Raising the conformation dog

[Ann Felske-Jackman]

Originally Posted by TrishB

Okay - I'm posting about a friend's dog (Ann, I hope you don't mind! <G>) but here is a PERFECT example of what you were told and how it's complete BS!! LOL Multi V-1, Multi BISS Am/Can CH Yngo van het Dornedal Can CDX, Am CD, Am/Can TD, SchHII, BST, BH, TT, CGC. Mike takes this dog tracking CONSTANTLY. He also trains him in Schutzhund. He also breeds him. He also shows him! And all with LOTS OF SUCCESS!!

Thanks Trish, I always love hearing nice things about Yngo We have indeed been very lucky with what he's accomplished recently. It should be pointed out though that, although Mike is very dedicated to his training, it is the relationship that they have that's led to that success. And that relationship stems from the fact that this dog is Mike's best friend and our family member. He's successful because we give him what he needs to be happy. He runs in the woods, plays in the lake, romps with other dogs (ok, other girl dogs ), and then finishes it all up eating ice cream with us on the couch at night. Quite possibly the guy that the original posted talked to is right in that we might have him in just a smidge better condition without the ice cream, or get a few more points on the field if he wasn't as spoiled as he is, but in the end, is that really the point of it all?

And Steven, I'd strongly suggest that you try showing in the various venues before being too critical. I'll be the first to admit that there are politics everywhere, however, they come into play a lot less than you might imagine. The political "gossip" that goes around is usually someone looking for a reason to justify why someone else won instead of their own dog. And unfortunatley, there are a lot of newcomers to every sport that hear such nonsense and are too scared to try it themselves. This either results in some good dogs never being shown, or the insecure owner also hiring Mr. Big Name Handler to do the job, resulting in even more people screaming politics down the road. It's a viscious cycle.

The list of novice owners doing exceptional things in the AKC (and other) rings is too long to type. In fact, many of the professionals once started out right where you are, or even as junior handlers.

Ann

[MontanaRott]

Thanks for all the feedback. Kenneling a dog may well work for some, but it really is not for us. We will just keep loving this boy, sharing our home with him and see what happens in the show ring. Phil is really having fun with him in the ring and the 2 of them are gaining valuable experience, and building an incredible bond, who could want more for their dog?

[TrishB]

Originally Posted by Ann Felske-Jackman

Thanks Trish, I always love hearing nice things about Yngo

You're more than welcome. I've seen your boy too many times not to be a fan of his. I've seen him strutting his stuff in the ring and I've seen him inhale ice cream as if it were the last ice cream cone on the planet!! LMAO It just proves to me that no matter what level you take your dog to - they still have their quirky personalities that we've all grown to love and adore about this breed.

The point is that even TOP DOGS are still goofy clowns with their own personalities and families who love them at home. I feel sorry for 'kennel dogs'. I know it's not abuse or anything like that - but I feel like they're missing the opportunities to be goofy and loved by a family.

I'd just have another person that you admire and / or respect look at your pup for you and tell you their thoughts.

OR.....

You could just ignore the person and keep doing what you're doing because it's making both you and your pup happy!! LOL I'd put happiness over any of the other stuff any day. But that's me...

[Luvs]

Originally Posted by TrishB

You could just ignore the person and keep doing what you're doing because it's making both you and your pup happy!! LOL I'd put happiness over any of the other stuff any day. But that's me...

Couldn't have said it any better myself!

My dogs are first and formost family members. Of course I would love for them to do well in the show ring, but more importantly I want them to live long and happy lives as my companions. If because of the things I am doing my dogs don't do well in the show ring, then so be it. I am happy and my dogs are happy and really that is all that matters

[MontanaRott]

[quote=TrishB

keep doing what you're doing because it's making both you and your pup happy!! LOL I'd put happiness over any of the other stuff any day. But that's me... [/QUOTE]
Well that how we feel too!. The dog is a happy member of the family and has a pretty good life. I guess what really is bothering me if I am going to be totally honest here, is after all the things we are doing wrong were pointed out, and advice given, there was no encouragement. We are novices we are going to make mistakes, but we have not ruined the dog and we are at least TRYING. And we are learning! Boy are we learning.

[samanthac]

Originally Posted by TrishB

It just proves to me that no matter what level you take your dog to - they still have their quirky personalities that we've all grown to love and adore about this breed. The point is that even TOP DOGS are still goofy clowns with their own personalities and families who love them at home.

This reminds me of the first time I met Amanda Hoskinson and her boy, Jenecks Sam in person. Most everyone knows that Sam is a quite accomplished SchH dog, him and Amanda competing several times on the IFR World Team (and that does not even skim the surface of their accomplishments). I'll never forget the first time I saw Sam work...it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up and say "I want to do that". That day, everyone on the show grounds - exhibitors, vendors, concessioners, spectators alike - all crowded the ring to watch Sam and Amanda work. It was an absolutely magnificent sight...they were electic together.

What amazed us most was Sam coming off the field...in zero to 10 seconds he went from serious working dog to butt slamming me for a scratch and rolling over for a belly rub from Steven. What an incredible display of solid temperament and something we have shot for in every dog we have.

I feel sorry for 'kennel dogs'. I know it's not abuse or anything like that - but I feel like they're missing the opportunities to be goofy and loved by a family.

