Raising the conformation dog

[MontanaRott]

So how are you who are showing raising your dogs? The reason I am asking is because there is a person who has an interest in Guerin and this individual was very disappointed with the critique Guerin got at the Nationals. So this person contacted us with an offer to "help" get him ready for his next outing. Well Phil talked to this individual last night and was told everything we are doing top to bottom, front to back, inside and out, is WRONG. And that if we continue to feed, exercise, train and spend time with him the way we are now, we had better be prepared for last place finishes and disappointment. We need to feed JUST kibble, and supplement with Peak Performance II, walk him 20 minutes a day every-other day, and kennel him outside and LIMIT time we spend with him and stop training for obedience and tracking. We have spoiled this dog by having him indoors and spending so much time with him and we need to make a decision now, do we want a show dog or a pet. We cannot have both. And it is an impossibility for Phil to owner handle him with ANY success in AKC or Sieger.
Well first of all showing is a HOBBY for us, not life or death and not a business. We do it to spend time with the dog and to have fun. If he never gets a working title or a point in an AKC show or a V rating in the sieger ring, SO WHAT!? HE IS OUR PET first and foremost. We will love him and enjoy sharing our lives with him no matter what. And this is not to say, we do not prepare for each endeavor, we do. But, we are novices, and we are trying to learn as we go too! We were also told, we had no business entering him in the Nationals, he was not ready and should have never been shown.
But after this enlightening conversation, I am just really wondering, how are you raising your show dogs?

[Judi W]

Well, humm, I didn't know that!!... or I wouldn't have had my CH UD; CH CDXs boys who grew up and lived in the family.

[MontanaRott]

Originally Posted by Judi W

Well, humm, I didn't know that!!... or I wouldn't have had my CH UD; CH CDXs boys who grew up and lived in the family.

Well goodness, WHAT were you thinking!? IMAGINE what you COULD have accomplished had you isolated those loser dogs!
We thanked the person for the suggestions.

[samanthac]

Holy crap. Guess that means no more show wins for Fausto. Sheesh I guess its back to the kennel for him...NOT.

[Judy Chrusch]

Well Shirley I'm sure you're gonna get lots of different oppinions and that's fine. I will tell you what we did. Czar is our first show dog and we knew nothing, we raised him as a pet and being a show dog to us was an added bonus, didn't matter how far he went or when he finished. It turned out he was a natural and showed like his dad and got his Championship by 18 months. He always had alot of substance so conditioning him wasen't too difficult. Kenny ran him every day and the muscle he developed even remained when he got sick. Bottom line Shirley is what do you want out of having a show dog? I was never going to leave my dog with ANYONE to condition him for showing, that's just my oppinion. If you let someone do that it can also become quite pricey but again, it's an individual decision.

The person who gave you the advice has gone a bit far with his statements but there are people who feel as he does, again, it's your dog, your decision but unless you know this individual then please be careful if you send Guerin away. This person also knows your a novice , so be careful their too.

I believe you can have it all and I do believe you can have a pet and show dog but some will disagree and that's o.k. Please give it alot of thought as to what you want and for what reason and please do what is best for all of you and don't let anyone talk you into something you'll regret, novice or not. Not everyone treats their dogs as you do and I can remember people and professionals telling me to do this, that, and the other and I did what was best for me and my dog. I would have been proud of Czar no matter what but the fact that he finished and loved what he did, says it all for me. Not all dogs are cut out to show either. I've seen dogs who hated it in the ring and couldn't focus. From day one Czar was a natural and had very little experience in the ring, he just did it and the handler of course made all the difference too.

Remember one thing Shirley he's your dog and you decide what you want for him and as I said you will get lots of different oppinions and that's o.k I wish you much luck with whatever decision you make, just be happy with whatever you chose .

Judy

[MontanaRott]

Judy, the boy is staying put! We will just keep plugging along as we are and see what happens! I would never have him live outside in a kennel, that is crazy. He is our pet first, middle, and last! He is being raised to be a dog we can live with, take places and be proud of. Showing him is and will continue to be a hobby and if we are doing it wrong, well so be it. He is having fun and so are we and THAT is the bottom line!

[Judy Chrusch]

Originally Posted by MontanaRott

Judy, the boy is staying put! We will just keep plugging along as we are and see what happens! I would never have him live outside in a kennel, that is crazy. He is our pet first, middle, and last! He is being raised to be a dog we can live with, take places and be proud of. Showing him is and will continue to be a hobby and if we are doing it wrong, well so be it. He is having fun and so are we and THAT is the bottom line!

