What to do at a show?

So the ADBA nationals will be my first show. I have a four year old male. What do I need to do to be ready for the show (besides conditioning my dog)?

What do I wear, what gear do I bring, what exactly do I do in the ring?

Thanks,

Genevieve

 

At an ADBA show, you will need a crate, 4' lead and sturdy buckle collar. It's a good idea to bring water for your dog, maybe something to cover the crate if he gets too worked up over all the other dogs. I don't know what weather up there is like, but down here I make sure I have a crate fan, or in winter, a blanket for my dog to curl up in. Also, if you have a breaking stick, bring that too, and keep it in your pocket. You may not need it for your own dog, but if an accident breaks out, you might be the closest person with that little insurance policy in your pocket.

Just a word of warning, you should plan on making a day of it. I always bring a folding chair, drinks, maybe a book. And some money for the vendors.

You can wear whatever you like, but it's a good idea not to wear something that's so "busy" that it draws attention away from your dog. I usually just wear clean dark jeans and a t-shirt. Wear comfortable shoes that you don't mind getting dirty. (All our ADBA shows here are in dirt-floored barns.)

As far as ring procedure, it'd be a good idea to watch some of the classes before yours so you can get an idea of how it goes. If you aren't sure what the ring order is, ask them when your class is going in. Sometimes they have it written on a dry-erase board, or they call it over the loudspeaker. Basically, you'll be in a holding area with the other dogs about to go into the ring. You'll be wearing your armband number on your left arm. (The club should provide rubber bands to band it around your arm, or you can use a pin or something.) The ring steward will let you know when to go in -- they don't do it in any particular order that I've seen -- and which direction to go. From there, you'll gait your dog around the perimeter of the ring. (Keep your dog between you and the judge.) You'll go all the way around and a ring steward will tell you where to stop.

When you're stopped, it's up to you whether you want to hand-stack your dog, or just let him hang out and relax until it's time for him to be looked at. Some judges appreciate the extra work of manually stacking the dog, others are just as happy seeing the dog naturally. The judge will have an up-close look at the dogs in the order in which they've come in the ring, after all the dogs are in there. If, say, you're 3rd or 4th in line, you might just want to let your dog relax until the judge is almost done with the dog ahead of you, and then stack him up. The judge will look at your dog, ask you to show the teeth -- most people straddle their dogs while using both hands to show the bite -- and then have you do a down-and-back. He/she will point you in the right direction, and then you'll trot your dog across the ring and back, watching the judge for the cue to stop and let your dog free-stack. (They might make a funny noise to see your dog's expression.) Then he/she will probably thank you, then you go back to your spot and they move on to the next dog.

If it's a big class, the judge will probably call out their favorites and have them line up to look at them side-by-side. Maybe even gait them parallel to each other. If you didn't understand the judge's orders, don't be afraid to ask for clarification. Always remember to keep a fair amount of space between your dog and the next. That's a matter of safety, not just good ring etiquette. That said, if your dog acts up, don't worry. ADBA judges understand the breed, and are used to seeing drive and even outright aggression.

ADBA shows are fun. It's your first show, so just go and have a good time, soak up the experience. It gets easier as you go.

 

That was an extremely helpful and informative post, thank you very much.

What things should I work on at home? Is he expected to be perfect in the ring like at an AKC show on TV? He is very well behaved when we are working OB, but the rest of the time he is... a little challenging...

Also, he is overly excited to see people- working hard on not jumping, but is exuberance a good thing or a bad thing? He is going to wiggle like a wind up toy when the judge touches him...

Genevieve

 

On the whole, exuberance is a good thing in ADBA, try to make sure your dog enjoys it as much as you can.

 

ADBA judges generally don't touch your dog. Excitement is a good thing, they aren't expected to stand still 100% of the time like dog shows on tv. A lot of dogs are barking and lunging at the dog next to them. Some judges like rowdy dogs and others don't. These dogs are supposed to be people friendly and dog aggressive so it's ok if they act like it. JUst make sure you have control of your dog. I would just practice having control while showing it's teeth and having your dog stack naturally when you stop walking.

Have fun and good luck!

 

You can work on teaching your dog to stand in place and gait at a trot without galloping. A lot of dogs in the ADBA ring don't necessarily know those things, but it does make it easier for the judge to evaluate your dog's conformation.

 

Awesome, in that case I think he is ready to go. He is an attention whore when it comes to people- good thing the judge doesn't have to examine him or he would be covered in paw prints and kisses...

Are most people pretty vigilant? I am 100% in control of my dog 100% of the time, is this the norm?

Thanks,

Genevieve

 

That is the norm but it doesn't happen 100% of the time. There was an incident an the IL ADBA show where 2 dogs got eachother in a huge class. You just need to be aware of the other dogs in your immediate area along with yours.

 

Yeah, accidents happen. I heard there was one at our show down here, a few hours after we'd gone home. At the Nationals, this guy let another dog run up on my girl and there was an accident then, too. That's why most people carry breaking sticks. When you've got 100 or more dogs in a building together, it can happen.

 

It looks like you've been given some very good advice, I will add- At the Nationals, Puppy's are shown on Sat. and adult dogs on Sun. You won't be showing on Sat. so I suggest you plan on attending just to watch. That will give you an idea of what to expect. And a word of caution- NEVER expect anyone else to watch their dog. People get distracted and accidents happen. Good Luck!

 

All I can say is my experience but all I did was feed my dog well work it out and come in to the show ring and hold the leash and I won first place in my first show people try to make it out like they have some special ingredient or how to all you need is a good dog with good nutrition and good exercise and you will do just fine. 2 many people want to make it seem like they have some seceret and the only seceret is hard work and good feed. P.S. I asked alot of questions at the show and got alot of snooty responses like TMI and what not but found out I didnt need to ask anyone questions when my dog won first place above others.