how many here show their doberman or other dog?

[RelicDobes]

Anyone here show? I would love to chat about gaiting and free stacking. Renic is a good boy in the ring, he listens and ignores the other dogs. He stands for the judge, never scared of them. He will kind of free stack for me, I would like that to be better...

I do have problems gaiting him. He either wants to run infront of me like in my line of travel or charge too much ahead which makes his front end come off the ground and mess up his gait. I am going to the Lincoln NE show in Oct and I am not sure if I will be handling him or if the lady I contacted will be there (hopefully she will be! :o ) but I need him to gait better and free stack nicer...

any suggestions?

[Dobs4ever]

Do you road work him???? If not it does help gaiting and it helps build muscle. That said I see a lot of handlers with their had way high up in the air with a long lead - Underneath that hand the dog is wandering all over the place. They loose control with the hand high in the air and a long lead.

My show lead is 18" leather - I practice gaiting. Around and down and back and turn and free stack. I like to keep my hand right down by his head. Then I am in complete control. To teach the dog to move in a straight line take one of those orange street cones and put a treat on top of it. Once he knows what is waiting for him he should move directly to it. Don't move them too fast to start with. This will help teach them control This take alots of practice just like obedience.

You also need to learn to pick a spot and head directly to it so you do straight and the judge will then have a better view of the dogs true gait.

[RelicDobes]

thanks, that is a good idea with the treat and traffic cone.

Everyone keeps telling me, let him out, let his lead out, but like you, I like to keep my hand closer to his head. he is young, only 16 months, so we are learning together.

We were road working at home before I moved here and I haven't found a place to work him here. I also don't want to do it too much since he is still young.

[Dobs4ever]

I do not have a tight lead just right at their head. I see way too many handlers pulling the dog of stride by pulling their head to them They can't move straight that way. Mine are completely loose lead and have been taught to stay with me. If I want to let them out a little more I can. I also don't have to spend 5 minutes rolling up the lead before I can go round.

[RKCM]

I hear ya on rolling the lead. I had to change that quickly. LoL.

[janterra]

When training for the show ring I teach my puppies a loose version of a heal. First I take a long lead and walk them on that (at a brisk pace), start out with them at your side and walk ahead, when the puppy takes off from your side in any direction I change direction and walk the other way. I keep doing this until the puppy get the idea they can keep the lead loose by following you - then I keep shortening the lead. Pretty soon the learn to stay beside you when you are moving.

[smithlanger]

sounds good to me :)

[Rhiannon]

We also have a group within the Doberman Hub for people interested in showing there dobermans. Please request that we send you an invitation so that you can join. We would love to have you .....

[RKCM]

Dagger was obedience trained so he'll stay when stacked and taught to catch bait. That worked for us and he shows well.

[wmdobe]

Michelle Santana has a good article on DPCA.org about teaching the free stack. I will try to post a link to it when I find it.

Found it: http://dpca.org/BreedEd/kb/index.php/articles/35-conformation/215-conformation-training-tips

Wanda McCain
www.dobewan.com

[wmdobe]

I also would like to join the show group.

Wanda McCain
www.dobewan.com

[RKCM]

I think you just ask to join and someone approves it. Rhiannon can help you on that one???