Grooming questions and stuff for first show

[Co-Pilot in Flight]

Thank you SOOO much Diane! I have been stressing a lot about the grooming, but the more I think about it we just need the practice in the ring and I am certain that there willbe handlers that can help me with the grooming later, of course i will do my best!

I was rolling on the floor (well I am already on the floor with Co-Pilot) laughing from your stories. Co-Pilot does the bunny hop a lot, especially when she wants to go fast.

Now that I hav new blood on this thread new question and I know it is a training question. How do you TRAIN her not to pull? I have read how to train HEEL and we practice that every day, but mostly she still always pulls, even if only a little. I am opposed to using a choke chain, I know I may be doing it the hard way, but she doesn't know what I want so i just can't punish her for not doing it. Instead I reward what I like, Like crazy, but it is difficult to reward the few seconds here and there that she doesn't pull on the leash. I verbally tell her she's a "good girl and how smart she is!".

Any ideas?

[shaynapug]

I don't have mine heeling....I let them walk out ahead of me...not running....

I had a handler once tell me that if you have a dog that walks nicely and shows himself/herself...let them do it!!

There are people that use martingale leads......they tighten up when a dog pulls.

I have used a choker on one...Nikki paced and I needed to be able to pop her just as we took off to get her out of it.

The others learn...just practice.....when she's pulling...stop...and say know. When she's walking well...go for a bit and then give her a treat??????

ONE HINT FOR YOU ALL!!! I have always seen handlers put the bait in their mouths. It worked for me for some dogs....and I tried it with Isis...Now...when I put her on the table...she looks at my mouth for food!!! I have to let her smell my breath by blowing on her to let her know there's nothing there! I did this once when she was 6 months old...and she's almost 3 and remembers! DO NOT PUT BAIT IN YOUR MOUTH!

[Co-Pilot in Flight]

I don't have mine heeling....I let them walk out ahead of me...not running....

I had a handler once tell me that if you have a dog that walks nicely and shows himself/herself...let them do it!!

Honestly her gait is beautiful, when she's not bunny hopping!

[emperorwudi]

Oh, I know just how you feel - the anticipation and excitement and those little niggling anxieties, too. I agree with the previous posters - keep reminding yourself that these early shows are all about teaching your girl that the show ring is a FUN place to be. It's not about perfect grooming or smooth handling. All of that will come. Lawd knows I was inept my first weekend out.
Fortunately, the puppy classes are for puppies, and the judges, being dog-people, are for the most part charmed by their antics as much as we are! I remember one judge giving Winner's Bitch to a 6 month Black pup, saying "she's just so cute I want to take her home with me!" Sometimes ya gotta go with what ya got!

I'll be at Silver Bay at Del Mar next weekend (both days) and although it sounds like you may have lined up plenty of assistance, feel free to ask for more if you need it. I can tape an ear in no time flat. I'll still consider myself a novice for another year or two, but I'm an owner handler who has learned by making mistakes (hey, I set up my boy backwards on the table once, too!), and you can't beat the thrill of finishing 'em yourself. My little guy won at Silver Bay last year (at 12 mo. and 1wk. old) over an entry of 32 Pugs, including Top Ten Specials, so anything is possible! Later, after Group, I thanked the judge for overlooking my puppy's enthusiasm to see his quality. She replied, "Your standard calls for "Playfulness" - don't even bring me a boring Pug - that's not a Pug!"

So, which show is your bitch's 'maiden performance'? Will you be back at Del Mar for Del Sur KC? There really is a good bunch of Pug-people around here, so don't be a stranger!
Lisa

[Co-Pilot in Flight]

Thank you Lisa! I will PM you for more details, i would love to meet you! We are going to Del mar to learn and observe, thanks for offering to meet us and I would love help on her cute puppy ears. I am not sure about the other show you mentioned I will look it up.

Whenever she throws her ears back like that I always tell her "You aren't going to win me one single ribbon like that!" My husband always laughs! Of course we are doing this for FUN! So ribbions asside we are going to show her.

[ViralMD]

One place where all the show grooming stuff is written down is Shirley Thomas' book, 'The New Pug.' It's out of print but available on Amazon.

[Co-Pilot in Flight]

Thanks Viralmd! will get that one!

[SmugPugs]

Hi, just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents since I don't stop by very often and didn't see this until now.
I'm a little different from Sarina in that I always tape on the outside and have never had a bit of trouble with it... Even Chubby who is about to turn 3 this spring has one ear that needs taping occasionally and has never shown any interest in pulling the tape off. I also trim any long hairs around the neck and on the line down from the ears.

About pulling, this is NOT a bad thing... It's so much easier to rein in a puller than to amp up one that drags or has no animation. Don't worry about her pulling in the puppy classes - the judges won't care. Let her get seasoned and her lead skills will mature on their own.

[Jamie]

Do you keep a pugs ears taped year-round then? Once they mature do you stop taping their ears or do you do it for their lifetime? Thanks. :)

[Co-Pilot in Flight]

Tape as much as is needed. Some Pugs just need to be taped through the Puppy teething phase, and then today at a show there was a Pug that was not a puppy that had just one ear taped until right before he went in the ring. Believe me I understand how simple ear taping sounds...and then you go to do it and wonder if you are getting it right, etc. Sometimes when you ask about it people will refer you to the another, or the same diagram, believe me if you can have you help someone in person with ear taping once, you will have it down,