I was brave enough recently to enter an Adult Handling class at a show (Its been a long, long time since I did my Junior Handling!!) I know when the judge asks you to show the teeth, you have to show both sides and front but is there a particular order you are meant to do it in? Just curious as I have another class coming up soon and like to support a show that puts on these classes.

This questions has MANY answers.

Jackie Hurley (Jersey junior handlers) wants it one way (can't remmeber which think it's side, side front but you will have to have a look in her book.

My Dad likes to see handlers and thinks its cleaner to do side front side but won't knock side side front (it's more important to be able to clearly see the teeth then how it's done!) This is just how he does it and teaches it.

I personally like side, side, front (and my Dad never noticed I did it this way untill I told him even with all those years of him teaching me!!!) but again won't knock any other way as long as all sides are showen clearly to the judge.

So you could end up with a judge who want's it a specific way and some who couldn't care less unless they see 3 sides of teeth!

(Although stupid me didn't get a place at last years adult handling finals because I couldn't remember which way the judge wanted the teach shown (Jackie Hurley) and she told me not to let anyone try and make a name for themselves by saying it should be done the other way!  (Really?  honestly? I didn't get a place because of the order I showed the teeth? Yup thats right!)

Under most judges you are better off showing the teeth in an order you feel most comfortable with and which you can make the cleanest and smoothest without sticking fingers in dogs eyes or nails into dogs gums etc etc etc! :)

Very brave - can't offer and advice hon - just good luck!!

Thank you!!!
It makes me feel better knowing there is no "right" way. Have just been practising in the kitchen with Isabella who says no way are you looking into my mouth anyway- going to clamp lips firmly shut and get on with my mid morning nap!
I have found the Jackey Hurley way of doing things very regimented, "exactly 5 steps this way" etc rather than crediting people for showing the best points of their dog and having a good rapport with their dog. I suppose it all depends on the judge on the day, as with most things.

Oh don't you just love the dogs!

I must say I'm far from the jackie hurley way of doing things (It's been proven by herself you might be able to make a bedlington stand in 5 seconds but not a strong willed very large boxer boy! (a boxer I did use in handling and took to the semi's once!) :D

Most judges don't follow her way of doing it anymore and most are looking for someone who can show their dog to it's best :)

Good luck with the adult handling! :D 

I have to say it is SO much easier if you have a small, stacked breed- they just stand there(ok it takes practise I know!)
I did recently win an AH class and went back in for Best Adult handler. The other 2 handlers both had whippets, which just look tidier all round. I have to say that if (and its a big if) my little boy does decide to go into junior handling, I would consider getting him a smaller dog, ie. a dachund or a beagle. It will be so much easier and for a start I doubt he would be able to reach to hold a Setters head and tail out at the same time!!

My parents did consider getting my younger brother a smaller dog but they didn't in the end.  What he did do was show a very large setter and just about manged to top and tail! :D 

One of the reasons my parents didn't get him a small dog was within afew years would he really want to be seen with a small dog?  In his last year of handling in the younger age group he won a majoritiy of the champ shows he went to. though out his handling people used to love watching this small lad handle a large dog and he did very well.  He was always smaller then me untill last year and when his handling dog was retired he took on handling the larger of the two girls.

It easier with a small breed but so much more is expected of a handler with a small dog :)

Saying that I would normally opt for my setters, boxers and was more then willing to take a dearhound into handling on a couple of occasions! :D

Unless you really want to change breed then get a smaller dog but also consider champ shows on two days mainly for the handling? :D

That is true. I suppose once you can cope with a larger dog, you can try your hand at anything. There is a lad who shows his parents GSD's and does a brilliant job.
There are also so many more activities that the YKC do now, lots of different handling classes, which is wonderful.

Does it really make a difference which order the teeth are shown in ?

Being a non-showing ignoramus I am flabbergasted that it makes a difference and that one poster wasn't placed due to using the wrong order. As a bystander I would have assumed that it was more important to demonstrate that you were competent at displaying the dog's teeth in a sensitive, controlled manner and that the dog was willing to have it's teeth looked at as a matter of course :)

Harley the world of handling is a world of it' own!!!!

To one person (and her family + followers) it means alot.  She was very influential in the handling, bringing out the 2nd handling book written.  She believe everything had to be done in a certain way.

Like in everything fashions change and not many people follow this way of thinking but she is still around and judged the adult handling finals last year.

You are very much correct (in how I feel on the matter) in the way you think a good handler will show teeth! :)

To some judges, literaly a toe out of place can mean the difference between 1st and being chucked!!  (And that's the handler, NOT the dog!!)

Is Jackie Hurley the lady with Bedlingtons and toy poodles ? I think she went to the ringcraft I used to go to.  Never really met her properly - she always had a dog comb in her hair handy to quickly comb a poodle

You are very brave doing adult handling, I used to handle an Afghan as a kid (when I first started he was taller than me !) I had a go at adult handling last year at windsor gundog and made a right hash of it - ran my L back to front and everything !!!

Yes she is :)  Her two children did junior handling.

I have always considered that the child should handle the dogs their family own or borrow one from a friend.

I would never dream of getting mine a different breed just for handling.  After all the Junior handling phase is likely o only be a few years and the dog is going to live well past that.

My daughter handled one of ours right from earliest puppyhood for three years or so in all her classes and Junior handling, but she then lost interest in the dog game.

Ahh but would he be able to get a smaller dog on the table safely and comfortably??  I'm under 5 ft and I struggle with some tables as they're so high/wide ;)   My neice at 7 was a dab hand at stacking her mums Weim :) better than her mum - but then she didn't have a long tail to deal with :)

>I have to say it is SO much easier if you have a small, stacked breed- they just stand there(ok it takes practise I know!)

Have you ever tried to handle a Bedlington ??  :D :D :D   Even the most seasoned Bedlington handlers will tell you that they can make you look a real fool and incompetant when they want to :D :D

Stacking - they have a wonderful way of moving one foot just as you think you've got them stacked nicely or tucking up their tums until they look wheel-backed - even when they aren't :rolleyes: (we call it come dancing) or they can smell something interesting - behind them!   or they want to know just what the judge thinks they're looking at   or they just don't 'feel' like walking properly today, maybe they'll stop entirely, maybe they'll walk like they've got a thorn up their jaxy! :rolleyes:  maybe they've noticed that there's a puddle on the floor where you need to walk, so they'll leap about like they've been stung  by a wasp, just to avoid it

And you can forget talking sternly if they're not co-operating, then they look as if they've been beaten for a week with a heavy stick !!

And that's the really well trained dogs, with really experienced handlers LOL   you should see the rest of us :D  thank goodness Bedlington specialist judges know what they're like and tend to be a bit forgiving :)

And there was me thinking Bedlingtons were the best behaved dogs ever...!! I do think they always look lovely. I trim one for a friend (just a much loved pet) and he is so sweet, very gentle dog. Now you see if I got a small dog for handling classes, I can con the OH into thinking its a good idea for my son!! hehe! I would actually consider a Bedlington for my latter years as I would still like something to groom.

I handled a bedlington once when we had to swop dogs in a junior handling class, the girl showing my Afghan did much better than I did with her Bedlington !!

I'm not surprised LOL

Bedlingtons are shown on a loose lead so if the dog won't do the do you can't do anything :rolleyes:
 
They are very sweet and very sensitive, and just like small ponies very wicked, they just love to show us up LOL

Despite looking and often acting like a hound , like all terriers, there's too much going on between their ears ;) :D