Moses  isn't showing dogs anymore and he never used bait when his class dogs were being examined or during the temperament test. He baited his specials for the group and BIS. What's the big deal with bait anyway? Geez......

I do not care to be competitive in the Conformation ring. I just want my dog to receive the correct rating for future Korung/ breed survey. I do get disturbed when I see the owner distract the dog during the judges exam [ from behind the judge] to hide unsteady nerves. The ''parent '' club makes a point to require the dog to be ''tested' and then ignores the '' cheat''. 

Well, it's not up to the parent club to identify and discipline the persons who double during the temperament test. That's the responsiblity of the judge.

Some like to show their dogs, some don't. Doesn't prove anything one way or the other as far as the dogs' breed worthiness goes or the integrity of the owner/breeder.  Not competiing doesn't make a dog any more correct than showing it does. 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHGKv8mUu_E

I wouldn't say that dogs are never baited during the exam.  I never bait my dogs during the "temperament test", but some dogs I do bait during the exam after teeth are checked.

I train the crap out of my dogs, but I am also aware that there are certain things some dogs just don't appreciate, and they tolerate them better when they are distracted.

Mirada would bait at the end of an 8 foot leash, would hold her stack and be examined, and would look keen and alert the whole time.  Wesson won't stand for that.  She'll hold her ground, but she is not a fan of having her backside touched.  She gets very suspicious.  She doesn't do anything beyond sit, and it is something we've worked on, but she haaaaaaaates it.

So I bait her.

But that also makes it clear that she is not a specials quality bitch, which is fine.  I'll finish her and then she can become the brood bitch she is happy to be.

Wesson is more work to show Mirada, and I have to work harder to get expression from her, because she's not as into it.  Mirada was a diva, and SUPER "LOOK AT ME!"  She loved everything about showing, and I could stand there in front of her and simply twitch a pinky and she would give me expression.

With Wesson, I generally have to drop or toss (and catch) bait to keep her attention.  Two completely different bitches I present in two completely different ways

Westminster Dog Show Handlers Share Secrets and Strategies for Winning in the Show Ring

BY KIM CAMPBELL THORNTON | FEBRUARY 1, 2012

• 
  
  
  
  
   
• Twitter
• 
  
• Print
• Email

Thinkstock

It looks like an easy job, doesn’t it? Walk a dog into the ring, present him to the judge, take him around the ring a couple times, and walk off with a blue ribbon. Top dog handlers will have you know there’s more involved than that when it comes to showing dogs to their championship, and especially presenting them at a prestigious venue such as the 136th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City, where the eyes of the world are on the dogs at the other end of the leash they’re holding.

Vetstreet tracked down some of the most successful handlers willing to share their secrets and training strategies.

Pre-Show Training: Running, Nail Trims and Even Massages for the Dogs

No show dog is an overnight sensation. It can take a year or more to prep a dog for a show like Westminster, says Clint Livingston of Brighton, Colorado, whose string of canine clients includes top-ranked Cavalier King Charles Spaniel GCh Miletree Northern Star at Shirmont, and the No. 1 Chinese Shar-Pei GCh Vaje’s Miss Jayne Hathaway.

“They’re bathed, trimmed and groomed weekly as well as at every show,” he says. “They’re doing roadwork, which is either running alongside a bike or on a dog trotter, usually three or four times a week, if not more.”

Some dogs, such as the number-one-ranked Bloodhound GCH CH Quiet Creek’s Kiss and Tell, handled by Bruce Schultz of Bonita, California, have regular sessions with a canine massage therapist and chiropractor.

Keeping these dogs conditioned so they are in top form is an ongoing process, Livingston says.

Show Prep: Selecting the Right Outfit to Complement — or Distract From — the Dog

Presenting dogs to the judge so their best points are on display is a special skill. A lot of that skill is acquired the same way a musician gets to Carnegie Hall: practice, practice, practice. But there are also some tricks of the trade. Knowing what a judge likes to see, whether it’s a pretty head or a nice top line, is key, says Laura Bergstraser-Lorenz of Colorado Springs, Colorado, who will be showing her top-winning Smooth Collie at the Garden.

“Our job is to know what the judges like and point out what that dog has to offer that judge,” she says.

Part of that involves wearing clothes that will set off the dog and help him stand out from the rest.

“I never want to blend in with my dog,” says Bergstraser-Lorenz. “If I’m showing a lot of black dogs, I don’t wear a lot of solid black. If I’m showing brown dogs, black is fine, or I’ll wear a lot of tan, cream, green, blues, pink.”

