Conformation class

Liesje

I'm swallowing my pride and enrolling in conformation.  I want Nikon to be "HOT" (handler-owner-trained and handled) so if we go for UKC points that means me in the ring.  My friend owns our training club and she's putting this class together for me and another GSD friend.  Since we do primarily Sieger ring, hopefully the instructor will let us handle each others' dogs (you don't handle your own dog except for the protection test, b/c the owners have to double).  I asked my aunt if my little cousin could do it.  If she does then Coke gets to be in it, lol!  Obviously he cannot show in any venue but of all the things we've tried and he hasn't really been motivated to do, he's such a "showy" kind of dog he will love this.

 Conformation class can be fun :) If your neice takes a liking to it, she may be able to join a 4H dog club and show Coke in that. 4H allows all breeds and mixes for everything.

Why would you have to "swallow your pride" to enroll in a conformation class?  You thought you'd just pop into the ring without any real training?

I've had Kaiser in a weekly conformation class since the end of December (it's tonight, actually!).  I have to admit that, at first, I didn't think it was going to be that big of a deal.  But there are so many little things that an instructor can help you with.

Kaiser has improved so much since we started going to class.  I don't really do anything with him at home for conformation work, but what we do in the class really sticks.

Our conformation class is run like a show.  We all line up and wait our turn.  Table breeds stack on the table, floor breeds stack on the floor.  We do our down & backs and once around the ring by ourselves and then go around as a group after everyone has gone through the line.  Wash, rinse & repeat.

A couple of weeks ago I was the only one who showed up (maybe because it was 25 below zero outside?).  It was a HUGE help as we worked on Kaiser's table performance hard-core -- and surprisingly, learned that he does best if you just let him self-stack.  Who knew?

I thought it would be boring as all get out, but I enjoy our weekly conformation class.  Our first show isn't until March, but I know that by that time Kaiser will be well prepared for the ring thanks to this class.  I can no longer even imagine trying to go into the ring cold, without this practice.

BTW, there are many champion dogs in my class as well as young dogs/puppies.  Everyone benefits from classes, even if they're just for a tune-up.

KarissaKS

Why would you have to "swallow your pride" to enroll in a conformation class?  You thought you'd just pop into the ring without any real training?

Well, that's not what I meant.  We have already been in the ring a few times anyway.  I wasn't really into the idea of conformation in general, didn't really interest me at all and I didn't care for the beauty pageant aspect, do not want to be associated with AKC conformation in any way (from a GSD standpoint).  Tell hardcore SchH people you were showing your dog at an AKC show instead of at the trial last weekend and you will get snickers.  But now we've found some venues where the beauty-pageant-working-dogs-are-vicious thing will not be the case.  I was even hesitant about UKC ring b/c so many Am line GSDs are showing up, but then I saw some imported European dogs with PD titles get wins and championships, Nikon got a win and his sister made it to Best in Show puppy, plus a Border Collie who appeared to come in right off the field (not brushed out, muddy even) doing just fine so we'll give it a try.

I'm not sure how valuable it will be for us handlers since we won't be handling dogs in the Sieger ring, but we've both decided to do the UKC thing for extra socialization (it was kind of a "I will if you will..." agreement) so hopefully in class we can handle each others' dogs since having us handle our own doesn't help them any for the Sieger ring (and we will definitely need separate ring training, regardless of the dogs, to learn to double handle correctly).  So far the double handling has been more difficult than the UKC and AKC shows we've done where we handle our own dogs.

Maybe I will handle Coke and have my cousin handle Nikon...

AgileGSD

 Conformation class can be fun :) If your neice takes a liking to it, she may be able to join a 4H dog club and show Coke in that. 4H allows all breeds and mixes for everything.

Good to know.  She might end up getting a shelter dog instead of a purebred so she could still show.

Liesje

 

AgileGSD

 Conformation class can be fun :) If your neice takes a liking to it, she may be able to join a 4H dog club and show Coke in that. 4H allows all breeds and mixes for everything.

Good to know.  She might end up getting a shelter dog instead of a purebred so she could still show.

 FWIW even ILP dogs can be shown in Juniors, so the dog would just have to look like something. If she is into showing, she could also show Nikon in UKC Juniors. UKC has a great Juniors program and Juniors can show any dog entered at the show (their dog or someone else's).

Well, little cous' can't do it (play practice) but my friend said she already has three signed up which is the min. they allow for a class.  I'll try and round up a few more people so it's more like a show ring.

Nikon's 4th show is Sunday, time to work on his nails (which are getting to be like claws!)...