Showing Question

[Rain]

Our Neo Mastiff is nearly 8 months of age and does not like the show ring, we keep show training at home and on the day positive with treats and toys but once in the ring she tries to charge back to the gazebo. She refuses treats in the ring but happily takes them out of the ring?

She hangs her head, tail right under and looks truelly miserable in the ring, running around the ring and stacking her all she wants to do is run back to the gazebo?

Will this behaviour ever change?

Socialisation and outings are not the cause of this behaviour as we take her out and about alot and her temperment is very good meeting people.

We have found the time she is really herself and happy is at home.

Any ideas?

[Faolmor]

I guess one question to ask is what is different about YOUR behaviour in the ring? If you are nervous, or worried (over-focussed and fussing) on her, it all goes down the lead and will only serve to freak her out.

Maybe try her with another handler?

The one thing you must not do is keep pushing if she is afraid. You will only serve to cement the fear in her mind, and then you will never break her of what is fast becoming a bad habit. If it means pulling her from the ring until she is old enough to cope with it, mentally, then that may be the best option for her right now.

[Rain]

Thank you for responding Faolmor, When im in the ring im confidant and excited, my husband would be nervous and we tried her with an experienced show handler and she acted the same.

I remember when her breeder first showed her (baby puppy) and she did not want to be there at all, wouldnt even walk. Was happy when taken back to the car. i thought she was just being a scared pup.

I dont want to make her worse by taking her to the dog show, thank you for your suggestion sounds like the best thing to do for her.

Do you think in time her behaviour will change or am i asking a question thats impossible to answer?

[Nevafollo]

Im the opposite, I would probably keep at it and explain to each judge and each steward that you are having issues so the judge knows to go slow ect.

Yesterday, a friend and I were disuccing dogs who have issues in the ring (as both our dogs went thru a faze) and we both agreed that the best thing we did was keep at it.

I would suggest to you doing show training away from the home, and you need to make it fun for her.

Most babys wont walk or do anything at their first show even their first few. Eventually thou they get it. Time and persisants is what I go for, I would only pull a dog of mine if they were having an extreame reaction to the ring.

Edited December 30, 2010 by Nevafollo

[RallyValley]

I personally would not enter the dog if it was not enjoying it but I would still take it down to the show and after the show is finished or in an empty ring I would take the dog in and play lots of games and give it lots of treats, get a friend to play judge. To me it sounds like your dog sees the ring as a big chore instead of a game.

A trick I did with my boy when he was nervous under cover was do some cliker work, I would make a noise or throw something to make him put his ears up (they were back when he was nervous) and click that and treat it. As he got into the game he begun to forget his nerves.

[Kelza]

Im the opposite, I would probably keep at it and explain to each judge and each steward that you are having issues so the judge knows to go slow ect.

Yesterday, a friend and I were disuccing dogs who have issues in the ring (as both our dogs went thru a faze) and we both agreed that the best thing we did was keep at it.

I would suggest to you doing show training away from the home, and you need to make it fun for her.

Most babys wont walk or do anything at their first show even their first few. Eventually thou they get it. Time and persisants is what I go for, I would only pull a dog of mine if they were having an extreame reaction to the ring.

I agree, show training away from home, as your home is a safe environment that is her confort zone. Make it positive, fun and a happy experience (but not over the top). Only short training sessions are important you dont want to bore her.

Tell the judge she is lacking confidence and I am sure the judge will approach is a confident but calm manner that will assist her. I would get someone that is calm, but confident to handle her, if that is you great but it need to be positive (no nerves), pat her heaps and say good girl.

As a young girl persist but if she really doesn't enjoy it, you wont either. I would try for a few months as they do go through stages, but unfortunately you may not end up showing her. I am a strong believer in doing activities both you and the dog enjoy

Best of luck

Edited December 30, 2010 by Kelza

[conztruct]

I know exactly what you're talking about - I have a boy who's more on the full-on, boisterous side with the familiar but put him in an unfamiliar or uncomfortable situation (and shows can be....) and he's a mess.......

You can show them and I have but I really try to work on making him enjoy or at least tolerate it. I train him in as many unfamiliar places as I can or if training at home try to have a lot of activity happening around him - eg radio on, or have someone he doesn't know stand there (yes, i feel sorry for my visitors sometimes.....). At shows I try to play games with him and lots of treats at first away from the ring and when he becomes more comfortable we move a few metres closer and repeat. I think it's better for them to be a bit hyper and maybe not standing exactly perfectly rather than have them fixated in one position totally terrified.

It's tedious and a lot of work but very rewarding when you see improvement. Don't kid yourself though - with the hesitant temperament in the show arena, you'll have good and bad days and I find I have to put in a lot of work just in the lead up to shows every time. When we're finished my dog still always practically drags me back to the gazebo - lol.

It's not that the dog is bad or has a bad temperament etc - it's just who they are, like some people don't like being in crowds.

If you want to show, I say go for it but try and work with your dog so that it's at least a bearable experience for them - if it's a bad day and they just don't want it, I'd rather withdraw my dog than make them do something they clearly don't want to.

Good luck.

Edited December 30, 2010 by conztruct

[DLB]

Hi

I find sometimes you can do too much show training. We made that mistake with our first show dog. Did too much training and it became boring and dull.

She also would hang her head in the ring and really ended up hating it.

