Preparing for a conformation show

qbchottu · 12-12-2011, 06:53 PM

I'll be handling Whiskey and Wiva at a show coming up this weekend. I've been to shows, and do ring training with them, but this will be my first time actually calling and presenting a dog during at a show. What tips do you conformation veterans have for me? What do you wish you had known before your first show? Any tips regarding grooming, feeding the morning of the show, and show etiquette would be much appreciated. Thank you all in advance!

robinhuerta · 12-12-2011, 10:10 PM

Ok...don't bathe the dog the day before the show.....if possible.
don't feed the morning of the show......do give them electrolytes (like Pedialyte or a canine sport drink).....do bring them a small (easily digestible meal) for AFTER showing, when they have relaxed & some time has passed.
do bring a pin brush & rake with....do bring a bottle with conditioning spray.

And MOST IMPORTANT of all..........DO listen to your handler (for directions).....and DON'T become too nervous......DO ..HAVE A FUN TIME!

Xeph · 12-12-2011, 10:34 PM

Robin, how come you don't bathe a dog before an SV style show?

Smithie86 · 12-12-2011, 10:44 PM

Hair coming out. Would do same in AKC ring show.

Running shoes with some grip. Check weather and dress in layers. Work with handler on when they signal to call you.

robinhuerta · 12-12-2011, 11:07 PM

The coat should have natural oils...and bathing right before a show takes some of the oils out of the coat. The coat doesn't lay right when it's freshly washed.
SV judges don't want to see German Shepherds, groomed with "poofy, fluffy coats"....like many have in the AKC ring.
A German Shepherds coat should be coarse, and lay flat.

qbchottu · 12-13-2011, 12:08 AM

Thank you so much Robin! Exactly what I needed!

Whiskey is pretty set in terms of grooming. I am obsessive about his grooming. I make sure he glows so he's pretty nicely set for the show already. Wiva used to be a kennel dog till 2 weeks ago. It's her first time in a house so she's not potty trained fully...which means accidents in the crate which means a stinky girl. She's the one I am worried about keeping clean after I groom her. She's got a very plush coat as well so I know I can't bathe her the day before. She would look like a big puff ball.

I just started her on salmon oil and Olewo so I'm hoping her coat looks tiptop by show time.

I wasn't planning on feeding the day of the show because I am paranoid about them pooping in the ring. But some people were saying that I should feed them because they would have low energy. Glad to see the tip about an electrolyte drink. I'll use that for sure. With these chow hounds, I am sure the lack of breakfast will make them pull hard and work well.

I'm a runner so I'm all set on the shoes and clothes

And the handler will be a friend from training so we're used to working together so I think that will go smoothly.

I'm considering not washing Whisk at all... His coat looks perfect right now. His last bath was a couple weeks ago. But then again, I might just wash him tomorrow to be sure... I think I'll wash Wiva tomorrow and hope she doesn't have any major accidents before the show *fingers crossed*

I'm so nervous! I hope the dogs don't pick up on that...I swear Whiskey is a mind reader and reacts to my emotions so easily... He'll be in the 9-12 month senior puppy class which is funny considering his first birthday is on Dec 20 so I'm pretty sure he'll be the most senior senior puppy LOL!

What conditioning spray would you recommend Robin?

VTcoach · 12-13-2011, 08:17 AM

Don't forget to clean their teeth, cut their nails, (basic cleanup) and you should use a thin leather show lead (approx 8') and show collar too.

qbchottu · 12-13-2011, 08:35 AM

They chew RMBs regularly so they don't need teeth cleaning and nails look good (we run on pavement). Lead/collar set from training. Thanks

robinhuerta · 12-13-2011, 08:37 AM

We like to use many of the horse products.....
One of Carlos's favorites is.....EQyss Premier Cream Rinse, Conditioner Detangler.
Put in spray bottle (aprox 1/4 of bottle product, add warm water & shake).
We spray everytime we groom them.

Farm & Fleet carries the product....I'm sure you could probably find it at feed stores too.

qbchottu · 12-13-2011, 09:24 AM

Thank you! I don't remember seeing Eqyss, but hopefully I can find something similar at the pet store.

12-12-2011, 06:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
qbchottu Master Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 908	Preparing for a conformation show I'll be handling Whiskey and Wiva at a show coming up this weekend. I've been to shows, and do ring training with them, but this will be my first time actually calling and presenting a dog during at a show. What tips do you conformation veterans have for me? What do you wish you had known before your first show? Any tips regarding grooming, feeding the morning of the show, and show etiquette would be much appreciated. Thank you all in advance! __________________ Puddi 11/15/10 Rescue GSD/Golden Whiskey von Huerta Hof 12/20/10 WGSL GSD Wiva vom Drache Feld 2/3/11 WGSL GSD

12-12-2011, 10:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
robinhuerta Knighted Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,225	Ok...don't bathe the dog the day before the show.....if possible. don't feed the morning of the show......do give them electrolytes (like Pedialyte or a canine sport drink).....do bring them a small (easily digestible meal) for AFTER showing, when they have relaxed & some time has passed. do bring a pin brush & rake with....do bring a bottle with conditioning spray. And MOST IMPORTANT of all..........DO listen to your handler (for directions).....and DON'T* become too nervous......DO ..HAVE A FUN TIME!* __________________ Huerta Hof German Shepherds www.teamhuertahof.com ....where breeding is still considered an art....

