How do I not break his spirit?

[musiccitymom]

Last night at conformation class Wolfie was the only small dog. It was a great class with only 5 dogs, felt like I learned more. Biggest issue I had was he wants to eat ALL dogs bigger than him! I know I want to keep that feisty terrier attitude but it was embarrassing that he was growling and trying his best to get to them. I can giggle about it on here with y'all but some of the other owners were not amused Any suggestions? Also when I put him up on the table 6 times out of 10 he will pull his lil buddies up inside himself. I know as he gets older that will stop but what can I do to help til then?

Thanks!

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by musiccitymom

Last night at conformation class Wolfie was the only small dog. It was a great class with only 5 dogs, felt like I learned more. Biggest issue I had was he wants to eat ALL dogs bigger than him! I know I want to keep that feisty terrier attitude but it was embarrassing that he was growling and trying his best to get to them. I can giggle about it on here with y'all but some of the other owners were not amused Any suggestions? Also when I put him up on the table 6 times out of 10 he will pull his lil buddies up inside himself. I know as he gets older that will stop but what can I do to help til then?

Thanks!

Wolfie has the spirit we all want. He'll out grow that wanting to kill everything. That's why you take him into the ring at an early age. For training.

Wolfies testes have not seated. He has the ability to pull them up at will until they do. When you stack him on the table (and don't cringe or get all proper on me). As you lift him onto the table, hold them in place with your fingers, till the judge reaches for them to check.

[topknot]

Try also baiting him while on the table at home - so he learns that it is a good thing and make it fun for him. That should help.

[musiccitymom]

Thank you both for the advice. I appreciate your input. And Mary, I am not a dainty girl in the least so I will definitely try that lol. The lady who was teaching the class said I could do that as well if he his misbehaving on the table... to get his attention : )

I may carry two different baits with me for class. One that he gets stacking on the ground and one only for the table. I may be kind of scaring him when I swoop him up. I probably should slow it all down until they are seated.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by musiccitymom

Thank you both for the advice. I appreciate your input. And Mary, I am not a dainty girl in the least so I will definitely try that lol. The lady who was teaching the class said I could do that as well if he his misbehaving on the table... to get his attention : )

I may carry two different baits with me for class. One that he gets stacking on the ground and one only for the table. I may be kind of scaring him when I swoop him up. I probably should slow it all down until they are seated.

Prepare him by telling him "UP".

I handled a boy that was wild on the table and could only control him by cupping his testes. That stopped when he began humping the air. But, he was a humper anyway. If my arm was accessible, he humped, even when I was bathing him. We'd be in the hotel room, me in the bathroom, bathing and my mentor in the other room. She'd hear me yell quit it Cash and she'd start laughing.

[musiccitymom]

hahah Lord I hope Wolfie isn't one of those but it wouldn't surprise me. He does love a nice stuffed bunny lol

[yorkielady06]

OMG Mary that was great.!!!!
As for the spirit...How does he take correction? If he takes it well about things at home he should take it ok there according to my teacher. I am working the other end. Mine is a bouncy girl and thinks all the big dogs are her best friends... no fear for sure. She has not learned the bark and growl as of yet. I know my teacher tells me to play, play, play on the table if they are shy about it or a little shaky in the knees about being up that high.
I have a problem with my girl just stopping in her tracks in the ring. She does an awesome job free stacking but takes it to the extreme by stopping and free stacking when we are walking in the ring...lol...just stops and waits for the bait...brat.
I am trying the training with toys and it is not working at all. I have not clue how to get her to walk and my teacher tells me to just pick her up and has me get into line again and again.....We were the start pupils in the first 3 classes, not so the last 2..lol

[Mardelin]

What one needs to realize is these little ones are pups. Repetive training and the ring will eventually get these pups to be show dogs. And of course you're handling skills.

[Brooklynn]

Hey Mary, Not all of them grow out of wanting to kill big dogs LOL...Radar still wants to kill a big dog ROFL! I just keep telling him he's just a snack not a meal to the big doggies! He's always wanting to get them when they walk by the ringside table LOL...and he's 5 hehehe

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Brooklynn

Hey Mary, Not all of them grow out of wanting to kill big dogs LOL...Radar still wants to kill a big dog ROFL! I just keep telling him he's just a snack not a meal to the big doggies! He's always wanting to get them when they walk by the ringside table LOL...and he's 5 hehehe

I know and Delilah is just like her Dad/Tony. I use to have to stuff a toy in his mouth; he'd see a Standard Poodle and he'd start to growl, bark, his ears would go back and his back would get 6 inces shorter. Delilah is the same way.

[musiccitymom]

He takes correction very well. I am just trying to keep everything fun on the table still. He does fine on the floor, only sometimes trying to go too fast since we are in with big dogs for our conformation class.

And tonight we have been practicing the table and he now looks at me with love in his eyes as he knows what I am going to check lol

Donna, I am afraid he may be like your boy Radar. He is a pistol! If they walk anywhere near us he is snapping like a piranha trying to get them.

[musiccitymom]

I love her name! I am going to have to try the toy trick.

Originally Posted by Mardelin

I know and Delilah is just like her Dad/Tony. I use to have to stuff a toy in his mouth; he'd see a Standard Poodle and he'd start to growl, bark, his ears would go back and his back would get 6 inces shorter. Delilah is the same way.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by musiccitymom

I love her name! I am going to have to try the toy trick.

Well luckily Razz doesn't growl or bark in the ring (as of yet). And he lives with big dogs, so they are just a part of the landscape to him. Which is a problem. He just wants to say hi and play with all dogs, size no matter thank you very much.

I just thank my lucky stars that cats aren't in the ring, for he terrorizes my Maine Coone Karma. He is a brat with my cat!

His worse thing in the ring (with me) is just being too friendly on the table. Hey hi judge, let me give you a big kiss, pet me, let me wriggle my butt and jump up on you. Aggrrrr.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by musiccitymom

He takes correction very well. I am just trying to keep everything fun on the table still. He does fine on the floor, only sometimes trying to go too fast since we are in with big dogs for our conformation class.

And tonight we have been practicing the table and he now looks at me with love in his eyes as he knows what I am going to check lol

Donna, I am afraid he may be like your boy Radar. He is a pistol! If they walk anywhere near us he is snapping like a piranha trying to get them.

And you are so right, everything in the ring is to be made fun...you want them to love it.

[musiccitymom]

haha Wolfie loves cats for some reason, has no problem with them at all. We have two outside cats and they love all over him whenever we go out. My daughter's golden retriever is here with us so I don't undestand the big dog hate either...but then again, Crosby (named after Syd the Kid ) lets Wolfie rule the roost. Maybe they aren't submitting to his satisfaction. And I guess if we had to choose being overly friendly with people would be easier to deal with.

Originally Posted by gemy

Well luckily Razz doesn't growl or bark in the ring (as of yet). And he lives with big dogs, so they are just a part of the landscape to him. Which is a problem. He just wants to say hi and play with all dogs, size no matter thank you very much.

I just thank my lucky stars that cats aren't in the ring, for he terrorizes my Maine Coone Karma. He is a brat with my cat!

His worse thing in the ring (with me) is just being too friendly on the table. Hey hi judge, let me give you a big kiss, pet me, let me wriggle my butt and jump up on you. Aggrrrr.