Hello
I have a girl, Cher, who I made the worst mistake with in terms of training for the show ring.  She was horrid on the table so I really worked on getting her to stack nice on the table.  Every supper of hers, I would use that ration to train her.  Now she is beautiful on the table, but....

Now when she free stands on the floor, I cant get her to stack infront of me.  She always wants to move to the side.  Min Pins, are shown where the handler is in front of the dog, and the dog is a foot or so away from the handler.  She just wont do that! 

She is also starting to side wind, when walking on the mats.

Any advice, on how to correct this? 

Thanks in advance!

You really don't have to stand in front of your girl, to one side or behind is fine, as long as the judge can see your exhibit you are unimportant. In fact, it is easier to see a dog's head and expression if the handler is not in front of their exhibit.

The mat thing is a pain, try for a while handling her when practicing in the right hand and doing a reverse triangle, sometimes that is enough to make them start to think again, letting someone else handle can have the same result.

Tell you what, if you start winning well stood to one side of your exhibit just watch how long it takes for others to follow suit.

Good luck and do try to relax a bit, you may be making your girl worried and confused.

Thanks, for your advice. 

She really does look wonderful in her free stack, if I let her do it the way she wants to, standing to the side instead of the front.  I just get people in the breed ring, reminding me that she isnt a dobe (dobes are stacked beside the handler, and shown to the side in free stands). 

She has done quite a bit of winning, and lately, when I have tried to correct this, and show her like everyone else, she has lost.  Getting reserve winners bitch.  Normally, she has been a breed placement dog. 

Anyways, I think I will start walking her on the opposite side, to help with the side winds, but as far as her free stack, stick with what works.  Its about showing your dog, to make them look wonderful.

Thanks again!

Think your fellow exhibitors are teasing you, after all it is your job to make your dog look the best they can and that is what you are doing. In my own breed it is really frowned upon to place your dog, they are supposed to move and stand in a totally natural way so moving feet or using a tight lead really does not show them to their best and we are very proud of our 'natural' breed and wish to keep it that way.

Pleased to hear you are doing well and I would continue to let her stand as she will, just try and correct the sideways walking, are you letting her have a slack lead?

I think you have the answer already. You quoted other exhibitors saying you should only handle in on way, yet you were winning with your own methods (could they be a tad jealous ??)There is NO ONE WAY to show your dog, you pay your money to show your dog to the best of Your abilities, if that means you do something slightly differently, so be it (as long as it is KC legal). The advice to try moving on the opposite side of your dog and practise doing a reverse triangle is solid, I often reccomend it. If you want to do it in the ring, make sure you smile sweetly and ask the judge if they mind you moving on the other side of your dog. It will tell them that you know what you are doing, and it is totally between you and the judge if they accept it. Min Pins are notorious for their attitude, next time you are at a show look out for the young handler Dom, he has worked extremely hard to get his dog where it is now with 2 tickets, have a chat with him & his mum Suzanne ( tell her I mentioned you)
Don't get too fretful or your dog will pick up the vibes. Good Luck

Think the OP is in Canada - so unlikely to come across British handlers at shows ;)

Pleased to hear you are doing well and I would continue to let her stand as she will, just try and correct the sideways walking, are you letting her have a slack lead?

I wouldnt call it strung, and I wouldnt call it a loose lead.  Her leash and collar are high, but not a tight lead, just straight. 

I started her on the other side today, she didnt like that at all!  Kept trying to get back into the left side, and she started hopping like a Kangaroo.  Funny sight!

She works a bit better, if I show her infront a bit.  Like, I am maybe two steps behind her.  She doesnt watch me as much, and focuses more straight ahead.  When I bring her back, she starts side winding. 

She has a showy attitude, and looses it when I try to show her the other way.  I have heard from other people that they are scared of my Cher, since she is a great mover, and a lot of min pins have lost the hackney gait. 

I think I will stick to what she is used to, as she does a lot of winning when I show her, how she wants it to be done (another min pin trait, has to have it their way!).  I think the other exibitors, like previously mentioned, are nervous of her, and want to throw her (and me) off a bit.