[SABELLESMOM]

[quote=TrishB
How do you get them to differentiate between watching for obedience and going forward for conformation? I'd hate to correct the 'watching' when it's exactly what I want him to do for obedience! :)[/QUOTE]

I don't like the look of the dogs head turned to me for either, period. Dogs do have enough peripheral vision to see you and know what you expect without craning their necks. I know a lot of people work hard to get it but to me it just looks awkward.

Jazmine, never craned her neck in obedience. Since she was never pushed into craning the neck in the first place there was nothing to undo. She had a crooked ear and was never shown in conformation. I like the look of a dog that isn't craning and straining, and there is less tripping up between dog and handler.

Sable, was always a conformation dog first. She also was never taught to "look at me". She has been taught obedience tho only "competed" at kennel club parties for fun. I was surprised at how well she actually does. Her personality is less rigid than Jazzy was. In a sense, they each do what they are best at. Sable likes to strut. It also happens to suit their individual personaliteis, funny...isn't it?