I hope not to become annoying but I would like some opinions on differences between AllBreed shows vs. Specialties.
(I had posted this as a continuation of my postings about training for Conformation Shows but I thought it would be better to start a new post).
Thank you!!I entered Henna to a couple of All Breed shows and I have a couple of questions about her presentation and maybe some of the experienced folks here can give me some last minute hints?
Here we go:
1. She loves to swim and I was wondering if I should stop taking her to the lake so her coat doesn't look "too" clean/dry?
When I take her to the lake I just dry her with 3 or 4 towels before getting back in the car but I don't brush her. When we get home her coat is all "wild" (I kinda like it), so I was wondering if I need to make sure her coat is all perfectly brushed down or if some wild hair in her hips, neck and tail is OK to be a bit wild.
2. I understand all-breed shows expect you to hand-stack your dog while in specialties they are more free (bait) stacked. Is that true? She looks much happier and excited as the puppy she is when we try the free stacking....
3. I am planning to use a chrome choke collar and a nylon lead. Is the metallic collar OK in this type of shows?
4. I have also seen that in all-breed shows handlers tend to pull up the lead to keep the dogs head up but sometimes it looks to me like the dog is being hung.... Dobermans and Pointers look great that way, but I am not sure about Labs being showed that way. Any advice?
5. One or two of the judges, I understand, are Lab breeders. Should I present Henna in a different way to these judges as opposed to how I am expected to show her to the other judges??
Thanks for any advice. It is clear to me that it is about learning and having fun together and watching other dogs and learning by watching and not pushing her hard so she keeps enjoying shows and classes.
(I had posted this as a continuation of my postings about training for Conformation Shows but I thought it would be better to start a new post).
Thank you!!I entered Henna to a couple of All Breed shows and I have a couple of questions about her presentation and maybe some of the experienced folks here can give me some last minute hints?
Here we go:
1. She loves to swim and I was wondering if I should stop taking her to the lake so her coat doesn't look "too" clean/dry?
When I take her to the lake I just dry her with 3 or 4 towels before getting back in the car but I don't brush her. When we get home her coat is all "wild" (I kinda like it), so I was wondering if I need to make sure her coat is all perfectly brushed down or if some wild hair in her hips, neck and tail is OK to be a bit wild.
2. I understand all-breed shows expect you to hand-stack your dog while in specialties they are more free (bait) stacked. Is that true? She looks much happier and excited as the puppy she is when we try the free stacking....
3. I am planning to use a chrome choke collar and a nylon lead. Is the metallic collar OK in this type of shows?
4. I have also seen that in all-breed shows handlers tend to pull up the lead to keep the dogs head up but sometimes it looks to me like the dog is being hung.... Dobermans and Pointers look great that way, but I am not sure about Labs being showed that way. Any advice?
5. One or two of the judges, I understand, are Lab breeders. Should I present Henna in a different way to these judges as opposed to how I am expected to show her to the other judges??
Thanks for any advice. It is clear to me that it is about learning and having fun together and watching other dogs and learning by watching and not pushing her hard so she keeps enjoying shows and classes.