So I'm a little confused.

I have just switched ringcraft classes.

My previous ringcraft showed me how to run my pup "strung up" as follows:

http://hoganthegsp.webs.com/show2.jpg

Now I went to a class last night which was really brilliant, very in depth and she spent a lot of time instructing me.
She explained that running him like that lifts his front end and "stunts" his movement. She showed me how to run him with my hand low, with the lead still up under his ears but with the ring to the side.

He ran long and low, but it was a bigger movement, I could see that.

Could I have some opinions on this? Which type wins in the show ring or does it depend on the judge? I've been desperately looking for pics etc of people showing with either way.

Thanks very much in advance.

We have people in my breed who do both... For me personally my dogs run out better and show off better movement when on a loose lead rather than being strung up as i think it changes their movement.
I do think you need people in your breed to advise though.

I used to attend 4 different ringcrafts and everyone seemed to have an opinion as to what was right and different ways of standing etc. I took it all on board and tried various ways which came from people in my breed to work out what works best for my dog, you want to show your dog off to its best ability.

Personally I think ALL breeds look much better shown on a loose lead. Much nicer for them as well. :)

> Personally I think ALL breeds look much better shown on a loose lead. Much nicer for them as well

I agree completely. I hate to see dogs strung up and choking, their front feet barely touching the ground.

Sorry to be cheeky, but does anyone have any pictures I could see of dogs being run up correctly on a loose lead?

I can't seem to find any anywhere.

In our breed (large gundog) you will see both methods used, as others have said it does depend on the dog.

However, if your dog has anything wrong with the forehand, a loose lead will emphasise the fault, and the judge will notice it, a good judge will know anyway, but some can be fooled.  You can move your dog with lead up behind the ears without taking the front feet off the ground, we have to do this with one or ours, otherwise we cannot keep up and the dog begins to get away from us, but you have to be a sympathetic handler to be able to do this correctly, otherwise it can cause discomfort for the dog, which is not good.

You need an honest observer to tell you which method is best for your dog - i.e. which method gets the best movement out of your dog, and that is what you are there for to present your dog to the judge at its very best.

I can run George (Yankee) on a fractionally loose lead as long as the collar is up under his ears. If I let it go too loose so the collar slips back, he immediately glues his nose back to the ground which is his natural way of being! :-D But I can have the lead just a tiny bit loose as long as I keep enough tension to keep the collar up high.

Sometimes when I start off I have to have a strung up dog, but after a few paces let it go loose. It depends on the dog, and how much pre-show training I have been able to do. I never go all the way around with a strung up dog, it just isn't natural ;-)

Not a gundog, but like LindyLou, I start off for a couple of strides strung, with a little tickle under the chin, to remind them head up, but after a few strides the lead slackens and they carry themselves, Its so much easier to work with a dog that shows itself, rather than creating false movement because the dog has found something interesting on the floor and having to string up. Some breeds are obviously much more difficult to keep their attention with when they smell something interesting, but I'm lucky in that sense I suppose.

I show the same breed as you and would say on the whole dogs are shown with the lead up behind the ears with the ring at the side, keeping enough tension so the lead doesnt move on the dog but not enough to string up.

The breed you are talking about should move with their head slightly lower so they cover the ground more efficiently, obviously the extreme of this is one which is too low or sniffing so its finding a happy medium. Often most dogs just feeling the lead there is enough to get their attention off the floor so they move smartly but imo they should not be strung.

not the best pic in terms of the dog but shows the lead quite well http://pelenrise.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=33967322

Hey - thanks for that, it has really helped - your dog looks really similar to a friend of mine's and turns out they have similar breeding! Small world isn't it!