12-12-2011, 10:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
Xeph Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New Castle, PA Posts: 4,764	Robin, how come you don't bathe a dog before an SV style show? __________________ Jackie S Konzert vom Drachenberg CD, RN, CGC, Service Dog "Strauss" Joplin von Eichenluft SDIT "Mahler" Mana's 5 Cents for Advice Marcato "Wesson" Devine's Gunpowder N Lead RN "Mirada" Barrett, the Woodford rescue kitty

12-12-2011, 10:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
Smithie86 Crowned Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Nashville, TN and Budapest HU Posts: 3,810	Hair coming out. Would do same in AKC ring show. Running shoes with some grip. Check weather and dress in layers. Work with handler on when they signal to call you. __________________ Sue www.k9imports.com V KK1 Molinari Enzo SCH3,IPO3,VK3,FH(WUSVx3, FCIx4) HOT KK1 Frodo v Biezenhoeve SCH3,IPO3,HPO3 (WUSVx2, FCIx2)HOT KK1 Tarnoki-Felvigyazo Quamatz SCH3 (HOT), KK1 Griff v Tajgetosz SCH3(BHOT)

12-12-2011, 11:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
robinhuerta Knighted Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,225	The coat should have natural oils...and bathing right before a show takes some of the oils out of the coat. The coat doesn't lay right when it's freshly washed. SV judges don't want to see German Shepherds, groomed with "poofy, fluffy coats"....like many have in the AKC ring. A German Shepherds coat should be coarse, and lay flat. __________________ Huerta Hof German Shepherds www.teamhuertahof.com ....where breeding is still considered an art....

12-13-2011, 12:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
qbchottu Master Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 908	Thank you so much Robin! Exactly what I needed! Whiskey is pretty set in terms of grooming. I am obsessive about his grooming. I make sure he glows so he's pretty nicely set for the show already. Wiva used to be a kennel dog till 2 weeks ago. It's her first time in a house so she's not potty trained fully...which means accidents in the crate which means a stinky girl. She's the one I am worried about keeping clean after I groom her. She's got a very plush coat as well so I know I can't bathe her the day before. She would look like a big puff ball. I just started her on salmon oil and Olewo so I'm hoping her coat looks tiptop by show time. I wasn't planning on feeding the day of the show because I am paranoid about them pooping in the ring. But some people were saying that I should feed them because they would have low energy. Glad to see the tip about an electrolyte drink. I'll use that for sure. With these chow hounds, I am sure the lack of breakfast will make them pull hard and work well. I'm a runner so I'm all set on the shoes and clothes And the handler will be a friend from training so we're used to working together so I think that will go smoothly. I'm considering not washing Whisk at all... His coat looks perfect right now. His last bath was a couple weeks ago. But then again, I might just wash him tomorrow to be sure... I think I'll wash Wiva tomorrow and hope she doesn't have any major accidents before the show fingers crossed I'm so nervous! I hope the dogs don't pick up on that...I swear Whiskey is a mind reader and reacts to my emotions so easily... He'll be in the 9-12 month senior puppy class which is funny considering his first birthday is on Dec 20 so I'm pretty sure he'll be the most senior senior puppy LOL! What conditioning spray would you recommend Robin? __________________ Puddi 11/15/10 Rescue GSD/Golden Whiskey von Huerta Hof 12/20/10 WGSL GSD Wiva vom Drache Feld 2/3/11 WGSL GSD

12-13-2011, 08:17 AM	#7 (permalink)
VTcoach Master Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 646	Don't forget to clean their teeth, cut their nails, (basic cleanup) and you should use a thin leather show lead (approx 8') and show collar too.

12-13-2011, 08:35 AM	#8 (permalink)
qbchottu Master Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 908	They chew RMBs regularly so they don't need teeth cleaning and nails look good (we run on pavement). Lead/collar set from training. Thanks __________________ Puddi 11/15/10 Rescue GSD/Golden Whiskey von Huerta Hof 12/20/10 WGSL GSD Wiva vom Drache Feld 2/3/11 WGSL GSD

12-13-2011, 08:37 AM	#9 (permalink)
robinhuerta Knighted Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,225	We like to use many of the horse products..... One of Carlos's favorites is.....EQyss Premier Cream Rinse, Conditioner Detangler. Put in spray bottle (aprox 1/4 of bottle product, add warm water & shake). We spray everytime we groom them. Farm & Fleet carries the product....I'm sure you could probably find it at feed stores too. __________________ Huerta Hof German Shepherds www.teamhuertahof.com ....where breeding is still considered an art....

12-13-2011, 09:24 AM	#10 (permalink)
qbchottu Master Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 908	Thank you! I don't remember seeing Eqyss, but hopefully I can find something similar at the pet store. __________________ Puddi 11/15/10 Rescue GSD/Golden Whiskey von Huerta Hof 12/20/10 WGSL GSD Wiva vom Drache Feld 2/3/11 WGSL GSD

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