Shara's First Obedience Show Report.

[Shara]

Well we NQed all 3 shows. BUT we know what to work on...

First show she did great. She initially scored a 191, we made some minor faults on heeling...MINOR...1/2 point for something....but she went down on her stand for exam.

All was well, I was so excited...I thought we had NQed, but we didnt, so after Novice B went, we did our stays. She messed up on the sit (she layed down) and then when I returned she got up and walked around...ya...The long down, she got up...So the stays DQed us. The judge was very nice and for my first time in the ring I couldnt have asked for a better judge.

The second show went about the same as the first. The man judge was very mean, he called me out to talk to him hours before my show and told me what he expected, told me so many things about "if you do this i will count off 3 points, but most people will NQ you..." "you might not like the sherif but respect the badge" all this wierd stuff...people thought it was really strange of him to do. Stuff like, telling your dog to stay, while you are still postiioning them...I know is a big no no....anyways...she did NOT go "down" on her stand for exam, but when i went back to her, she sat and then got up walking around...On her recall she got up and started walking towards me...again smoething she rarely did at practice...She did a perfect front, then on her finish...walked around...#@%#%

The 3rd show toped the cake in rediclousness. By this time so many smells were in the ring, she had her nose to the ground on heel offleash. I 'lost her' on many spots. She sat instantly on stand for exam, she walked off on her recall, she walked off on her long sit. She rolled over and looked at the judge on her long down stay...Everyone laughed at her! It was hilarious, the face she was making...the judge went and even corrected her, got her laying down, only for her ot do it again. The judge got some giggles, everyone said I should have gotten extra points for her down performance.
The 3rd judge was really sweet but also stern, very proffessional, but she talked to me quite a bit in the ring.

I met some nice people, but for the most part it was kinda boring...sitting around...LOL...there was no vendors, ect...it was very "quiet"

Alot of people asked if we were going to lubbock or elk city but I do not think we are ready, we have a lot of work to do, mostly on anything that requires a stay...Her recalls were so great, she full on ran to me, fronted well, and I dont know why her finishes were trivial. We had 2 perfect finishes, and 1 she walked around on me.

Everyone said her heel work was to die for, and a lot complemented us, but I felt it was more pitty complements, I actually kinda got tired of them saying we did great.

I did leave the ring crying on the 2nd show, But the 3rd where she did everything except run around the ring pissing, I laughed it off. I did mentally better than I thought, when we got in the ring it was show time, I was louder and had more energy...Shara and I clicked so well on the heel work...but she has so much anxiety when away from me...

Anyways, It is over and now I know what it is like, and what to expect!

[CerbiesMom]

Well, I'm glad you went, and you sound like you mostly enjoyed yourself, minus the crying of course. Now you know what to work on, and Shara probably won't be as nervous the next time. she'll know what to expect as well.

[Jr_K9_Expert]

Its great that you decided to go and that now you learned what you need to do.:D:D

Shara may I ask what training methods you are currently using to teach commands?

[Shara]

Yes I am so glad I went, I had been so nervous about this show!!!
I did mellow out and me and Shara clicked on the heel work, it was almost magical. Everyone complemented our heel work, like I said, it was marvolous, I couldnt have asked for anything better.

Jr. I have morphed my training as we have gone along. Doxies for sure are a difficult breed to train, I actually ran into a doxie enthusist there, and gave me some pointers for her stays, which she busted on.

On her recall, we started on leash, walking to end, saying "stay" going back to her, rewarding her stay...thats how we started that out. Again, I never had any issues with her recall till the shows. I think it was because the judge was standing beside her, made her nervous, so she broke her stay.

Her stand for exam is just a doxie thing, the doxie lady there told me I needed to practice with her on a stool higher up, and gradually work down to the ground. The judge at the 2nd show was a 200+ pound man, she shyed down, but did NOT break her stay, it was only after I walked to her, she sat down, then when I got all the way around her, she got up and walked around.

For her stand for exam, we actually PUSH her body to make her work at staying, even pulling on the leash, where she braces against it to work at staying. I have been doing this exercise for many weeks. I knew going in the ring her stand for exam was her biggest flaw and her biggest obstical.

It seems anytime she was away from my side she just went into a nervous break down. Her long sit and stay, both busted on all 3 days...
I actually saw it in her body language, her ears folded flat against her head, her eyes were watery..I could see this from across the ring...And I could tell she was quivering. She has some seperation anxiety issues...lol. But this works at an advantage on her heel work :)

We use a lot of positive reinforcement, treats, praise, ect...

=^.^= Its just going to take a lot more practice and patience to get her rolling...

[Jr_K9_Expert]

Being a doxie owner, I know how hard it is to train doxies.:o They also tend to form really tight bonds with one person only...the latter of which is your problem. Shara doesn't have Sep Anxiety, thats a medical problem, what she lacks is confidence thats all. I know exactly what you mean about how she was acting while you were away because Sheetza is exactly the same when my sister is gone.

It seems to me that you do most of the work with her training, correct? Other family members, do they help?

I would try boosting her confidence by playing tug o war and letting her win more times than she looses. Of course at the end of the game you have to take control. Then have other people walk her and give her commands and treats. At first it may be hard for Shara, so stay by her side for a while and slowly back off. She has to learn that she can do things alone.

Sure tuning up some commands and conditioning will help, everyone can use that, but I think Shara has things down all she needs is a little more self esteem.

Keep up the good work and try again;)

ETA: Do you visit Dogstardaily? If not I suggest you read through some of their articles and radio clips, I'm sure you'll learn a lot. http://www.dogstardaily.com