Need showing suggestions!!!
 

All right... Mickey has his first show coming up in another month and we've been going to handling classes for a few weeks now. He is very full of himself and not timid but he does get a little apprehensive about odd things. Things like the fan when we first started turning it on this summer and it would move something and he would bark at it, things like that. He's friendly with people, loves other dogs just gets a little freaked at first with weird and different things he hasn't seen before. So at handling class there is a big vent in the wall and this time of year it's blowing cold air and it's a little loud. Well Mickey does not want to walk past it. He pulls back on the lead and I'm not sure if I'm supposed to make this fun and let him have his way, pick him up which isn't going to work in a show or if I'm supposed to pull him and make him follow? By the way, he is usually very food motivated but not so at handling class, he's more interested in the other dogs. And I could distract him a bit with a squeaky toy tonight but not completely. Any suggestions for me? Of course, we are going to keep going to class and I am going to work as well at home. I realized he walks really good at home but I usually have the other 2 dogs with me as well so I'm going to try walking him by himself for now but would love some other suggestions....

Have you taken Mickey to a show before? Introduced him to those sights n sounds yet? If not then is it at all possible do that before your first show. Or you could try taking him into busy pet shops and have him walk with you, with his attention on you.

Do you have a fan at home that you could put on, to help to desensitize him to the sound and feel of wind blowing?

You can talk to your boy in the showring, to help distract him from any untoward noise.

He looks young not unusual for them to be alittle apprehensive with loud noisy new things.
At handling class, before you get to the air vent stoop down to get your bait right in front of his nose, turning and walk backwards and lead him past it. Keep his attention on his really yummy bait. Keep praising him as you do this. Before class starts if you can, do it a few times, he won't notice the vent anymore eventually.
I have had dogs startle at a garbage can at a show so these things are not unusual. Eventually everything becomes old hat and they don't startle so much at new things.

I should have been more clear, you are the one that turns and walks backwards not the dog, he keeps going the direction you were going.

We do have a fan blowing at home but this is a big vent in the wall so you can't really see but just feel it blowing. It's not all that different than our window air conditioners really so you'd think he wouldn't be too scared of it. He's only 9 months so no, hasn't been to the shows yet. This will be his first introduction. Although the handling classes are a bit like a mini show. There were about 15 dogs there tonight. Everything from husky's to boxers to shelties to min pins and a few others. He really likes and is interested in the other dogs. One of the dogs tried to bite the judge. :eek: But he was really good and he even let her look at his teeth this time.(we've been working on that) Exept for the part where we would get half way down near the blowing vent and then he stopped and wouldn't budge. Well, eventually I was able to coax him but that won't go over well in the actual ring. But I won't think that way quite yet....

Thank you! Yes, I did say to myself that I should get there a little early next week and practice walking with him. He doesn't seem to be very treat motivated at this class although at home that's a different story. I even brought chicken breast which is usually a favorite. Any suggestions for a really yummy bait?

Try a liver bait or keep working with the chicken he likes :) Always be patient and coax him and make it fun for him and he'll do just fine :) You're doing a good job it seems already. Take him to the show early enough so you can walk him around a bit to get use to it. He's still a pup and just remember to make it fun and relax yourself :) You'll do great!

Donna

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: sometimes I get so task focussed I forget the really important things. Donna always remembers them. 9 mths old, have Fun with your pup is so very important for you and him.

Liver treats or very small teeny cheese treats might just be the ticket for him; when dogs are very uncomfy they often will turn their nose up at the usual (for them) treat.

Also win or lose no matter what make a big fuss over your dog prior to going out of the ring, treat. praise with hands and voice, so that your dog associates ringtime with good things from you.

They sell dried liver treats at Petsmart in Latham, Crossgates Commons, Mohawk Mall...try a small container and see if he likes it. Bentley loves liver treats!

Are you showing at the Saratoga show you mentioned in an earlier post?

Gidget is going to handling class too and she spooks at strange things - for example she hates walking past this one Great Dane that is waiting for the next class.

My instructor is very good. She has me switch hands and walk Gidget on the opposite side (right hand instead of left) so that she feels more secure. Eventually you can move back to the left. This helps a lot with Gidget and partly I think that is because I also have better control with my right hand than I do with my left.

Another thing we do is to make sudden turns with her (keep turning to the left for example) which distracts her from whatever she is obsessing over in the first place. This also works wonders if she is walking too close to me, which she sometimes does if she is stressed over something.

Gidget is full of herself as well and has so much energy and enthusiasm. She requires a lot of work and so I have to walk her a LOT before we even go into the class - she still has plenty left over for the class, believe me, but it helps to calm her.

Good luck! :)

Hey! You must live near me! Yup, it's the Saratoga shows, are you coming?

I don't know when or where they are being held.

They are at the Saratoga Fairgrounds in Ballston Spa. Hope you can make it!

What is the date? I don't go past Latham so I don't know my way around...I would think it is off the Northway. Oh, and is it an All Breed show? I haven't been to one since forever since showing my Shepherd years ago...

Yeah, up the Northway to exit 13 I believe. It is Wed 8/11-Sun 8/15. Yes, it is an all breed show. Lots of gorgeous dogs!