Now I do maybe 1 - 2 minutes every couple of days and my dogs love the shows.

My advice is not to push it. Dont put too much pressure on your baby.

Sorry I couldn't assist more.

Good luck

[Gemelo]

Im the opposite, I would probably keep at it and explain to each judge and each steward that you are having issues so the judge knows to go slow ect.

Yesterday, a friend and I were disuccing dogs who have issues in the ring (as both our dogs went thru a faze) and we both agreed that the best thing we did was keep at it.

I would suggest to you doing show training away from the home, and you need to make it fun for her.

This was me and my dog had a total freakout every time the judge went near her for close to two months. We kept at it, huge rewards for behaving herself, constant show training outside of home, and getting strangers to approach her on walks did wonder for her confidence. Peach is also extremely food motivated, but gets sick of the same treats. I cook up chicken thigh fillet for shows as bait sometimes, I make sure our ring bait is much higher value than a normal treat, which might help as well?

Are you still thinking of doing show training at Hillsborough? There is also weekly training at Cessnock although it is a bit more relaxed, Anne is lovely and will help you enormously, she did with myself and Peach

[Dogsfevr]

I wouldn't be showing her if she was mine,every time the dog see's the ring rope she has trained herself to sulk .

By what you have posted she has done this since 3 months so this routine has been going on for 5 months.

I would be giving her a break .

I never show train my dogs ,they are taught to walk,free bating is taught in fun & stacking is all about touch time .

Yes you will have a powerful dog but as a breed they tend to be dull & deary , i would be looking at obedience classes where she can interact with dogs & have fun with no ring ropes

What you need to remember is your dog will now the show routine from the day before & she will set herself in that mood from there.

My first port of call would be a doggy chiro/bowen to ensure she isn't sore (even if she seems normal)

I also agree that many people over train & take the fun out of showing

Edited December 30, 2010 by showdog

[Bokezu]

I would continue showing, but stop the show training, she's had enough. Make each show fun, and with each show she will become just a little more relaxed and happier. Some dogs hate show training, particularly dogs around your dogs age, she's only a baby and already bored with it all. Some dogs enjoy a show, some dogs don't, they're all different, and we can't create a good showy dog, they are born. Just think of a teenager being made to do something they don't like!!

[Bilbo Baggins]

Valerian drops can help. They relax them and help get over the fear. Then all can be normal.

[helen]

I personally would not enter the dog if it was not enjoying it but I would still take it down to the show and after the show is finished or in an empty ring I would take the dog in and play lots of games and give it lots of treats, get a friend to play judge. To me it sounds like your dog sees the ring as a big chore instead of a game.

A trick I did with my boy when he was nervous under cover was do some cliker work, I would make a noise or throw something to make him put his ears up (they were back when he was nervous) and click that and treat it. As he got into the game he begun to forget his nerves.

Excellent idea

[Rain]

Thank you everyone for all your replies, very helpful as i felt at a loss as what to do.

I did not realise she may have a lack of confidence or bored.

Yes i will try Hillsborough i have been meaning to just got too busy coming up to xmas, do you know when they start up for 2011?

I guess we will have to see what happens, as i dont want her to be miserable in the ring.

This is our first show dog we bought, difficult after having two different judges tell you to bring her back in the ring in another 12 months as they can't tell at this age 6-9 months how she will turn out. So both times no points for her.

Other show people saying we have chosen the worst breed to show as they lump around the ring and there is nothing showy about them. They dont get looked at.

[pebbles]

I had an Afghan pup who did the same thing. He was fine outside but through those ropes and changed dramatically. I didn't do any show training with him for a while, then, as RallyVally suggested, went to a couple of shows and just played with him in an empty ring. The first couple of shows I entered I basically played with him without disturbing the other exhibits. Did our run around the ring, hopping, skipping and leaping with me encouraging him to have fun. Never tried to stack him, just let him stand and talked to him. It worked, he then took a bit of settling down again but worth it. Must admit though that I got a few strange looks from the Judges and didn't win a thing while that was going on

[Shelby]

I also find that as bitches get to around the 6-9 month & their hormones start kicking in, they can become rather nervy/fearfull when they have never shown these traits before. I would continue with just taking her to shows and making it a relaxing time with some training in an empty ring. Perhaps even going around the ring in the wrong direction so that will even be different to what she is expecting.

[capanash]

Here is a link about Shaping for the showring... clicker training (i found it very interesting)

I have a std poodle that hates being shown because she is VERY smart and knows the difference between inside and outside the ring. Very frustrating because she was a nice bitch. Unfortunately I just titled her then retired (for the behaviour plus she decided she didn't want long show hair).

Another bitch never liked the showring. So i titled her then pulled her out and did obedience and agility training which made her a different dog

I'm be going with the previous advice about playing in an empty ring :D there is hope!

[DURNSTEIN]

How about find a show training class an make it really fun – plenty of treats, really motivate her and show her it can be fun!

[Rebanne]

This is our first show dog we bought, difficult after having two different judges tell you to bring her back in the ring in another 12 months as they can't tell at this age 6-9 months how she will turn out. So both times no points for her.

Other show people saying we have chosen the worst breed to show as they lump around the ring and there is nothing showy about them. They dont get looked at.

she's a large/giant breed, it's not uncommon for judges to act as above. The breed I show is the one I want to live with.