Show lead ?

[Sugar's Mom]

The first two conformation classes I took my girl to, she did great with her show lead. had never been on a lead and prissed around with her tail up like she was saying, hello world, look at me. you know the kind, full of attitude. we went for a period without anywhere to go to class for awhile after that but i tried to work her here at home with no luck at all. Last week we went to another class. the judge, or I guess teacher, asked me to put her on the table. she did a stack to die for. Then the judge asked for a triangle, then a circle. She did pretty well but without the attitude she had in the past. next round, I had to pull her. next round, she laid flat down on the floor with her head between her paws and looked at the teacher as if to say, you can't make me. That was on Monday and I know she got tired. I have worked with her several times a day since then and it is only getting worse. I have even tried just a regular lead. i have tried food and toys both as bait. Nothing. Does anyone have any suggestions? I need help fast. Thanks, dee

[YorkieRose]

How old is she now?
They can go through phases that make you nuts. You might stop working with her at home for a week and see how she reacts in the next class. Of course, you can stack her daily and brush her coat on the table and act like it is nothing more then grooming..
I have had some train so well and around 10 months they start acting up, but came around in a few weeks...good luck

[PrestigeousYT]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

How old is she now?
They can go through phases that make you nuts. You might stop working with her at home for a week and see how she reacts in the next class. Of course, you can stack her daily and brush her coat on the table and act like it is nothing more then grooming..
I have had some train so well and around 10 months they start acting up, but came around in a few weeks...good luck

Sometimes its a girl thing. They seem to be more moody and want to be the boss. They try you to see if they can get by with doing what they want when they want. I wouldn't over work her. I would just do every other day or so with her and always make it fun. You find yourself looking and acting like a nut because you gotta make it fun for her.
So if she likes it when you talk to her silly talk to her silly.
You have to find what makes her respond.

And if you do this as fun and look at it as fun it will come together for both of you. If you are stressing it, that will make it harder to get her to click with what you are wanting.
Some of it just comes with time. Remember we all started the same way, we have been there. I was told when I started by a Boxer exhibitor at class, honey we all put our pants on the same way, we all started somewhere so remember that and it will take some of the stress away.
That really helped me to hear a seasoned person telling me that.
I seemed to relax afterwards.


Deana
Prestigeous

[abbey46923]

I had the same problem with Sadie she did good the first couple times we went to class and I would work with her at home then she just got this attitude that she didnt like to do it. then it got so hot that we were both miserable , there was no air conditioning where they held the classes so we stopped going. I really need to get her back on the lead again and see what she will do now, she's 10 months old. I would really like to go back to class again just wish it was closer it's an hour drive 1 way.
Lynne

[Sugar's Mom]

i have an hours drive, too. she is almost six months old Pat and I don't have but a week more to work with her. i am stressing out something awful and you are right, she probably does pick up on it.

[Sugar's Mom]

bump!!!!!!!!!!! have I been black listed? no one wants to help me? Well, thanks anyhow.

[LIL MIS' MAGIC]

My male Silky did this exact thing, when he first went in the ring at 6 months he did wonderful...he walked with his tail up and showed off in the ring completely!! He actually did this his first several shows, but then all of a sudden he stopped and wouldn't walk or stand up in the ring hardly at all. I got so stressed with him and the siutation. Nothing I did seemed to help him, he would not walk for bait or a toy or any kind of noise. We practiced and practiced but nothing changed...until I just let it go. I started taking him places and making him walk with me even if he didn't want to or his tail was down. Soon he was confident again, he got his confidence once I stopped and relaxed and just let him grow up and settle down a little bit.

The more you stressed the more they stress...but don't baby them, b/c they will learn that if they don't walk you will baby them and they get want they want.

You can turn your little one around, take her places she likes to go (we went to the dog park alot) and give LOTS of praise when she does even the littlest thing right. She will learn that walking on the lead is fun again...

[Sugar's Mom]

Originally Posted by LIL MIS' MAGIC

My male Silky did this exact thing, when he first went in the ring at 6 months he did wonderful...he walked with his tail up and showed off in the ring completely!! He actually did this his first several shows, but then all of a sudden he stopped and wouldn't walk or stand up in the ring hardly at all. I got so stressed with him and the siutation. Nothing I did seemed to help him, he would not walk for bait or a toy or any kind of noise. We practiced and practiced but nothing changed...until I just let it go. I started taking him places and making him walk with me even if he didn't want to or his tail was down. Soon he was confident again, he got his confidence once I stopped and relaxed and just let him grow up and settle down a little bit.

The more you stressed the more they stress...but don't baby them, b/c they will learn that if they don't walk you will baby them and they get want they want.

You can turn your little one around, take her places she likes to go (we went to the dog park alot) and give LOTS of praise when she does even the littlest thing right. She will learn that walking on the lead is fun again...

