Does any one have any tips on how to keep a dog still when a judge goes over them.  Bali has progressed loads and will stand still whilst waiting to be gone over but as soon as the judge rubs over him he brings his legs in - he has also started to fidget whilst showing his teeth too - not nasty in anyway just not all that keen to show his pearly's LOL, I use bait with him and normally allow him to lick / chew a bit to keep him distracted, should I maybe not show him a treat until he stands still long enough or just show it to him??? Any ideas would be appreciated, I am sure we can combat it but he is my first 'show' dog so we are not all that experienced :D Also I am assuming the judge needs them in the correct standing position in order to asses them properly?

Hi Enfielrotts :)

How old is Bali - is he still a young puppy? and are you having this issue at training classes or at actual shows?

Teri    

I use a bigger than normal treat in training & 99 % of judges will allow a puppy a lot of leaway when being handled one of mine titally forgit this training & was really naughty at his first show & he still got placed :O

I bait them all the time when people are touching them in training except the mouth of course

So would you allow them to lick the bait / chew it whilst they are being gone over as this is what I do but wondered it if would be frowned upon???

You will not be put down for using bait with the rottis. They are one of the most baited breeds in a show from what I've seen.
I normally show the treat to my dog (bc) and tell him to stand and wait. Once he is gone over he is rewarded with the treat. If his head turns while the judge is going over him (has a tendancy to kiss the judge) then I will distract him with the treat. Having a lot of friends with rottis and watching them at the shows. They treat more than this so the dog is fixed on their hand or there bumbag/pocket.
With the teeth I've had to regularly start checking his teeth each day again as he's started to get fidgety again. Keep these things going whilst he's still a young dog.
Are you coming to Baginton on Sunday? See you there if you come. We'll be in the same class.
There is a champ show at stoneleigh at the beginning of September. If your not entering it would still be a good experience to go and watch the rotti classes. It gives you a good idea of how people are with their dogs and how they stand/run them. Helps give you ideas. I found it useful when I first started showing 3 years ago.

Hi Ya Karen, Yeah I will be coming on sunday, probably put him in to Junior how about you?  I am also (I think) entered on the bank holiday at the sports connexion.  It's not so much using the bait that bothers me it's just that when I watch most of the dogs his age (and younger like Leo) being gone over they stand still, Bali is the same tho, likes to kiss the judge :D  I am very pleased with how he has been seeing as I have done nothing with him all the time he had a bad leg so Sunday will be a nice warm up; off to Terri's later to grab a load more schedules to do something more regular - still the dreaded Champ shows to experience yet!!

Don't worry about it. Yes some of the others look to be better but they haven't just had 3 months off and have been ringcrafting and showing regularly. Reckon Bali just needs to get back into it again. So do his teeth a few times a day. Remember that you've got loads of people to fall back on at ringcraft (renaming it to rotti ringcraft).
Keep at it and it'll come good. Look at Terri she has worked her socks off with herself and Skye and it was a lovely thing to see her qualify for Crufts at Leeds out of a big class. She thoroughly deserved it. Remember this is your first showdog as well so you'll learn together, make mistakes together. Use the people you know for info.
I'll see you on Sunday at Baginton.  I'm entered at Leicester on Bank Holiday as well so will be able to watch.

like the bit megan57collies when you say rotties are one of the most baited breeds in the show ring you have seen,
go along one day to the boxer ring, oh and duck when you are watching them being judged LOL
CAROL

As long as the judge isn't trying to look in his mouth at the same time ;) I wouldn't have a problem with it,

Hi Teri

He is 16 mths now but has been out of the ring for a few months (saying that only went to 3 shows) as he has a cruciate op - now he is fighting fit we have been attending ring craft again - not sure how he will be in shows but the ring craft is very similar to a proper ring - no slacking but with less people.

He stands still but as soon as he is felt over his back / bum area he moves (99% of the time) and will allow one side of mouth to be looked at but seems to get almost bored of frustrated with having the other looked at - obviously I want him to appear strong and solid rather than a fidgiting dope LOL!

We have a companion show Sunday and an open at the end of the month so would like to be able to do something before then if poss - I don't want to be too tough on him as he is a wuss :D

If you can get down besides him and have one hand under his chin and the other tickling the inside of the top of his leg, that sometimes helps :)

Cant do that with Tai Mel :D  3 weeks ago at Fife open judge was just going down Tia's ribs and up came the hind leg for the tummy tickle, but this time she surpassed herself, she flipped over onto her back for full tummy rub lo.  Judge obliged, :P  (he should know not to encourage her) lol  So I moved and she stood again, and went on to take 2nd.

I cant bait Tia as she sits for food. However I do bring my face down to her level gently tickle her ears and whisper sweet nothings to her. She leans into the ear tickle this helps her stance :D

:p :p :p

Delta is SO food orientated ....but Maddy ARGH!! Still looking for something to get her going with :D

Hi again,

The males are always the wussy ones :P  I've just seen Mel's post and that's what I'd recommend too as far as when he's being gone over - I did it with my first male who was determined that nobody was touching his bits so would always curl his rear in towards me or if feeling really antsy about it would sit down :rolleyes: :D

At 16 months he's still young and even if he's not in a perfect stance when being gone over, provided the judge gets a glimpse of him at some point and can watch him move and then stand again without needing to be approached then he really ought not to be knocked for being at the dreaded junior stage (often worse than pups in slow maturing breeds).

You could try showing his teeth yourself if he's more patient with you doing it.  Just say to the judge "I'll show you his mouth as he's a bit fidgety still" - I've certainly done it before with youngsters being trained and never been knocked for it - even at champ shows ;)  HTH, Teri   

Short of a vice like grip I would love to know too, as my nearly 6 year old champion does the amzing disppering dog bit wehn the judge goes to go over her she is suddenly not there and grinning her head off!

Sadly her almost two year old daughter has the same perverse sense of humour :D

I tend to just mutter over and over "stand still"

Delta is a jiffler :D :D She wriggles when gone over ........I just tell the judge she is a jiffler and then encourage her to stand still ;)

Thanks very much for your help, good to know I am not the only one, I will try standing beside him rather than in front when judge is going over him.  One friend said the other day that he doesn't want to put his teeth together because he is too busy smiling LOL!  Like you say its the dreaded junior age and he thinks every time a dog is near it's 'Bali's play time' :D  they do make you laugh though hey!  I will also say to the judge that he is a bit of a fidget so she/he will hopefully go easy on his precious bits :)

I shall let you know how we do, I am pretty sure there are worse behaved dogs out there being placed so I won't worry about it too much ;)

Hi,  Do you go to ringcraft training.  This is a good place to start as this gets them used to being handled by a judge.  Try talking to him all the time, if treat is not a good idea take his favourite toy to keep his attention.  Plenty of practice with someone at home lots of praise and keep calm as much as possible.  Does your breed free stand at floor level or on the table as this can also make a difference.  Best of luck but patience and persistance usually pays off.  My lab is now 8 months and has been at ringcraft since 14 weeks and only just is happy being checked over.

Hi there

yes he does go to ring craft and gernerally he does stand still, just brings a leg in from time to time - I have been practising again at home and getting OH to also check his teeth and he has been good, I am sure it's just a matter of getting back in to the swimg of things.  I won't worrie too much as I just want to enjoy it and do something with my boy so I am just gonna have fun with him and not be too stressed :) 

Cheers for all your useful advice ;)