Hi All,
I have a 5 month old bitch whose breed are freestanding and generally food baited in the ring. All my others have been food motivated but she just isn't interested (tried liver,fish,garlic sausage,cheese,hotdogs) What she is very motivated by is a cat toy (cat not very happy!) that has feathers and tinkles(!) How do people generally feel about other exhibitors using a toy/squeaky in the ring? Can't say I have ever seem them used but how is it viewed?
Thanks
Angela

Hi In the breed I am currently showing, no problems with toys in fact many people use them as dogs are not particuarly food motivated.
We tend to hide the toy and just show a bit of it.!!
Works a treat, excuse the pun.

I would find it annoying (if it was thrown or squeaked) and it would probably be distracting to other exhibits.

I too would find it distracting for my dog if thrown or squeaked - in an AV class I was in once a chap with a cocker was throwing a toy around and whilst Connor wasn't distracted I did find it odd to see!

I have no objections to people using a toy providing that it isn't squeaked when all the dogs are in a line up at the start or finish of a class.  Sure use it to get the dogs attention when your standing individually. 

I have had at one Ch show last year the exhibitor behind me spent all his time squeaking the toy he was holding and waiving it around to get his dogs attention, as a result my girl, who is partial to a squeaky toy to kill, spent all her time trying to get to the other exhibitor and wouldn't stand still, as a result I felt that i'd completely wasted my entry money. 

Kate

Thanks for the replies! I wasn't intending to stand in the line up squeaking away I too would find that annoying! but would it be OK on when judge is going over her to show her it? Kate was it a GS exhibitor squeaking? as I have only ever seen food being used.
Angela

Hi, yes, it was a GS exhibitor - there are a few that use toys but luckily most have the common courtesy only to use them when they can't distract another exhibitor.

Yes, it would be fine to use, particularly on the table (obviously don't squeak in the judges face!) if she faffs whilst she's up there -  but must be said - probalby better than the judge going over the dogs mouth to find it stuffed full of bait!

Will do! You'll recognise me then I'll be the one in the GS ring with a Feathery tinkle ball!  My others are absolute gannets and will stand for anything edible or a crisp packet! but Lunar is such a fussy pup and has turned her nose up at everything offered so far but she luvvs this thing, perhaps its the Catnip ;-o
Angela

As a terier exhibitor I find a fair few squeaking toys (not in my breed thankfully) and it drives me to distraction. Also the "food flinging" done in some of the breeds - they never go and pick up the leftovers!!!

Can't you just take off the tinkling bit and use the feathered toy. I don't see how anyone could complain about that. And, yes, I wouldn't be happy with a squeaky toy being used near where I was showing my dog as I would have no control at all with him.

Anne, when does she come out??  I shall look forward to meeting her

at 1st i thought you meant you had a large breed and wanted to use a toy breed as bait! :)  :)
well one of my real bugs is something I have noticed over recent years, mainly at open general shows.....people using clickers in the ring. Now thats fine if your dog has been taught with a clicker, to "show stand" bit what if some poor soul in the ring has taught their dog to "speak" or "sit" or "leave" with a clicker???? Surely thats most unfair? None of it affects me as its not something that ever happens in my own breed, but i just feel sorry for those who it does affect!

Sam, a clicker is not a command - like speak, sit, leave etc it's a means of praising your dog. It basically says thats great, thats what I want, your treat is coming soon. Someone using a clicker in the ring shouldn't effect dogs that have been clicker trained in adjacent rings :-)

I would be quite annoyed if someone was squeaking a toy anywhere in the show ground as many dogs are very toy orientated. It's fine to have a favourite toy in your pocket, and to show it to your dog but I think the squeak should be taken out.

Her first show is in a couple of weeks Ashton Under Lyne Open in Manchester. I'm dreading it if I'm honest as its my ringcraft club and they have been great with advice I just don't want to forget it all! I've entered her at WELKS but we'll see how it geos. I bred her myself and she wasn't to stay but the couple who originally wanted her fell in love with her brother and took him instead and then I unfortunately lost the wolf sable dog that was staying @9weeks. She is a real sweetie and I am so glad she stayed in the end. It was obviously meant to be. Are you showing anywhere soon?
Angela

The 'tinkle' is inside but I think the sight of the feathers will be enough!! She gets really excited so I'm keeping it for shows only. Don't know where the obsession with the feathers comes from.
Angela

I hate it when people have squeeky toys as I have a breed that is retrieve and toy mad.  Also because I train my dogs with clickers if one goes off somewhere they automatically look around to see who is clicking.  I don't think either should be aloud in a ring myself.  Toys yes, but not when they make a noise and not to big as to draw the attention of other dogs!

Oh fantastic - I shall see you at Ashton under Lyne then as i have entered too!

Are you doing the club show?  It's on 23rd March - schedules aren't out yet though.

Not sure about welks yet depends if she holds her coat

Kate

I'll see you both there then!  I'm there with two of the Spanish and two Pomeranian's!

;-))Perhaps you could handle her for me then? From feedback should be a few GS there. Entered WELKS as I really love it 1st on grass, the setting is lovely & have a pub meal on the way back.
See you there (if I don't chicken out!!)
Angela

Squeaky toys and jingling keys absolutely the norm in my breed!

Yes the SWD have classes for the 1st time at AUL There was a lady I met at AUL ringcraft last year that gave me some good advice on my parti dog Jay She had a lovely black SWD bitch? 
Angela

That will have been Bridget!!  I bred her grandaddy and others in her family.  Jenny owns the father Archie if my brain serves me right!  Lynn's coming back from Cornwall as she lives there now just to attend the show!

Thats right, she was very helpful and her girl was lovely. Its a small world :-) Heres hoping her long journey is fruitful! Will try and get over to your ring to say hello.
Angela

One of my dogs was not food motivated so I cut the last joint off a pheasant wing and dried it with the feathers still attached, she loved it! Another thing I used to use for her which she was fascinated by was the dried lower part of the back leg of a rabbit. When they get manky you can always replace them by cutting a piece off a road kill, if it is out of the shooting season.

Good Idea! the rabbits foot is also meant to be Lucky also :-).A friend shoots so perhaps he could provide some.
Angela