My dog is very highly strung and excitable about everything, It is on one hand a good thing in the ring as she has a spark and shows herself very well but she does have a problem standing still. She constantley fidgets either moving a front foot or back foot or moving her head. She is easily distracted and many a time she has lost places as she keeps moving just when the judge is looking at her. She is 3 years old and is well socialised and is used to a show environment - she just is so excitable she can't keep still!! I have tried Rescue Remedy but TBH i can't notice any difference. Can anybody recommend anything else?

It all depends on what breed she is and how you show her.  Is she free stood or stacked?  It's easier to get a stacked breed to stand still than it is one that free stands. 

However, I'd never, as a judge, penalise a dog for fidgeting.  They're not cardboard cutouts and shouldn't be expected to behave as such ;)  Personally I'd much rather see a dog with a bit of life about it in a ring than one that just went through the motions like a robot.  IMO any judge that would move a dog down a place because it wasn't stood stock still isn't a judge worth winning under!

Debs

I agree that dogs shouldn't be robots in the ring, but occasionally they can ruin their chances by fidgeting. I had one (a champ show group winner) that would throw his front left foot out at an angle when standing. He was dead straight moving and when he stopped, then he would turn this foot out - which ruined his whole front :rolleyes:  For me it was just a case of back to basics, stand for 10 seconds and treat, couple of days later make it 20 seconds and move up very gradually. If he moved then I'd gone too fast and moved back a couple of steps in his training. It worked eventually but took foreeeevvvveeer :)

Has anyone tried those blocks for teaching dogs to stand in the correct position?

Are you using bait? or toys?  Sometimes having them or not having them can impove the dog.

Also try going back to very basics.  Lots of praise for standing still for just afew seconds, ignoring them if they move/fidget and start again.

Although no dog should really have to stand still it does ruin their outline if not stood just right.  Making them not look as good as they can be. :)

I'm with Debs on this :)  I love attitude in the ring and quite honestly I'd far rather have a fidget than a robot!  I know much can depend on breed but my own is a free standing one so the over excitable ones are fairly obvious to spot (but then the nature of my breed is to be alert rather than stoically attentive so I guess it's horses for courses :) )

I also agree that a judge that puts a dog being glued to the ground staring blankly at a bait bag etc before breed standard points isn't worth showing under - win or lose :)

regards, Teri

It is a stacked breed. Obviously I don't mind the odd fidget but it becoming a constant battle to get her to stand still at all. She will do it at home when there are no distractions but she just gets so excited she just can't keep all 4 feet still!!

Has anyone tried these?

Yikes -   Notice all the dogs "standing" on the foot pegs are tightly strung up :rolleyes:  Methinks even my naughtiest youngster would stand still for a lengthy period when being choked :( - think I'd rather have her natural bounce and joie de vivre any day :D

Let's hope such devices stay across the pond!

my friend taught her fidget of a poodle to stand on these she swore by them, then she got her male and now they are resigned to the bottom draw, he would not stand on them, chewed them if he could get a hold of them, and she stood him on them from 6 weeks old, when he was five months old she eventually gave up on them, i used to laugh when i saw her teaching them this, what works for one dog does not work for another she used to say he will learn, that if he comes off them he will not get a treat, yeah he learned ok, how to get on them and then gently put his back leg onto the floor and then bounce like tigger over them, oh he still is shown in the breed ring, but he stand so nice byhimself and he always did, he is also great at agility,
carolann

What an awful awful idea :(  My Pharaohs would freak if I came near them with those!  What happened to good old fashoined ring training with the dog actually enjoying themself?

Debs

I have seen them at shows.  My guess is that they are already using a well trained dog to demonstrate them.

Hmm me thinks some tins of beans could work as well and at half the price!