Thank you so much. I know I am stressing because I just have a few days beofre her first little puppy match. i swear if you could see the look she gives me. it's like, make me if you can.LOL

[YorkieRose]

Listen to me...if you do not set your mind on having fun and nothing more, DO NOT GO!!! It does not matter if she walks or not, she is a 6 month old puppy. You go to get her out and around the ring, people, new sounds and dogs..that in itself is training and worth your time and money.

Showing was never life or death to me...I had a boy named "Scooter" who was a clown..we went to Rock Creek show one year and he literally rolled in a big pile of leaves at the end of the ring as I walked him..it was a perfect fall day and what Yorkie could resist such temptaion?

My motto is...if I don't win, at least I had fun ans since I lose more then win, it is a good motto.....and I will never forget my day with Scooter...he is at Rainbow Bridge now, no doubt rolling in a big pile of fall leaves..he learned to be a good ring dog, but was always a clown.

[PrestigeousYT]

Dee you have to get your mind set to you are going to have fun no matter what. She is a puppy and everyone loves puppies so remember you are going to play and have fun.
You got anything that calms your nerves, something natural?
It wouldn't hurt because I can feel your stress all the way here in WV
You should be so proud, you have a beautiful young pup to show off, now get out there and enjoy her.
And so what if she doesn't do everything right, she is learning and so are you, no better way to learn than together.
We are all here cheering ya on, so remember you are going to have fun.

Deana
Prestigeous

[chattiesmom]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

Listen to me...if you do not set your mind on having fun and nothing more, DO NOT GO!!! It does not matter if she walks or not, she is a 6 month old puppy. You go to get her out and around the ring, people, new sounds and dogs..that in itself is training and worth your time and money.

Showing was never life or death to me...I had a boy named "Scooter" who was a clown..we went to Rock Creek show one year and he literally rolled in a big pile of leaves at the end of the ring as I walked him..it was a perfect fall day and what Yorkie could resist such temptaion?

My motto is...if I don't win, at least I had fun ans since I lose more then win, it is a good motto.....and I will never forget my day with Scooter...he is at Rainbow Bridge now, no doubt rolling in a big pile of fall leaves..he learned to be a good ring dog, but was always a clown.

Pat, thank you for sharing your wisdom garnered from your years in the show circuit. This has got to be the very best showing advice I have ever read. If you aren't having fun then you should do something else. Somehow winning a prize isn't worth having an unhappy dog and an unhappy human. Life is just too short to stress..... Thank you, Pat, for putting it all into perspective. What a GREAT teacher your Scooter was.

[Sugar's Mom]

Well, I am not stressing over her winning. I am a little timid and since this is MY first time, I am scared to death and naturally want everything to go well. She did a little better this morning. She walked a few steps on her own. Tail down of course but at least she took a few steps. Thanks for the advicee.

[LIL MIS' MAGIC]

Glad she did a little better this morning!

Remember, these puppy matches are just for fun and a great place to start if you and the puppy are new. Everyone is very patient & kind and normally they are very relaxed.

I completely agree with Pat, set your expectations to just having fun or she is right, stay home. I sure wish someone had said those very words to me when I started having problems with Captain! I could have saved some money and stress!

Just my opinion, but I really think we are training ourselves as much as our pups when it comes to showing! Not just in the "rules" of showing, but more so in how you teach yourself to handle the nerves/worries and the unexpected......the better handle I got on myself, the better my pup did in and out of the ring.

Good luck....and know I will be thinking of you...is it next weekend??

[Sugar's Mom]

Originally Posted by LIL MIS' MAGIC

Glad she did a little better this morning!

Remember, these puppy matches are just for fun and a great place to start if you and the puppy are new. Everyone is very patient & kind and normally they are very relaxed.

I completely agree with Pat, set your expectations to just having fun or she is right, stay home. I sure wish someone had said those very words to me when I started having problems with Captain! I could have saved some money and stress!

Just my opinion, but I really think we are training ourselves as much as our pups when it comes to showing! Not just in the "rules" of showing, but more so in how you teach yourself to handle the nerves/worries and the unexpected......the better handle I got on myself, the better my pup did in and out of the ring.

Good luck....and know I will be thinking of you...is it next weekend??

yes it is and we are going out to the park in a little bit when it gets warmer. My other dogs bother her.

[YorkieRose]

Dee...I am old enough to remember the long time exhibitors you admire now, walking around wide eyed and feeling stupid! LOL

I have the snobbish cousin alive...at a holiday gathering with many of her country club friends, she went on and about her lavish, fun filled year among the rich and famous...then she made the fatal mistake of asking me why I was so quiet...I told her I was just thinking about the fun filled summer I spent with her and her family..and how she used to walk with me to the outhouse to pee, because I was afraid of the spiders and the chicken who would peck at your butt...that shut her up and reminded her of where she started...LOL