Before you give up in despair, thinking that it is impossible to learn enough to achieve any kind of success, go to a show and take in the Junior Handling competition. These children range in age from 8 to 18. The skills they have developed in their short lives are phenomenal and on their worst days, many of them can out handle the most experienced exhibitors. Like 11-year-old Taelor, pictured taking a 4 pt major over professional handlers with Quansa's Rumor Has It (Britta), they are committed to the sport and can hold their own in any competition.
Most of the sport of showing dogs is self-taught and, like the junior handler, you must be a dedicated student, learning through observation and from the experience of others. We, who have endured and been involved in showing for a long time, can look back on our early experiences and think, "If only I had known then, what I know now." We cannot go back but, those of us who love this sport, give back - by offering advice and helping the newcomer avoid some of the pitfalls that we encountered in our early days of showing.
As discussed in the last article, the two stages of preparation consist of readying yourself for competition and readying your dog. It is virtually impossible, when you are dealing with a puppy, for both of you to learn the correct skills at the same time. Therefore, it is a good idea to separate these stages as much as possible. By learning some basics of handling prior to working with your puppy, you will be more confident in your ability and this will undoubtedly lessen his confusion.
Never underestimate your dog's intuitive powers. The lead is like an antenna and all of your feelings travel down the lead to the dog on the other end. Whether you are unsure or nervous, calm and confident your dog will pick up on those feelings and respond accordingly. If you are rushed, irritable, on edge or having any kind of negative feelings, don't pick up that lead!
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