Show Training

OK I know it's summer and everyone is out enjoying the beautiful weather...But I miss you guys! I have been frequenting the All dogs forum but it's just not the same cause I wanna talk about APBT!!!!
I have even resorted to looking for a new APBT forum and I haven't had much luck :cry:
So we have started show training with BlueBelle actually we are learning to, but luckily we have a very good friend who has lots of experience with showing dogs so she is helping us out. We are however having problems with gaiting/moving properly and also teaching her to show her bite properly has been a real challenge. She's only 6 months old so I guess we have plenty of time for her to catch on. Anybody with show experience and advice or tips would be greatly appreciated!

 

thats a nice lookin dog.. i really like the colors!!

 

Thanks Daddyfs

 

For gaiting, I just taught my boys the same as you would teech heal. Just bait him into position and do down and backs. When you stop try to have him stay standing and wait. Once you have gaiting back and forth nicely try to do other patterns. After he has that down good, try to teach him to free stack when you stop. Just stack him everytime you stop and he should catch on.

When you are showing his bite, put a little bit of peanut butter on finger and when you open his mouth rub it on his gums. You want to do this as many times a day as you can. After a while he should be happy to let you show his bite.

Remember to stack him whenever posibble, if you's are just sitting around the house grab him up and stack him. Rub his entire body, including his unmentionables. Have your kids rub him while he is stacked, go to petsmart and work him there too. Gaiting up and down the iles, and if someone wants to pet him, stack him up first.

If you post some good side and front shots we could try to critique your stack job a little better. I think you have a good looking boy, but it's hard to tell from the pics.

Joe

 

She is beautiful!! Does she have one blue eye and one brown?

 

Just a question...what is stacking???? Is taht the same as setting up?

 

Thanks Jao_apbt for all your help. I am sure I will have plenty more questions. I will post some side and front shots of her stack that is a great idea I never thought to do that.
Thanks for the compliment Meg her eyes are actually gray but there is a glare in her eyes everytime she gets her photo taken.

 

Sam yes stacking is also called setting up and I have heard people refer to as the dogs pose also. It's just so the judges can judge the dogs over all structural features.

 

When are you going to start showing? Its lots of fun and really positive. I wish you good luck on the show trail. Its been horrible weather here! But its finally starting to break Never done any show training but I hope it goes well for you. I've got lots of kennel work to do today myself out in the nice weather.

 

True_Pits
Our first show is not until August 16 & 17 in Frankfort Indiana. The Hoosier APBTC is hosting it. There will also be a weight pull competition both days which will also be a new experience for me because I have never been to one.
Thanks for the support!

 

That is great, gives you a little time to work with them. Weight pull is customary at the all the shows. Are you going to do the weight pull or just watch it. The only show I know of in IN at that time is the 14 & 15 which makes sense because they are typically held on weekends.

 

True_Pits You are right the show dates are the 14th & 15th I have the 2003/2004 calender and I was looking at 2003 (Blonde Moment)
I will only be a spectator at the weight pull competition. Im for sure not ready for that. I am just hoping and praying we will be ready for the show.