And Joy went to conformation class with me today

[selzer]

While I have shown in puppy matches, I have never shown or taken any handling classes.

So Joy and I were serious novices. The boxer had been shown before. The collie lady, and the leonberger people and the clumber dude have shown but not with this dog. So most of the dogs were newbies, and I was the novice handler in the group.

Joy does not like to stack, but by the end, we were managing it ok. And she mostly pulled out, rather than gaited, after the class was over, she gaited perfectly to the exit. The instructor even remarked at how good she was doing it then.

I was sweating like crazy.

I was very happy that Joy was kool with the lady checking her head out and looking at her teeth and all that stuff.

It was an interesting class.

The instructor had taking the smooth collie class up at the IX center last year and I was actually there watching. This is significant because I NEVER watch conformation, too busy on the other end doing rally or watching agility or spending all the money I don't have in the stores.

[sagelfn]

good job to you and Joy!

Where are the pictures? any pictures will do

[gagsd]

How fun! You know, nervous or not, that you need to assign someone to take pictures so we can see Ms. Joy, right?
Our local club only does a brief handling class before the monthly meeting, and I never get there in time. Wish we actually offered classes.

[Samba]

Sounds like fun!

In our class, to teach them to begin to move out, we turn a bucket over and put a treat on it. Show them the treat. Then back up a ways and let them pull to get the treat. I clicked as they got to the treat and then gradually clicked earlier and earlier in the pull out. Once going well, put a word on the moving out. It really worked.

[Caledon]

Sounds like fun.

Good luck to you and Joy.