Train Your Dog for a Dog Show

Do you think your dog has what it takes to be a show dog? If you can imagine your precious pooch winning a championship, then you can always hire a handler to show your dog for you, but the rewards and experience of handling your own dog may make it worth your while. However, before your dog can trot to success, it needs to be trained for the stage in order to steal the audience. 

Steps

 * 1) Enter your dog into your local ring craft class. This will help you train your dog for a show. Although this is not necessary, it is HIGHLY recommended.
 * 2) [[Image:IMG_6348 9289.jpg|thumb]]Teach your dog to “stack” or stand squarely and still. Some breeds are free stacked, with the handler standing in front of them while the dog watches the handler and stands still and alert. Other breeds are “hand stacked” with each leg manually placed in position while the handler stands or kneels close to them. Figure out which one you need to do and be consistent in training.
 * 3) *Sometimes with wiggly dogs it’s easier to stack them on blocks, boards or bricks that are elevated a few inches off the ground so the dog learns to trust where you set his feet and feels secure with your placement, but if he moves his feet on his own he becomes unbalanced.
 * 4) *Never scold, but be firm. You want the stacking experience to be positive and consistent but not scary for your dog.
 * 5) *Front legs should be straight (or as straight as is allowed for your breed) and should be under the shoulder blades. Rear legs should be vertical from the hock down (for most breeds, most notably different is the German Shepherd Dog, who has a distinctive stack).
 * 6) *Feet should be facing forward, unless contraindicated for your breed.
 * 7) [[Image:IMG_6345 6861.jpg|thumb]]Work on your dog's expression. You want him to also look alert and happy when he is stacked. Most breeds need to have their attention on the handler and the judge, and have their ears perked and their eyes on your hand or straight ahead. To do this you have two controls, the lead/collar and the bait.
 * 8) *The bait is your dog’s treats, and most puppies are started with nibbling on bait while the bait is held at the level where the head and neck are high and correct. As your dog gets used to holding his head here, then try pulling the bait away quickly to get his attention and focus on the bait.
 * 9) *Also, as he gets used to focusing on the bait, you can use the collar to help keep his head still, by putting the collar up close behind their ears and holding it up firmly, but not so high as to string him up and stretch his neck up too much.
 * 10) [[Image:IMG_6352 3234.jpg|thumb]]Practice gaiting. Gaiting is moving your dog in a way to allow the judge to see their movement and structure. The correct gait is a trot (with few exceptions).
 * 11) *A trotting dog’s right front leg and left back leg move forward at the same time, then the left front with the right back. If the dog is moving the front and back leg on the same side of his body together, this is pacing. Pacing is incorrect (except for the Old English Sheepdog) and should be avoided. Trotting is the correct pace because it shows the dog’s true structure the best. So, depending on the size of your dog, you will need to adjust your pace so that dog is trotting at the correct speed. The best way to do this is practice. You’ll want to hold your whole lead in your left hand and the dog will trot on your left side.
 * 12) *Start by getting your dog’s attention and take a few steps forward before setting your pace. Trot your dog in a straight line, approximately 30-40 feet then turn around and trot him back. Once you return to the spot that you started, get your dog’s attention and try to get him to free-stack as best you can and focus on the treat that you have in your right hand. That is a “Down and Back,” one of the foundations of how your dog will be evaluated in the ring. Oftentimes, when you show, you’ll only be asked to take your dog down and back, and then around the ring to the end of the line.
 * 13) [[Image:Black Dog Eating Basketball 4588.jpg|250px|right]]Find a kennel club or practice group in your area and try to go to group classes to get you dog used to being in a show ring with other dogs. If you can’t find classes, look for local dog shows that have matches. Matches are informal fun shows that are usually judged by club members or aspiring judges and is great practice for your dog.
 * 14) [[Image:Rottweiler Concentration 2000.jpg|thumb]]Practice and have other people act as the judge and “go over” or examine your dog. They will especially need to examine your dog’s teeth and ears, as many dogs don’t like that, and also ask him to pick up feet and look at them, lift the tail (if your dog has one) and feel the testicles if applicable. These are all things the dog will need to be used to strangers doing to him if he’s to be a show dog.

Tips

 * If possible, practice stacking and baiting in front of a mirror so you can see your dog from the judge’s perspective.
 * Watch as many handlers showing their dogs as you can, watch televised dog shows and also go to as many shows in person as possible. See how your breed is shown specifically and look for the fine nuances that make your breed unique. Watch professionals as they show all breeds and see what sets them apart in how they handle their dogs.
 * Check the rules and regulations of the kennel club, and the registering body of the shows you are entering to familiarize yourself with the requirements.
 * For training, don't think you can just use a regular nylon or leather collar and leash. You need to use real conformation leads or your dog will fail in the show ring. Also, you need to train with the correct leads or your dog will not be comfortable in them in the show. There are two main types of leads you can use:
 * Martingales leads are easy to find, and the dogs love them! This is because they are comfortable, and these leads help to train your dog to keep its head held up high while showing judge's their gait, and while stacking. These can come in chain or nylon varieties, don't confuse the chain variety with the chain lead. This is mostly used on puppies or small dogs, like miniature dachshunds, but some larger dogs still use them. On puppies, only use nylon martingales until they are at least 8 months old.
 * The other commonly used lead is the chain and show lead. This is not as elegant as the martingale, but many handlers use this on larger, boxer breeds such as the Rottweiler. These also help your dog to keep its head held high, and to not run away in the ring. The chain comes in three colors. These are silver, gold, and copper. The lead is very short and is sold separately. The lead can come in as many colors as the martingale.
 * It is easier on puppies if you use the martingale, and if so desired, when the puppy is at least 8 months old you can only start training it to use the chain.

Warnings

 * Make sure your dog is not spayed or neutered, because if so the dog cannot show, unless you are a junior handler.
 * Even if you think your dog has what it takes to be a championship conformation dog, don't always count on it.
 * Make sure you bring your dog's registration papers (for the kennel club), its vaccination papers, and its pedigree papers.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Groom Your Dog
 * How to Buy a Purebred Puppy
 * How to Temperament Test a Dog
 * How to Become a Professional Dog Walker
 * How to Be a Good Dog Owner
 * How to Become a Dog Trainer
 * How to Find and Choose a Dog Trainer

Sources and Citations

 * AKC.org
 * UKCDogs.com