Conditioning for shows...

I would like to hear some of the ways people are conditioning their dogs for shows? are you following keeps that were previously considered keeps for a "match" or are you following a new type of keep?

 

I dont think a keep for a "match" will provide nowhere near the same results as a keep for a show. Not in a bad way. Just two diff. things.

 

i think my best results in dogs condition for showin only i'll add , was when i cut some beef liver to about the size of a hotdog put it in a wheat hotdog bun along with greens or brocalli grizzley salmon oil egg shells kelp in the morning then choped ckicken with bones with the same garnish every 3rd day i used wheat germ oil before that i used jared wheat germ they love that stuff ,,, didn't discove dog bloom or anything else till bulldog havens show last year we won some it works and they love that ,, i got lazy put them on natural balance almost the the same overall results but just not the same as the first diet ,, i'm hangin in there right now so i cheapened up on the feed

 

good info.
I use to have my dogs on half raw, half totw. I have my dogs at two different places for the time being, and have been just feeding totw only to make things easier. I really niticed a trimming in them this spring that I like a lot.

- looking at a dog in prime shape is easy on the eyes.
Healing time between work outs seems to be a key factor. Think of it like training methods people do to get in shape for different activities. Age must be concidered too.
I have my own schedule for walking and activities, but use some things out of keeps also. I love road work best, cause it keeps me in shape too.

 

I dont understand what you mean? if you ever seen pics of dogs before match they look like a million bucks...or supposed to!

 

What is a good diet and excercise routine for a show dog?

 

Are you looking to win or also get a best conditioned. Genetics play a huge role.The search function should provide you with the answers you need for that question. Most important is that each dog is an individual, try a few things and see what works for you and your dog(s). Btw don't forget a rubber glove/brush for your dogs coat. Dogs can't redistribute the oil on their coats so its necessary for us to help them out. Hand walking, rundowns, and brushing make for good boning as well.

 

You could go on for days telling people what is best, the best advice I could give is buy a little black spiral and read all the old keeps write down everything that you think applys to conditioning. Then write down everything people tell you. Draw an " X " through half of it....lol....j/k . I dont feed raw but only because if tou start breaking down what nutrients you get from it youll find you can get pretty damn close in a quality kibble. I feed wellness core, not to be confused with the regular wellness. I pick a food with the lowest amount of fat, this way im able to add in my own fats if needed. Diffrent veggies will give you diffrent benifits, if any but its important to know what they give when you want a dog thats in shape instead of a dog that look like its in shape. If you choose to add supplements you can but need to know why youre adding them so you can give them accordingly, cramming the dog full of unneeded shit will make your dog need to process more than it should. I fed the beef liver and didnt see anything special, alot of iorn , same thing with red cell... Made the dogs run hot so watch out for that. Theres a billion quick fix show diets, but I promise you... Your dog may look like its in half assed shape but it wont be... Itll feel like trash on the end of the lead and look like trash if you try to work them... You can tell when a dog has been on a healthy diet and worked.... My advise, look at your dog and determine what build it has, this will help you decide what kind of work to do... Stay on your normal feed and work the hell out of them and see what happens... Then determine what needs to change and figure out what will get you there, if its diet dont do 15 new thinks at once. Try one at a time and see the reaction, if you like it keep it. If you need to try another then try, and see what happens..if if works keep it, if not scrach it out of your spiral...and so on..every thime you change somthing work the dog for a week or two and pay close attention to how it feels and acts. youll end up with youre own system and if it works and you win youll have earned it.

 

Man, I typed that on my phone and it made my thumb hurt...lol...excuse all the errors, its hard to catch them while using the phone

 

Thanks for your input.

 

Didnt know there are specific keeps for show dogs...

 

Wouldnt say specific keeps, you need to have them in really good shape... Judges like to see "battle conditioned" dogs

 

Well, i know a dog can "look" conditioned but be far from the best "performance". But i believe if you know the right conditioned weight,to get a great shape you'll have to do a full 4 weeks keep with 2 weeks prekeep combined with good nutrition and different kind of workouts.

I guess you can show an overworked dog that look in pretty good shape, because he wont need to perform so that's the only thing you could "hide" in the show ring.

Hope im clear enough LOL.

 

I think its really fun to condition your dog for a show, and every dog is different so basically by trial and error you'll learn about workouts and nutrition. I try to show my dogs in the best shape, and if they are in the best shape and do not place... at least i know i did a good work for the past month and half.

 

b-i-n-g-o...

some dogs love road work, others would rather spend more time in the creek swimming their ass off.
as long as it doesnt get boring for the dog, thats what i look for...i try and make it fun for the dog.

 

I enjoy working my dog as well thats why I dont use the show diets, and by saying that the person should determine what build thier dag has to determine what they should work thier dog like and try doffrent things one at a time I was trying to imply the same thing you said, .... I said nothing about over worked dogs so I hope thats not the op. took my post... I used to hog hunt with my dogs a little untill this past year so it was important to have a dog that could perform well here as well as look good there. My ch. Male tends to get kinda muscular if I do much spring or chain him out alot.... Personal I like a dog with a strong back end, helps him with hunting but the judges dont always like it so I have to keep him in the grey area between what helps him perform well here and there.

never the less, I agree that your post is the best way to take a dog to show and is what I thought I was saying...lol
Like I said, its hard to keep track of what im typing on this phone

 

I just take em straight OTC.....off the couch!

 

Boogies dogs live on a strict diet of McDonalds n Burger King and spend most of their time watching Dr Phil reruns on the couch..THAT is how you properly condition a dog for a conformation show. LOL

(sorry if i gave up your secrets bud)

 

Tell me about it.

Tete doesnt like the e-mill, i have to be there cheering him up and he really gets happy when we finish (wtf?) but will flirt or swiming till his backend drops to the ground.

Torete will scream so you turn on his emill, but he keeps visual contact like he knows hes doing something right and you are proud, if you ignore him he'll just jump off and try to get your attention LOL.

Maluka loves to recover the ball, i have that cesar millan stick which you can throw the dam ball very very far, she'll sprint to the ball, recover it and drop in your shoes... repeat,repeat and repeat!! Over the sand is the best workout i know.

So we have 3 dogs that love 3 different workouts very much.

And about nutrition, i rather BARF but Tete had pancreatitis last year (long story) and we have to feed him a low protein/fat dry food kibble, he got in great shape last keep but i noticed he had less energy so we would do a little longer workouts but with less intensity and more rest, basically a longer keep...he is/was a long winded dog but i think because nutrition he lost about 25% in stamina.


Anyway, have fun working your dog... common sense is the most important and the best result aint a ribbon or trophy but see your dog in a good shape.

Tete won BIS in a fun show over good competition but i could throw the damn trophy thru window w/o worries, and thats just because i know the dog was damn fat, got sick and stopped working him 3 weeks before show but judge liked him or his personality and gave him BIS.

 

Well, to be honest. That damn trophy was emotive for us since we had 20% chance on Tete surviving the damn pancreatitis, so when he won (just a fun show,nothing important) was specially emotive for my lil bro and even my mom. (Yes, my mom is cooking there for show assistents. Ask Hank Greenwood and Luigi Bezzi about it LOL).