I've posted here before about one of my boys who lacks 'energy and sparkle' in the ring.Well thats now an understatement!!!! On sunday he actually layed down and refused to get up!
I am at the point AGAIN of leaving him at home and stop wasting my time and his! He loves it round the ring...posses for the girlies and enjoys the day out...but once we enter the ring the tail goes down,the head drops and we go into sleep mode.
He tends to show better for my daugher BUT has been rather too strong for her lately and she has lost confidence in him.
Now I have a couple of options....
1/ give up..but its a shame hes a really nice dog and I know if he would perk up would do well
2/ thinking about asking someone else to show him...maybe its me?
3/ am also thinking of changing his food to maybe a working dog diet....would this give him more energy?
Any suggestions...past experiences etc please
Archer

I hope you do get some replies as you have just described my beagle.  She looks like a sack of spuds and has about as much sparkle as a lump of coal.

LOL....its sooooo disheartening! When something catches Kas' attention he is gorgeous!! Gets in the ring and I wouldn't give him a second look.
Hope we both get some help ....please people!!!
Archer  

Hi i'm having the same problem with my bullmastiff all though where not experienced i've just been advised by a very knowledgeable friend to put her on  Skinners field and trial crunchy for extra energy so i think it will work i'll let you know once i've tried it with her.  Also i've purchased some Damia and Kola tablets off Dorwest Herbs which seem to work, i gave her some yesterday as a tester and she really did perk up. Usually when we go for a walk she looks miserable but alert, but after those tablets she looked like she was actually enjoying it her tail was waggling and she was more than happy to trot along.  There given a week before a show or when your dog needs extra energy.

Warm regards Susan

I know that some people don't feed the dog the day before the show, that certainly should get him on his toes for food, but whether his performance will be god is hard to tell, would send my Jozi OTT, but then she is already lively in the ring.

Hi Archer (and Karen),

If fasting him before a show and using the Damiana & Kola don't work, try giving him a lengthy break - minimum 6 months but preferably 12.   Some dogs IMO are simply too intelligent and just don't see the point of focussing their attention to bait, toys, even outside attraction ;)  Could just be that he's totally bored and will come back with a bit more attitude when he's had time to forget what it's all about.

Regards, Teri :)

We usually fast before a show...seems to make Kas worse so we have since taken to feeding him and not the others the day before.
Have tried Damiana and Kola ...found no difference at all!
Thanks everyone...keep the suggestions coming...am willing to try anything!
Archer

Hi,
It's difficult to know but if someone else shows him would he be looking for you? That might do the trick but can't guarantee aanything as I don't know your dog. Best of luck.

Hi again Nikki,

How often do you show him and take him to ring craft or any other dog training clubs?  Teri :)

Hi Teri
haven't been to ringcaft with him for over 2 years now.We only do about 12 shows a year...so don't think its boredom although its still worth giving him a break I think to see what happens
Thanks
Archer

I agree with Teri on this. My older Irish Setter girl went through a phase of hating the showring, happy to be at the show, but as soon as she entered the ring she froze, wouldn't stand, move and had her tail firmly between her legs. I gave up on the idea of showing her and stopped taking her to ring craft classes, however I took her one night about 8 months after I stopped and she loved it. The trainers there said she was a different dog, I now occasionally take her to shows and she shines in the ring. I have to run full pelt (not easy with a backend the size of mine) as she goes, tail lashing looking like she owns the ring. So maybe a wee break would help your boy.

Maybe training  him to use his brain for something like obedience might help I give all mine basic obedience training & once trained for the ring I don't do anymore ringcraft with them but still do obedience training to keep their brains ticking over

I've often been asked why my dogs love showing....
Infact someone asked if they could syphon some off for their own dogs :D

Don't know the reasons why - they just LOVE going out where ever it is...
Although my oldest is completely as mad as a hatter too full on.

I think giving the dog a break is the best cure - with also the teaching
of 'new' tricks to keep the dogs brain active.

I made the mistake of over showing my first show girl... I enjoyed showing
so much that I'd be showing both sat & sun nearly every weekend.
It was just too much for her and you could see that she was beginning to 'hate'
showing...by not having as much joi de verve and switching off.
I gave her a break and as much as it killed me not showing after a break she went
back in the ring and really enjoyed it. After that I said only one show a week at most
or at least some time off for her.

My middle girl now does get bored in the ring but we do the high five and other 'tricks' to
keep her brain active whilst waiting for the whole class to be judged. Some days she doesn't
need this but other days she'll bark her bordem to the whole class :)
Normally she'll end her movement run to the end of the line with a few bounces :D

Hope you find something that works for you and your boy soon
Kirstine

Yes, I over showed my boy as a junior, and he went bored and limp. This year fingers crossed he has been enjoying it though! His father is even worse though, he always looks half dead in the ring!! :-)

Had the same problem with my GSD.  Loved to go to the shows, but when in the ring, went round and stood like a sack of tatties!!  I gave her a year off, now she loves it!!

Sarah.

I all show all 3 of my boys(all go to every show)...2 of them LOVE the ring and are soooo enthusiastic its hard to keep their feet on the floor(despite one being nearly 5!)
Kas has always been  bit lifeless in the ring even as a pup.I did relatively little ring craft with him...once a month  till about the age of 10 months and then every 2-3 months.What makes it worse is once in a blue moon he will pull it together and he looks fantastic...but never been able to figure out why!
Archer

But have you ever noticed on the days they do shine that the judge is not into them and when they are lifeless the judge seems to keep looking at them!!!! 

