Im in need of some advice......... my mum has a 9 month old bitch who she has just started showing, they have both only been to 2 shows but have won 2 first in Puppy, 2 first's in Junior, 2 best puppy in breed, and 2 Best in Group.

But every judge we have met have all said the same thing, the minute she runs down goes her head, try as we might we cant get her head up, we have tried making silly noises, baiting with treets, and even tried differnt leads but allas she still looks as if a ten tonne weight is attached to her neck. Has anybody had this problem with their dogs, if so what method did you find work?

Oh I forgot to say the said breed of dog is noturious for being very stubborn, do you think this has anything to do with it?

What breed is she ?

I dont think Im allowed to say on here, she is the smaller mollouser breed native to the uk

It's ok to mention the breed in all posts except ones about litters ;-)

She is a Bullmastiff, the judge said she has great movement but with the low head she looks as if she is pulling a cart

We are going to ask at rigcraft but wanted to know a couple of differnt solutions from different people, or wether is she destined to stay like that? Has anybody had this problem

My aunt has the dog carry a stick or something in its mouth, so they hold their heads high.  Of course not in the ring, but when she is training.  She is training dobermans, and they can be quite stubborn as well. 

They hold their heads up high so they dont trip over the stick.  When the head is high, she gives a command (usually head up) and then when in the ring, she just reminds them.

HTH

Can't bring to mind what your breed standard says, ours says "At a faster gait, the head is carried lower" It's what dogues tend towards naturally and our breeds are similar in conformation.

Have now looked at your breed standard and it doesn't mention head carriage. Maybe you could improve hers by training her with two people, a clicker and some extra-tasty treats?

> Oh I forgot to say the said breed of dog is noturious for being very stubborn

I forgot to say, I know what you mean about being very stubborn, dogues are just the same

> It's what dogues tend towards naturally and our breeds are similar in conformation.
>

thank you! my non doggy (but doggy loving) other half cannot see what i mean when i say they are similar breeds

Hi there

we have bullmastiffs that we show and they do go through a phase to start with she will get over it, the way we solved it we used the dryed sausages and let the pup much on one end (long enough so your fingers dont get bitten) in time you will be able to run her without the sausage, what shows have you been to? where you based we might bump into each other soon

I tend to use liver as bait (cooked) and have found popping a piece in my mouth will keep the dogs head up, of course you have to let them know it is in there. Only downside would be if you don't like liver! :-)
hth,
Jeff.

Hiya thanks for all of the replies me and my mum will give them all a go and see which one suites our dog the best.

I dont think that there is a section on head carrage for Bullmastiffs but 2 of the judges that commented specialised in Bullamstiffs, I dont want her holding it like a poodle :) but it held with a tiny bit of grace, if thats possible.

We are baised in Hampshire, we have been to the Chippenham and Distric and cant remember what the other one was now but it was in Wiltshire, we are going to the Newbury Champ show next not expecting much so long as she (both my mum and the dog) dont wobble to the floor with nerves, we have just been asked to join the Southern Bullmastiff League, so denny4274 we might bump into each other.

we are going to be at southern counties if your there the southern bullmastiff club is great and they hold 3 really nice shows a year next one is in auguast their champ show  at the doberman club lovley day out (always been very lucky with the weather) and a very relaxed show.

What lines is your girl from, could you ask the breeder for a bit of advice?

i have a hound that does this and I give him a small piece of cloth to carry in his mouth when he moves......holds his head proud then! :)

We got our girl from a terrier breeder, he only had one Bullmastiff so cant really ask him for advice, he used a stud from the Copperfield kennels (IMP Ch Wonderbell's Ameretto of Copperfiled), so we havent met them yet to ask for advice.

I think the Southern Counties is at Newbury so deffinatly will see you there, we will be the very lost looking people.

A cloth sounds like a good idea, could be away with the dredded dribble cloth then yuck! :)  :)

copperfield will probally be at southern counties as well douglas is a very nice looking boy and producing some very very nice puppies.

I will pm you with my e-mail address and when the passes are out for southern counties i will let you know our bench number so you can come find us on the day that way there will be somethere that you know.

thats a really good idea sam, i didnt know if you would be allowed to do this. has anyone ever said anything? my boy generally moves ok, sometimes a bit slow and trying to sniff the ground, however, out on a walk, he often picks up items and carries them "proud" , never thought of trying it in the ring.

Hi Triona,

Can't really offer much advice other than what has been said already.

I'm Dawn, another Bully owner.  We are often at shows, pretty new to it ourselves, so, when you know which ones you are going to, you're more than welcome to pm me and we can catch up.

Dawn R

PS.  Well done for your excellent show results so far and good luck.