Show Dog Training

Westminster in the US and Crufts in UK are some of the most popular dog shows in the world. Dog shows are growing in popularity, with more than 130 different breeds of dogs participating in these dog shows.

Every breed has some individuals that are more ideal than others. Conformation of the dog is the most important criteria that should be looked at. So what does this conformation refer to? Conformation is the form of the dog’s legs, tail, head, ears and other parts. The conformation is important in show dogs.

Once you own a show dog, you can start your show dog training. You should ideally start training for dog shows while the animal is young. You need to start with teaching your dog the basics. This basic training can take months or years. Only after the basics are dealt with properly, should you proceed to advanced behavior. One thing to remember while training show dogs is that precision is more important in show dog training. The dog has to be trained to hit the mark, be specific and pose in a particular manner. The dog has to be confident enough to these things in front of thousands of people.

You need to train your dog to accept the handling by the judges calmly. Judges at dog shows are going to want to check eyes, teeth, coat, other body parts and your dog’s posture. The best way to get your dog accustomed to handling is by bathing. You need to teach your dog to enjoy having his ears touched, feet lifted and gums inspected. The dog should enjoy it while you have fun…teach your dog that shaking vigorously when wet is not acceptable. While taking the bath and after, practice posing or stacking. Make your dog also practice other stances like one foot raised, standing, sitting and rolling. Your dog should be trained to hold these postures for as long as you command. This will require strict discipline and training.

Training a dog how to walk may require leash training. The purpose behind this is to teach your dog to follow you wherever you are going and at whatever pace you set. Begin with regular walking and heeling, and then proceed to sharp turns and changes in direction. The trick is to make your dog follow you immediately. Using a clicker to encourage your dog to follow you is a good idea. If your dog is on the leash, give the leash a tug while changing directions. Remember that while training your dog to walk, you need to make it walk beside you and not in front or behind you. Always begin training to walk at a slow pace and gradually increase. Switch from a tight leash to a loose one gradually. Train your dog to stop at the precise moment you stop walking. Effectively use the clicker or tug while training so that the dog knows when to start walking and when to stop.