Tips for all 2008 National Breed Show Exhibitors!!!!!!

We are now nearing our biggest event of the year

 -- THE GSDF NATIONAL BREED SHOW 2008 --.

We do have a super entry of 335 dogs and as far as I can remember we never had more open males than open bitches; but this year 46 open males entered and only 43 open bitches. This shows that slowly but surely our males are getting the recognition.  We are sure that all competitors have done the initial preparation, namely fitness of your dogs. Now it is count down time (one week left). We are listing here a few important tips for all competitors split into various sections:

FOR HANDLERS & DOUBLE HANDLERS/OWNERS

  Double Handlers/Owners

By now you have prepared your dog but have you discussed strategy with your handler? E.g. who will take the dog out of the trailer, DON’T CHANGE YOUR ROUTINE ON THE DAY OF THE SHOW, and take him to the show ring.

• Have your motivational toy ready.

• Discuss hand signals with your handler.

• Discuss the hiding places with your handler beforehand and concentrate on your dog, handler and judge. Everybody else does not matter.

•  WEAR THE SAME COLOUR SCHEME CLOTHING YOU WORE IN TRAINING AND DO NOT CHANGE YOUR PERFUME, DEODORANT OR AFTER SHAVE LOTION (if you do not wear any of these in training then don’t start on the day of the show).

• Have the person arranged for helping with water and instruct him or her when you want it given to your dog. 

• Do not add electrolytes or any other energizer to the water unless your dog is accustomed to it. 

• During a break go back to your dog as quickly as possible and sit quietly with him in the shade.

• When handing him back to the handler make drive and disappear to your hiding place.

   Handlers 

• Warm your dog up. Stand him up a couple of times and ask owner whether it looks all right.

• DO NOT TAKE A DOG COLD INTO THE RING.

• Make sure you do not drag the dog from the double handler especially when you handle a puppy. It is very traumatic for the pup to be dragged away from his owner and you become the bad person.

For the more inexperienced handlers, do not let your puppy pull all the time. They will get tired very quickly and start falling on the forehand. Rather reel them in, encourage and let them go into the lead again. It will be much more fun for the puppy and reassuring

• When entering the ring concentrate on the judge .

• Do not let the dog look bad while lining up. The first impression is lasting.

• Always try to make an entrance.

• Give yourself space, do not be crowded in.

• Look neat and tidy and blend in with your dog.

• Remember not to stand your dog up into the sun and not downhill.

   Grooming

    Your basic grooming should have been done by now.

•  Make sure your dog’s ears are clean.

• If  you spot a slight ear infection take a mixture of Dettol and water along and squirt 10 ml into each ear, sponge the mixture around and let your dog shake it out. Repeat it as necessary. It will save you some medication expenses and it works very well.

• Make sure your dog’s teeth are clean. Give them some big bones to chew on, but never leave bones or any other objects like raw hides and cow hooves lying around. If you want to use them again store them in a fridge.

• Do not bath your dog on the day or even the day before. Natural oils take 2 to 3 days to shine through. A bathed dog never looks sleek but always podgy around the waist .

     Now for preparing your dog on the day. Hopefully you have brushed all the dead hair out.

• Take a spray bottle along (if you can filled with warm water), a towel, some mousse and a comb.

• You spray your dog all over, rubble it fairly dry with the towel, then apply mousse and rubble  the excess of and style with the comb. Especially the croup area is important.

  DON’T FORGET THE TAIL, A WELL GROOMED TAIL FINISHES THE PICTURE OF YOUR DOG

     Schutzdienst

• Have the correct size collar, do not use a too large collar which you might have to double back you might get stuck when unhooking the lead or your dog might get out of the collar.

• Make sure the hook on the lead is the correct size for your collar.

• Do not have a lead, which is too long.

• Last week before Nationals you should have reduced your fitness training to 20% of the distance you trained.

• As from Tuesday before the Nationals only do motivational training, play with him or her, spend quality time without other dogs around, it will do wonders to the bond.

  Taking your dog to the ringside you need to concentrate on him and not chat to other people and let him or her be ignored. If you feel like chatting to your friends do it without your dog next to you.

  It is a good idea to walk your dog around the show ground to acclimatize him or her.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU AND WE SEE YOU NEXT WEEK