Conversely, if a handler wants to de-emphasize a particular point, he or she might wear an outfit that matches the dog, in an attempt to mask less-than-perfect movement or structure. It's all part of a plan.

Show Strategies: Treats and Tricks to Help the Dog Shine

Then there are the dogs themselves. Some are natural show dogs and need little encouragement to strut their stuff in the ring. Others require some cheerleading to get them to put their best paw forward. Puppies, for instance, can be anxious because the show environment is new to them. Schultz plays with them a lot in the ring to get their attention and take their thoughts off their worries.

“Make it fun for them, and they’ll show better and longer,” he says. “Some of them you have to play with longer, some of them you have to play with harder; it just all depends on the individual dog.”

And some dogs, well, they might just as well be holding up a sign that says, “Will work for food.” They all have their favorite bait—which you’ll often see handlers pulling out of their mouths when they want to get the dog’s attention. Schultz boils and bakes as much as 15 pounds of liver a week. Livingston carries a whole smorgasbord in his pocket, everything from beef liver to smoked beef heart to fajita chicken to chicken jerky. Some dogs like to hear the crack when he breaks off a piece of a hard chicken strip. Others are flavor hounds.

“My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel works better for fajita chicken,” Livingston says. “He gives me more expression, more animation, so if I need more from him I’ll pull that out. The Shar-Pei baits best for smoked beef heart. You learn what they like best and what they’re going to give you more with.”

At a show like Westminster, Livingston says, some dogs can tell it’s a big deal and up their performance accordingly.

“There’s so much electricity in that building, it’s so crowded, everyone’s so jazzed up, I feel like my dogs give me a better show there just because I think they feel all the excitement in the air,” he says.

Much work awaits all the handlers preparing their dogs for the big Westminster show.

“People always say, ‘Oh, what a fun job,’ but it is a 24-hour-a-day job,” says Bergstraser-Lorenz.

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Presented by Purina will air on February 13 and 14 on the USA Network and CNBC. Click here for full viewing details.

In the UK, GSDs are almost always shown (at Kennel Club, Regional, and fun/casual Shows)

without any food or toys in front of their noses while they are presented in the Ring, and

Judges would not expect to allow that.   It is a matter of breed 'tradition' though,  as

some other breeds are regularly baited.  Since we often share Rings,  this can be a

source of extreme annoyance, as if your GSDs  follow one of those breeds into the

Ring at least the first couple of Classes get undermined by dogs trying to snuffle up

all the bits of liver that have been dropped ! 

 

But then we get the other side of the coin, when dogs are encouraged to look alert, and

stride out well during gaiting, by "double handling" - i.e. owner or helper outside the ring

calling to / whistling at the dog, shaking keys, squeeking toys, rattling food and water

containers ... which is fine except when taken to excess and involving knocking other

spectators flying, etc !   But the  "old (more straight-laced) guard"  don't like it  a bit.

Probably those of you who frequent SV style shows, rather than AKC rings, will have seen

some of this type ?

Lots of things to think about.

I would think that someone outside of the ring making attention getting noises would drive me nuts .   I am nervious enough though in front of people, so complete silence would be heaven for me. LOL  Never happens, but I can dream.  I am learning to tune the crowd out, but poor Cirberus still has a 50/50 chance that my nerves will hose the whole thing. 

Fawnda, it makes for ATMOSPHERE  !!!   Especially as  we normally show

outside.

But seriously, I can understand why people object to it.  I have been knocked

off balance myself ( and that isn't so easy to do !) by  folk rushing blindly about.

Some shows now organise an extra outer ring for these 'co-runners' - that seems

to work OK.

Done  ...as in ALL things doggy... in MODERATION, it is actually quite good fun.

 

But some things that occasionally are said to go with it - like withholding water from

the dog, and then waving a water-container at it from ringside (!) - are nasty.

Double handling is strongly opposed in the U.S. at shows. But totally acceptable in other countries. Some breeds are baited and some not at all. Often you see baiting used on younger dogs who are still in training. Unless your near the doberman ring, them you have to watch for flying chinks of dried liver!

Some judges allow bait and toys and some tell you to put them away.  UKC it's judges discression and NKC it's not allowed at all.

Conformation is it's own world, totally different from place to place. I do it for fun but i'm not a serious point chaser. If my dog gets a Championship i'm happy if not well i still like the dog.

Fry