Show training your new pup.

Start with the pup on lead and have another person the dog knows walk in front of you and call the pup. When the pup starts to pull to catch up praise and walk with the pup keeping tension in the lead.  If you have an older dog use it to make the pup want to catch up by having someone walk with the older dog in front of the pup. Make sure that the pup does not scramble or try to gallop try to teach it to walk calmly whilst pulling gently on the lead. Join the German Shepherd Dog League inc. and take your pup to Show Training at your local branch as soon as your pup has its final vaccination around the 3mths old mark. There you will learn the difference between dogs movement the walk, gait, pace & gallop.    You will need to know the difference between these  in order to teach your pup the correct sequence of steps which is required in the Show ring.   

Never  allow your pup to Pace, if it does try to lift the pups front legs off the ground, by gently  raising  the lead in the air and urging the pup forward all in the one action, use a command such as Hup or Get Up. 

Go to as many dog shows as possible and watch the dogs action.  Note the difference between the winners and the tail enders, It won't take long before you can tell the difference.   

Teaching your pup the show stand.

Firstly you must teach your pup to stand quietly, you don't need to worry about the set up yet, but make sure that your pups head is facing your right hand. Take a small amount of food for a reward allow your pup to smell it then close your hand to a fist with the food in it. With your pup smelling your hand say "stand' if it does give it the food and then repeat the sequence. If your pup tries to sit move your hand away from its nose in a horizontal direction causing the pup to stand if it still wants to smell for the food. Praise & reward.

Increase the time between rewards until the pup will stand for at least 30 seconds. Now it is time to start positioning your pups legs. Lift your pup up by placing your hand under the chest behind the front legs and lower it back to the ground making sure that both front feet fall straight to the ground directly under the the dog. Make sure that its legs are straight not leaning forward, (this is called bridging ) if one paw is slightly ahead of the other take the skin in the middle  of the shoulder and raise it this will cause the pup to lift its paw and you can place it in the position that you want it without shifting the whole dogs structure.  

Bridged front legs not directly under body.

Once you have the front straight it is time to set the rear end.  The inside hind leg closest to you should be moved slightly forward about 20cm or less moving it too far forward will make your pups croup seem steep. Then move the left hind leg back until the hock is straight. Once your pup will hold this stance for 30 seconds it is time to concentrate on your dogs general appearance, does your pup look sad?  In order to make the judge notice your pup you need to be able to Set Up your dog quickly but most importantly it needs to portray a picture of Look at me I'm the best, if your pup looks sad the judge won't take notice.  You need to teach your pup to look alert.  Have someone walk another dog past your pup and away in a straight line now set your pup up whilst it is looking at the distraction. Now Praise in a calm tone good boy.  If you don't have another dog have the person call your pups name but not too excitedly as the pup will try too jump or back up to try and follow. Entice the pup calmly until your pup can look alert for 30 seconds.   

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Last modified: January 05, 2008