Hi all

Took Saskia to ringcraft last night, she has improved a great deal on standing with out me having to kneel beside her and tickle her belly, in fact she will stand freely now with out looking for a treat ( only took us 6 months ;) )

The problem she is having though is when the judge goes over her she is a nervous wreck :( We have one female judge there who she will stand for with out dipping her bum etc. But when other judge go to stroke the top of her head she bolts, flips up in the air and starts backing out of her lead. The judges approach her in the right manner and try to calm her down as much as possiable but she is still very scared which results to me having to kneel on the floor with her to clam her down and reasuure her.

I cant understand why she is like this away from the ring she will jump up all strangers in the street when walking her :O and loves toplay and be fussed by any one who is offering.

Any ideas why she is like this and do you think she will get out of it?

Heidi

We had a very similar problem with one of our bitches, it got so bad we stopped showing her, she just looked so terrible in the ring more like a lizard than a terrier! She once stopped and rolled over onto her back! We dicided that she wasn't enjoying it so we stopped showing her. However at Discover dogs she loves the constant attention of any admirer, any age! Strange critter!

Al

Al

Shes fine when standing, and will trot around the ring nice also, its just when the judge comes towards her, if we could just crack that bit.

Typical husky :D

Heidi, cant answer your question sorry as I intend taking my pup to ringclasses soon. I have a few general questions for you if you dont mind. What age did you start your pup. I have got an almost 11 week (Tues) Dobermann and start puppy classes monday. Do you think that he will be to young for this class? I would like to show him and need all the advantage I can get as Im a complete novice. Ive tried to get him to stand whilst at home but he is to hyper at the moment. Dont want to waste my money on classes at present if its not worth it. What do you take as treats when you attend classes. Ive seen lots of people with baked liver.

Puppy classes are better started young. If you are keen to show your puppy, then find your local ringcraft class and get him there as soon as his injections are finished. It's never to early to start the training and is moeny well spent. Ringcraft tends to be cheap anyway. Also, if the breeder was a shower, then have a word with them to see if they will help you get started. They can show you how to handle your specific breed as diffrent breeds are handled and show in slightly different ways. The get yourself to some shows without the puppy - so you can watch how other Dobe owners do it. Ask them questions, any decent ones will be only to glad to share some of their jnowledge with you.

hth

Pam n the boys

Thanks Pam. I shall take your advice and take him to ringcraft after I taken him to one puppy class to see his behaviour with other pups (enthusiastic and exuberent with total disregard of me Im sure). Unfortunately both classes are held on Monday so he'll be a busy pup Monday. Ill also talk to the breeder she is a judge as well so so I should get some useful tips.

Try Vitamin B, it worked with a no. of SWD's who can be a bit wary of people. I used it on one of my bitches and within 2 weeks she was great. It doesn't work on every dog, but it won't do them any harm and it's worth a try.

Hi Heidi
One of my dobermanns loves people wants to be cuddled and loved by every one at shows shes fine trying to drag me round and saying hi to all then we enter ring and all changes shes a shacking reack,
she hates it also same as soon as we walk into ring craft have given up with showing her as she really isnt happy doing it.
But my other girl is a show off.
sandy