There is a company called canine natural cures. They have a product called "Go For It".  £10-50 for 30 days supply.  Seem you give four days before a show and on morning of show.  I have not used myself, as yet, however I have just ordered a bottle and I will see hoe it goes.
I have also heard that Beta Field Dry Food makes them actice. I spoke to a gundog chap and he had to take his Spaniels off it as it made them to fizzy.  Good luck.

Do keep us posted - I have already spent a fortune on "cures" for my 18 month old, to no avail :( This is a new one on me.

Have changed Kas' food and will be trying to change his handler at Birmingham next week....fingers crossed!
Archer

Hi Archer, have you come to any decisions in what your going to do with your dog?
I've got an interest in your thread to as i'm having same problem.

Warm regards susan

Hi Susan
I have changed Kaspers food and am going to try a different handler next week....will let you know if it makes any difference!
Nikki

It would be a real shame to give up all together with him as he is a nice dog.  I have always thought so.

Why not try an extended break from the ring?  My Spooky was always uninterested in showing - a long break caused quite a change, and she now shows like a little trooper.  She has become more food orientated as she's got older, and therein lies the key.  Mind you, she was retired for several years, and I don't think you'd want to leave Kas that long!  I'm going to bring her out next year in Veteran - although she looks like a little barrel these days, she loves it so much now, it'll be fun showing her.  Make a change from the serious business of showing Raider.

Years ago my eldest (Now 14) Munster decided that she wan't a show dog anymore, after being a really sparky puppy/junior.      I almost had to drag her around the ring to move her, she wan't nervous, she just looked totally bored.    I don't enter a lot of shows so it wasn't because she was tired of the showring.   Someone else showing her made a fractional difference, I found no pill or potion to help her so at the age of 4 she was retired.  Nothing I could do could make her any better - even though outside the ring she moved like she had a rocket up her bum.  I think they either love it or hate it.

Thanks Christine
I know what you mean.....I am wondering if I can ever make a difference to him....am going to try the food and handler route and then maybe take him out of the ring for a good break if that doesn't work.If he comes back then the same maybe I should accept I'm wasting my money
Nikki

I can spell 'wasn't' ...honestly!

Thanks Ness....I think hes too nice to give up on too :d
I've only got him entered for City of Birmingham at the min...so will do that with hopefully a different handler and see how he goes.Am then thinking of doing Mid Co's so may leave him at home depending on how we go.
The problem I have with giving him longer breaks(not that I show that heavily anyway as you know) is that I am not yet 'up on my judges' and would probably miss all the judges that like his type and take him to ones that don't LOL.
Will I be seeing you next week?
Nikki

Hi i am having this problem also with my dog and just wondering what food you have got yours on i have to keep him on a sensitive food though at the miniute he is on superdog sensitive.
Fiona

I'm using a working diet at the moment although I'm hoping to buy some red mills from Birmingham next week as I can't buy it locally.Will let you know if it makes any difference
Archer

Thanks Archer :)
Fiona

Thanks Archer, i'll keep watching your post.

Warm regards Susan

Not at City of Birmingham, although you might if you are going to Lancaster on Monday.

I would definitely take Kas under the Norwegian judge at the Club show next April, however he is by then.  Don't miss that one.

Hi Ness
not at Lancaster....just fitting in C of B and then won't be doing too much cos OH is in for surgery and not sure how he'll be afterwards and how long recovery will be.Might pop up to Darlington without any hounds as a day out to see the elkhounds and the shibas.Hopefully might be doing Mid Co's.
Didn't know we've got a norwegian judge for the club show! Who is it? Will keep working at him for a while yet with the aim of getting an improvement for next April :d
Nikki

Will PM you, so as not to bore everyone else to death.

Just to update anyone whos interested....we did City of Birmingham today...took Kas since he was already entered and he pulled a second in p.grad.Went much better than normal and seemed much more animated.However I had to show him so after we'd finished I got my daughter to run him round the ring and he was better still so next time shes going to try again.
So we'll stick to the diet change and see how we go.
I've also been advised to have a thyroid check done on him....
Archer

Well done Archer and to your boy, what food did you end up changing him onto?

Warm regards Susan

At the min hes on raw with some Beta active added.It was the only working food I could get hold of locally (however I have to say he loves it)but I have got hold of a sample of red mills today so will be trying that
Archer

Could you let me Know Archer what the red mills is like, i'm also going to watch your other post on thryoid tests.

Warm regards Susan

Will do...will send you  a PM so as not to bore evryone rigid LOL
Archer

Archer i am intrested in this post as well :)
Fiona

Will keep it updated...hope everyone gets some ideas from it
Nikki

For all those who asked....update!!

Kas did his first show today since being on his new diet....what a difference!! We didn't place well but he showed beautifully!!! He was energetic and keen and looked great!...just not the judges type I suppose.
Archer

Excellent - next time he'll win, you see! :-)

Well done Nicky glad to hear he's improved.

Warm regards Susan

thats brilliant news ok from now on im feeding a working dog food diet what do you recomend?
Fiona