 Keep your dog between you and the judge at all times when they are stacked. |
| Keep your back straight and your head up. Stay off your knees as much as possible unless you have a small dog. |
| Stay calm and try to appear relaxed. Make all movements smooth, but not jerky. |
| Go into the ring with a good attitude and a smile on your face. Judges DO notice. Your attitude reflects on how you do. If you don't win, be gracious and congratulate the winner with a smile. |
| Watch your dog and the judge when you are stopped. Watch the dog, the judge, and where you are going when you are gaiting. Don't worry about what the other handlers are doing. Follow the judge's directions EXACTLY. If their directions are clear, ASK. |
| Learn how your breed of dog is shown in the conformation ring. If you have a small breed, show the dog on the grooming table. If you have a mixed breed, set up the dog closest to the breed it resembles. |
| Be courteous to others - before, during, and after your class. Don't talk to other handlers in the ring or people outside the ring when you are in the ring. DON'T throw bait into the ring. Space yourself and don't crowd other handlers and their dogs. |
| Learn the most common patterns, and practice them, both with and without your dog. Practice switching sides and switching the lead to either hand (making sure all excess lead is gathered up in one hand). Make sure you can move smoothly all the way around your dog when it is standing still, and when you are gaiting. Make sure your dog is trotting (gaiting) at the correct speed. Gait your dog straight. Never pass another dog unless told to. When gaiting in pairs, remember both dogs stay together (at the same speed) in between the handlers. Try to get someone to videotape you in class and then watch it. |
| Some judges like courtesy circles, others don't (and they won't tell you). If you have a large dog or a very fast gaiting dog, use them. It will help "line up" a large dog on a straightway, and will slow a faster dog down for a turn back to the judge (as in the triangle). |
| Look at the judge. Don't make it a stare-down, but looking often enough to make sure the judge is aware that you are aware is good. |
| Be aware of what is going on in the ring. Move your dog up in line accordingly, be prepared to bring your dog out to set up individually or whatever the judge may want. |
| No denim jeans and/or skirts of any color or kind; t-shirts, muscle shirts, sweatshirts, halter tops, low cut blouses or sweaters, shorts, and hats are not allowed. |
| Skirts, dresses, or culottes shorter than knee length will not be allowed. Mini-skirts are not acceptable. |
| Any clothing which draws undue attention to ones self, or clothing that may distract other exhibitors, spectators, or the judges, is unacceptable. |
| Flat shoes, such as tennis shoes, should be worn. No sandals, high heels, or boots will be allowed. |
| Long hair should be tied back. |
| No clothing with club name and/or personal identification will be allowed. |
| Girls should wear skirts or dresses in Showmanship, but may wear slacks in Obedience. Boys should wear dress pants, dress shirt, jacket and tie, if possible. Any combination of these is acceptable. |
| If you have a solid color dog - you can wear a solid color that makes your dog look good and stand out. You can also wear a print with the color of your dog in it. |
| If you have a dog with spots, or two different colors, wear a solid color, preferably one of the colors in your dog. Remember, you want your dog to look good. |
| Showleads should match the color of your dog's neck. |
| For boys, try to wear dress shoes with non-slip soles, although CLEAN tennis shoes are fine also. Try to avoid clunky, beat-up high tops. |
| For girls, skirts or dresses are best to wear, but culottes are alright, too (be sure they come down to your knee). Do not wear cute, frilly dresses; these just aggravate your dog and look out of place. Skirts or dresses with a tailored look are the best bet. Do not wear frilly lacy socks. Plain white bobby socks or panty-hose are preferred. No slippery dress shoes. Flat shoes with non-slip soles are recommended for girls. Clean tennis shoes are alright, too. |
