Entered my Kel into the Beginner Puppy Competition...

[blaiseshimmer]

...and I could really use some advice.

I am a total newbie; Kel is only the 2nd sheltie we're ever had, and prior to getting Kel, never considered the conformation aspect since our first sheltie was just a pet.

Anyway, his breeder has been a great encouragement, but this potential conformation career (should he stay within size...he's been steady at 14" for a few weeks...) is making me nervous. I will post a separate set of questions on the grooming side, but what can we expect when showing him in the Beginning Puppy (4-6 months)?

He will be just under 6 months when we head to the show in three (!!!) weeks. I can get him to stay alongside me when we practice the 'up and back', head around in circles, he is way better now when I place him on the table for handling...his stacking is still iffy since he is always so happy and bouncy...so his feet do the lovely tapdance thing, which I think is adorable but not too sure about the judge.

There is one BIG problem...he still gets distracted by everything, and I wonder if this is something that could be a large negative when in the conformation ring. I could use some suggestions on how to maintain his 'composure'. He will pay attention to me, will do anything for his treat (I use the boil/bake chicken bait recipe I found on YouTube), but the moment anyone else approaches him, he wants to play.

I will be taking him to a conformation class offered by a kennel club next week, although the closest and ONLY one is still 2.5 hours away so it's not something I can manage every week.

 

[tofu pup]

My best advice is not to worry about it. There is an idea that dog show judges are stuck-up and serious, and that they will boot you out of the ring if your puppy has a short attention span. Au contraire!

Yes, there are some judges who always seem to look miserable, or who are visibly unimpressed with the entry. I have found that these are in the minority. Judges are dog people just like you and me - and the vast majority of them are happy to have your entry. They understand that puppies are puppies: they don't always gait correctly, and they rarely stand still.

Now, add that you are showing in a Beginner Puppy competition, which is specifically for baby puppies. These guys make the 6-9 month "regular" puppies look like old pros. They are truly "baby puppies", and the whole idea of the competition is to give them a chance to experience a dog show without putting pressure on them.

Likewise, the Beginner Puppy competition is also designed for novice owners. (It's right in the rules that you cannot show a puppy - even a puppy that you own - if you have accepted money to handle other people's dogs in the last five years. No pros permitted!) It's a chance for them to try showing their own puppy, and see what dogs shows are all about, without putting pressure on them.

The judge for the competition will be keenly aware of these points. Beginner Puppy is a warm, welcoming place for you to bring your baby and let him tootle around the ring, eat cookies, and be fussed over by a friendly stranger. The judge's role is not just to pick the best puppies, but also to educate the exhibitors (many of whom have never been in the ring before) and give them and their puppies a positive experience.

The judge will be able to evaluate your puppy, even if he's squirmy and doesn't always move in a straight line. If she wants to see more of him, she will take her time and watch longer, or have you move him a second time. Don't try to "tame" him; his little baby brain just can't let him have the kind of attention span that an adult dog would have. And besides, if you try to make him be serious at this age, he will learn that the show ring is no fun. As long as he is happy and friendly, he will do fine - what I worry about more is the puppy who is shy, under-socialized, or frightened.

Here's an example of how Beginner Puppy is different: when I showed in Beginner Puppy earlier this year, I watched our judge handle a dilemma. One of the two German Shepherd puppies entered was white. The puppy's owner - clearly a novice - had no idea that white color is a disqualification in the breed. Where in a "regular" ring the dog would have been DQ'ed and dismissed right away, instead, the judge quietly explained the situation to the owner, examined her puppy, and had her move him. She placed the "correct" puppy first, and let the white puppy walk out of the ring behind him. She handled the situation with delicacy, but also used it as an opportunity to educate the owner.

 

[blaiseshimmer]

Whew! For now, I was working myself into a slight frenzy since the closer we get to the show, the more I worry. Kel is really good about the grooming table, and pretty much will stand there once I position him and yip quite loudly if I delay in handing him a treat. Plus his tail never stops wagging, and I really never want that part of him to stop.

A representative of the show assured me after I asked about BP that the judge for that class is really gentle, not only to the puppies but to the newbies, but I was/am still a bit of a worrywort.

When I went to a sheltie specialty show right after I got Kel, I did see one of the exhibitors with a very young (as definitely under 6 months) puppy all nice and quiet and standing in nice stack without moving. I get that the breeder/exhibitor was prepping the puppy for a regular class perhaps later in the year, but this is the image that has stuck in my head and I can't see my beloved little delinquent doing the same thing.

Somehow, though, I'm glad. I like bouncy puppies. I just wish his bark wasn't always set at volume 11.