“Presuming that your dog is well groomed, and of very good conformation, THE mOST COmmON CAuSE Of fAILurE wILL NOT bE THE juDGE, NOT THE DOG, NOT THE fELLOw ExHIbITOr; IT wILL bE yOu, THE HANDLEr.”
Go over in your mind each step before you ever enter the ring. Athletes do this all the time. Make a mental picture of yourself in the ring. Showing requires a slow and steady pace. Tell yourself nothing will rat- tle you, not the judge, not the other exhibi- tors, not the other dogs. Tell yourself that your dog is just as worthy of consideration as the number one dog in the country. He paid the same entry fee you did. Hopefully, you have practiced enough so that you and your dog are a team. No stress at class and a good performance at class will develop con fi dence. At the show, you have to maintain your part of that team. Changing your attitude from class to show will confuse and disorient your dog. He is guided by you, and depends on consistent behavior. Your dog will sense if you are nervous, irritated, or upset, and a dog with a great disposition may turn into a whirling, barking maniac to defend you from whatever has caused the change in your demeanor. Your Scottie may dislike the show ring and may carry his tail down and ears back. If you don’t have fun, your dog won’t either. Many people say that their dog is great outside the ring, but becomes a sullen unhappy dog in the ring. It is not his fault; it is yours. If your dog does this, you must re-evaluate what you are doing. Your mental attitude is critical. Th e lead is your “joy stick” and sends the mes- sages to the dog. If the familiar becomes unfamiliar, your dog will be confused and unhappy. Keep a short lead. Scotties are not to be shown like toy dogs with your hand high in the air holding the lead. Th ey need direction. Tuck your elbow into your waist, and keep your wrist still. Move your arm from the elbow. If you have a rowdy
puppy or untrained dog, you will have to shorten the lead even more. At that point your arm may be almost extended with only a few inches of lead between the hand and the clasp at the neck. Also remember to stand up straight, and keep the other hand in your pocket. A fl apping arm on the other side of the dog is also distracting. Presuming that your dog is well groomed, and of very good conforma- tion, the most common cause of failure will not be the judge, not the dog, not the fellow exhibitor; it will be you, the han- dler. Everyone wants to win; no one wants to lose, go last or be excused. Too many people are ready to blame someone else for their mistakes. Be able to say, “Gee, I messed up.” No one is perfect, no one does everything 100% perfectly each time. But unless you don’t have a well-groomed dog, or one that is not well conformed as the others, the placement is between you and the judge. No one likes a crybaby, or an angry person. Take your wins and take your losses. It is after all, only one man’s opinion. It isn’t the politics in most cases that determines the outcome; it will be you the handler. Be a good sport! I’ve heard comments like “ Th at han- dler could fi nish a three legged goat.” What a wonderful compliment to that handler’s skills. Th at handler has mas- tered the “craft”. In England, handling classes are called classes in “ring craft”. Handling is an art form, like dancing with your partner. We put on our best dress, and we go into the ring. Go gen- tly, go quietly, and glide. Quiet hands that frame the dog are essential. Make every move count. Take your time. So, you have a grouchy judge. Smile. You may
change his attitude, and you will make yourself feel better. Now that you have mastered your own mind set, work on improving the presenta- tion. Make every show a learning oppor- tunity. If Scotties show at 10 a.m. and you have fi nished with your presentation, and you didn’t win Best of Breed, will you go home? Don’t leave school early. Don’t go home, back to the hotel, don’t rush o ff . Get a chair, sit ringside, watch all the ter- riers. Watch the handlers. You will pick up many good ideas that you can practice at handling class and at home in front of your mirror. Compare the handlers. How does one present the dog better than the other? How does a poor handler look? Do the handlers of white dogs wear dark colors so you can see the dog and vice versa? Many shows, indoors par- ticularly, are poorly lighted. Many older judges don’t see well anyhow. It is a fact of life. Wear a background color that will contrast with your dog. And ladies, avoid those long fl owing skirts that fl ip and wrap around your legs and the dog. Also, long tubular skirts that restrict your movement will slow you down and detract from your dog. You need freedom of movement, and no distractions from the picture you and your dog make. Don’t wear any out fi t or shoes that detract from the dog. Th e judge will remember only the red socks and sandals, not the beauty of your exhibit. Now that you have watched all the ter- riers in the breed, stay for the group. You may not be in it, but you have to watch. Watch and learn. Stay for Best in Show. Stay all day, and get your money’s worth. Success is not won by shortcuts, rather by staying the course.
264 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , J ULY 2014
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