he's in a good mood -and playing in the ring too.

We had a couple of months break then tried a show, which happened to be Crufts -was not perfect but better. Break for another month then a show -and he was fine, even got placed first. Another month's break and another show and he was fine -all women judges so far to play safe. Now not doing anything until Working & Pastoral in July -this way his most recent memories of shows have been good ones.

Good luck!

Sometimes I don't think anything in particular HAS happened to spook them - it's a phase that some go through and while it's hopefully done and dusted at the puppy stage it may not manifest itself until they hit 18-24 months.  Then if anything upsetting does happen during that period where they are less confident, it becomes a bigger deal and we, (naturally) as owners get over anxious about how best to deal with it.  It sounds as though you have worked well through Rambo's phase - fingers crossed ;)

Apart from knowing how to approach the breed correctly, I also think it's important that the judge doesn't take both hands off the dog when not having yet fully gone over it.  l never take both hands off the dog until I've fully assessed all the hands on points and even slightly nervy youngsters seem to relax with this method.   My current training class has one person who has the most woeful approach and hands-on method that could be imagined for any breed at any age never mind a BSD.  Does the mouth, stands back, walks round the back of the dog (hovering :rolleyes: ) comes back to the front, grabs the muzzle while checking the chest, stands back again (usually has to as most dogs have whirled round at him by then :D ) - I could go on and on!  He's not for being told either that this is no use but at least he doesn't judge LOL

Teri I need you as a judge more often!! ;) Tha makes so much sense with keeping the hands on. Unfortunately decided Bournemoth was a bit far! You may make the new acquaintance of somebody I know well though. ;)

YOU think B'mouths far :D :D :D   Try it from here mate!   I think you've already had my opinion in an official capacity a few times anyway and I'm only too happy to go over something for you at a show before judging should you ever have the need ;)

regards, Teri

LOL yes that thought about YOUR distance DID occur to me!!!! Oh well you've not seen junior yet have you, and give it 6 months and he'll have his little sister with him at shows too. :) :)

Thanks Marianne.
I wasn't sure how far to push it with him, so thought I'd get a bit of advice from you more experienced Belgian folk!
Good luck with Rambo at his future shows.
Storm's entered at SKC next weekend (first ever champ. show! ).  Unfortunately she won't use her ears, but at least she's quite happy for everyone to go over her now!
Blinking Belgians :rolleyes:

Speak soon,
Sarah.

Oh good luck at SKC!! I had hoped to go but what with having pups now we had to change those plans. You should see Rambo's two sisters there though I believe. Oh and I know of several dogs doing well that don't use their ears much either. :)

I wonder if there is something from you going down the lead when actually in the ring that isnt helping - think we all get far more nervous than we think. I would stay with female judges ,could be an age thing.
You mention that he has 'had a pop' at  a male judge already, the danger is of course he does it again and gets reported and banned.

Hi Sarah
Just wondering if there is anyone you and more importantly Rambo trust enough to handle him in the ring for you, I ,m not in your breed so I don,t expect to know your breed and its little ways but sometimes if the dog is a bit worried about something and you are outside of the ring standing quietly watching it helps to take their mind of whatever is bothering them
It must be a handler that can cope with your dog and who you can both trust maybe try a new handler with a female judge to start with and see how your boy does
I ts only a thought tell me if I,m talking a load of nonsense I do it quite a lot so I won,t be offended
Good luck at SKC with him.

Ooops sorry Sarah and Goldmali just realised Rambo is Goldmalis dog, must have had too much ribena last night.

LOL! :D

Hi Spellmaker,
Dylan :D  has been handled by a freind of mine before, It went fine, but I don't want anyone taking the responsibility of him just now.  I did think the same as you, maybe he'd lost his confidence in me, but that doesn't seem to be the case.  We did another show a few weeks ago with a female judge and he was fine with her (just seems to be male judges that are the problem!).  He's not doing SKC as it's a male judge (it's my other Belgian that's entered for that), but is doing the club show the day before, so keep fingers crossed for us!!

Thanks,
Sarah.

Hi Sarah everything is crossed here good luck