First Time Showing/Training To Show

[HGaenslen]

I am very new to the dog showing world and have some questions to ask experienced showers/owner/trainers. Please bear with me and some of these questions will probably be stupid. I'm sorry.

Little insight on myself. I showed horses in 4-H for 8 years. I competed in Tennessee Walking Horse Division, Racking Horse Division, Hunter Division, Barrel Racing and Pole Bending. I trained horses for 3 years (from the time I was 16 to a month before my 19th birthday). I am a police explorer of 5 years and counting, college student and run my family's business. I've primarily owned Boxers and rescues but Titus is my first Great Dane.

Titus is currently 5 months old (Almost 6) intact male. I have breeding rights which I purchased when I bought him and premission from his breeder to show him. (He'll actually be the first pup of hers that has shown). We just started taking weekly classes on Monday's with our local Kennel Club and are beginning training sessions next Friday with a friend of ours who shows Portuguese Water Dogs.Â*

Question 1: Titus is good with being around people in public situations. He can sit or lay relaxed bext to someone he has never met but He is very timid and nervous when it comes to people petting him and judges examining him. How can I get him to like and accept being touched by strangers?Â*

Question 2: When I'm stacking Titus he continues to fidget and move when I'm placing his legs. How can I help him relax and stand comfortably where I place him?

Question 3: What is a show collar/lead and how do I pick the best one for Titus?

Question 4: What is free stacking and how do I achieve it?

Question 5: What is the correct way to stack a Great Dane

Question 6: Is there anything else I can be doing besides the two training classes and practicing everyday?

Question 7: Will I be treated differently (worse or better)Â* because I will be a newbie to the sport?

Thank you and I'm pretty sure I'll have more questions as time goes on!!

[Paradis]

Answers below in blue

I am very new to the dog showing world and have some questions to ask experienced showers/owner/trainers. Please bear with me and some of these questions will probably be stupid. I'm sorry.

Little insight on myself. I showed horses in 4-H for 8 years. I competed in Tennessee Walking Horse Division, Racking Horse Division, Hunter Division, Barrel Racing and Pole Bending. I trained horses for 3 years (from the time I was 16 to a month before my 19th birthday). I am a police explorer of 5 years and counting, college student and run my family's business. I've primarily owned Boxers and rescues but Titus is my first Great Dane.

Titus is currently 5 months old (Almost 6) intact male. I have breeding rights which I purchased when I bought him and premission from his breeder to show him. (He'll actually be the first pup of hers that has shown). We just started taking weekly classes on Monday's with our local Kennel Club and are beginning training sessions next Friday with a friend of ours who shows Portuguese Water Dogs.Â*

Question 1: Titus is good with being around people in public situations. He can sit or lay relaxed bext to someone he has never met but He is very timid and nervous when it comes to people petting him and judges examining him. How can I get him to like and accept being touched by strangers?Â*

Have strangers give him cookies and lots of praise from you when he is being good and accepting of the people going over him. Going to classes will also help with this.

Question 2: When I'm stacking Titus he continues to fidget and move when I'm placing his legs. How can I help him relax and stand comfortably where I place him?

Talk to him, reassure him that he is being a good boy, lots of short (1-2 minutes) practice sessions at home with stacking him, also out in public on walks is also good to stack, praise, then keep on going on your walk.

Question 3: What is a show collar/lead and how do I pick the best one for Titus?

Go to a local show and pick a lead out that you like holding in your hands, collar wise puppies usually do well on nylon slip collar, some need a fine chain slip collars, and there is a bit of personal preference in there as well. I like using nylon slip collars on puppies when they're first learning and I like to use a fine snake chain in the show ring. That is complete personal preference for me. On walks around town I use a thicker nylon slip collar and leather leash, or a full on mendota nylon slip lead.

Question 4: What is free stacking and how do I achieve it?

Free stacking is where the dog will stack themselves usually after a down and back, there are LOTS of great youtube videos on this. Will Alexander does a good dog show series on some various things.

Question 5: What is the correct way to stack a Great Dane

Youtube will be your friend. Daynakin Danes did a video on how to stack a puppy watch it and learn, she is a pro.

Question 6: Is there anything else I can be doing besides the two training classes and practicing everyday?

Remember to keep it fun and light with your puppy, if you're not having fun they won't be having fun.

Question 7: Will I be treated differently (worse or better)Â* because I will be a newbie to the sport?

You will get some leeway with being new, ask lots of questions and don't interrupt when people are about to go into the ring, best to ask your questions once they're done in the ring. You can learn a lot from just watching people ringside.

Thank you and I'm pretty sure I'll have more questions as time goes on!!

[HGaenslen]

Thank you!! Your information has helped tremendously!!