FYI...I know some kennel dogs who are quite loved and happy. Its all about the quality of time spent with them. Yes, some are strictly kennel dogs, especially some imports hat have lives that way most of their life...you don't just take a dog that has been kenneled for 5 or 6 years and turn them into a house dog overnight. But there are show/working people with multiple dogs that kennel for practicality....with multpile dogs its a management issue. Yet the dogs are loved, happy and quite well adjusted because these people take time out to bond with these dogs and spend time with them in the yard and during training....much more time than I've seen alot of people give their pet dogs that have 24/7 freedom.

Now that we have four and we have to crate a bit more, for management and sanity purposes , I have personally seen signifigant strengthening of our bonds with the dogs...they are MUCH more focused on us during training and in the time we spend with them in the yard and in the evenings. For lack of a better way to explain it, and I realize this borders strongly on anthromorphasizing and that is not my intention, I don't feel they take our presence for granted anymore and appreciate the quality time spent with them. They are much more keyed into us and the interaction is extremely powerful. Its hard to describe if you have not experienced it...I thought it was a bunch of hooey until I did.

To each their own, everyone does what works for them. I just wanted to provide a different spin so people know that crating/kenneling is not all negative and some of us are not big meanies who shove our dogs away and forget about them.

[TrishB]

Originally Posted by MontanaRott

I guess what really is bothering me if I am going to be totally honest here, is after all the things we are doing wrong were pointed out, and advice given, there was no encouragement. We are novices we are going to make mistakes, but we have not ruined the dog and we are at least TRYING. And we are learning! Boy are we learning.

Well, let me give you some advice, from one novice to another!

Parker is my first show dog. All others before him were rescues or were liberated from the pound. We just finished Parker's CKC CH on Sunday at 21 months old!

I'm THRILLED with this! Now, it's not the AKC, but it's still a big deal to me. Could I have done it faster? Probably. Could I have had Parker more prepared at times? Sure! Could I have had more fun? NO WAY!! LOL

How old is your boy now? Are you still enjoying him? Is he enjoying being shown?

Our dogs are SLOW TO MATURE! So those dogs that finish early may not do as well when they grow up. Some of our ugly ducklings grow up to be swans! Parker had a horrible lanky stage and a bit of a chubby stage, a ugly head stage and a weird high butt over the shoulder stage. They get through it and so will you!

I'm sure that you're doing fine. Post some pictures!! We'd love to see him. You'll get some feedback and wonderful encouragement. Sometimes we're our own worst critics. Us and those close to us. So let us give you an outsiders opinion - we'd love to see your boy.

[TrishB]

Originally Posted by samanthac

To each their own, everyone does what works for them. I just wanted to provide a different spin so people know that crating/kenneling is not all negative and some of us are not big meanies who shove our dogs away and forget about them.

Oh and I agree!! Like I said, I know it's not abuse or mean. But they do miss out on the day to day, laying on your feet kinda stuff. At the same time, I would say that in the right home (like you described) the time they do have is quality time. Not worse, just different with different needs, wants and requirements. Different doesn't equal bad.

Just for me, I couldn't sleep without a snoring dog beside me. hehehe

[samanthac]

Originally Posted by TrishB

Just for me, I couldn't sleep without a snoring dog beside me. hehehe

HAHAHAHHAHA...I love the dogs, and our entire life is pretty much devoted to them, but I am selfish about my rare sleep time. I do not enjoy sleeping on the edge of the bed with a corner of sheet to cover me while Herr Rottweiler is laying horizontally sprawled out on the bed snoring and kicking me in the back. Or waking up in the morning and falling flat on my face when I step out of bed as my feet are asleep due to said Rottweiler sleeping on them. Ever try to move a sleeping Rottweiler? two words...dead weight. I SWEAR they way 100 MORE pounds when they are sleeping.

LOL...I can just see Steven and I sharing our queen size bed with 4 full grown Rottweilers jostling each other for space and covers ...NOT!

[TrishB]

Originally Posted by samanthac

HAHAHAHHAHA...I love the dogs, and our entire life is pretty much devoted to them, but I am selfish about my rare sleep time. I do not enjoy sleeping on the edge of the bed with a corner of sheet to cover me while Herr Rotttweiler is laying horizontally sprawled out on the bed snoring and kicking me in the back. Or waking up in the morning and falling flat on my face when I step out of bed as my feet are asleep due to said Rottweiler sleeping on them. Ever try to move a sleeping Rottweiler? two words...dead weight. I SWEAR they way 100 MORE pounds when they are sleeping.

LOL...I can just see Steven and I sharing our queen size bed with 4 full grown Rottweilers jostling each other for space and covers ...NOT!

Oh NO!! I mean beside me on the floor!! ROFLMAO Are you kidding me?!?! With my boyfriend and myself in our double bed (we'll be getting a queen soon) there's no space for my 114lbs boy.

Never mind - when he DID try sleeping on my bed before my bf moved in with me, Parker is such an active sleeper (shifting, moving, going on patrol, rolling over, etc.) he actually rolled off the bed! Since then, he might come up for a snuggle or to play blanket monster, but no - he won't sleep ON the bed.

I need sleep too!! LOL