There ya go, well it sure sounds like you've made up your mind and a good one at that . Have fun and enjoy your special boy .

Judy

[LavenderRott]

So the question begs to be asked. What on earth would you to with a dog that had been kept like that after his show career?

Chase is never going to have a show career, but my next dog - who knows. But a conformation title is secondary to a family pet that can participate in the things we do. Not life in a kennel with a short walk every other day. That could explain why people are saying that the dogs in the ring are looking fat.

[spidey]

I'd also like to understand the reasoning behind this thinking here. I don't know anyone whose dog knowledge I respect who keeps "conformation only" dogs (in the sense that the dogs are not also house pets and/or working dogs), and I know LOTS of people who have titled many dogs front and back whose dogs are well-loved house pets who also compete successfully at agility, herding and obedience and some who are not only conformation and performance titled indoor house pets but who are ALSO working farm dogs (Rakki's breeder's dogs are ALL indoor pets, ALL her breeding stock are at least conformation titled, and most are also performance titled, and most of them are also working farm dogs who herd sheep, since she owns a farm). Sounds like a load of hooey to me, not least since I've seen far too many cases of extremely successful (in competition) dogs who were raised exactly the opposite way that this individual suggests (not to put TOO fine a point on it!).

[Judy Chrusch]

Well Sandi some judges like those fat dogs , problem is when they're fat they can't move . I was at a show once where the dog went around the ring, down and back and he was totally out of breath , it was pathetic, but he won bc he had a big head and big body . He certainly didn't win bc he moved well, that's for sure.

Judy

[Carol Burke]

What a bunch of crap!!!! When I was showing Bonnie(who slept on my bed) I was showing in both confirmation and obedience. She got her CD and finished her CH a short time later. Lucky managed to survive living in the house while he finished his Am, Can CH AND got a CDX. Moe lives in the house, has a CD and needs one major to finish. And none of the above dogs have ever had to eat kibble since all are fed raw. Faith is the only one I have not obedience trained while she is being shown in confirmation and I regret that decision as she is a brat.

[Rotty4Me]

Sorry, but it seems that people like that tend to forget that these are living breathing LIVING animals that desire & need our love & attention. There are good shows dogs out there & there are great ones too, but let me tell you, there is nothing like the look in the eyes of a dog showing it's heart out for you the OWNER, that is LOVES at the end of the lead. There is a love & willingness to please when the dog you are showing is the same one that lives with & is a part of the household.

I feel sorry for the dogs owned by the person who spoke to you.

Maureen

[Judi W]

For myself.........Now, I will say that all my boys have been slow maturers and I don't push the conformation showing until they have bodied out. So, what do I do? I certainly don't sit fallow, I for sure put the CD on while I'm waiting and get started on the CDX. My first boy finished his CH and his CDX at the same set of shows and his UD a bit later. The boy I'm showing now is learning the work for his UD and needs a couple of singles to finish and has his CDX. He does not go out on the road.

Your dog is only in the conformation ring for minutes and deserves the rest of his life which you are giving him. Don't ever apologize for that. Any breeder should be proud to have a dog in a loving and active home.
I do believe that even if one is going to use a handler, it is silly to pay a handler to train the dog. Put those little points on yourself and get some letters after the dog's name. It's your dog and your entry fees.

[MontanaRott]

THANK YOU! We knew of course this was crap and not the "norm" but just wanted to confirm it here with those of you who are more experienced then us! Guerins lines are slow to mature also, but we figured while we wait, why not let him and Phil gain that valuable ring experience.

[lblax]

Originally Posted by MontanaRott

Well Phil talked to this individual last night and was told everything we are doing top to bottom, front to back, inside and out, is WRONG. And that if we continue to feed, exercise, train and spend time with him the way we are now, we had better be prepared for last place finishes and disappointment. We need to feed JUST kibble, and supplement with Peak Performance II, walk him 20 minutes a day every-other day, and kennel him outside and LIMIT time we spend with him and stop training for obedience and tracking. We have spoiled this dog by having him indoors and spending so much time with him and we need to make a decision now, do we want a show dog or a pet. We cannot have both. And it is an impossibility for Phil to owner handle him with ANY success in AKC or Sieger.

geesh and here i was under the impression that you had a dang fine dog that you were extreamly happy with and do you still wonder why we keep saying just showing does not prove the dog and how about a bunch of dogs raised like he wants, bred to each other for generations just enjoy your dog