auto sits and conformation
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| Ah, yes. Been there, done that.
First of all, different collar/lead for conformation. Something, very, very lightweight. Then you start out by YOU moving differently. Instead of in obedience where you want their head turned a bit towards you with Abi looking lovingly into your eyes  you resolutely move forward, LOOK forward, and keep your entire body straight forward (especially shoulders!) as you say something like "let's go" and give her her head a little bit. You want her to be looking straight ahead and moving straight and true. If she forges a little bit right now, that's OK as long as she is moving straight. If she starts to curl back towards you, pick up your speed a little bit (just for now) to reinforce "honey, we are moving forward".
Don't praise her in motion or she'll look at you. When you go to stop, don't make her stack at first - release, praise and woop it up a little bit. (Hey. this is a fun game!!  )
OK, so you've changed the picture in her head. Then as you practice gaiting her, you add giving her your stand command as you are coming to a halt. Physically help her the first few times. Prop her up a little if need be, or walk a couple more steps if she's about to sit and then praise her for standing even if it's not a perfect stack. You want it in her head that it's OK to stand first, before you work on "this is how I want you to stand" Honestly, it took my girls about fifteen minutes to figure it out. You also hold your hand very differently for conformation - people? Who has a good picture of someone gaiting please? This also changes the picture in her mind. Whatever you do keep it positive and don't get frustrated because it's an easy thing to teach them to switch from one to the other. Just don't despair if it doesn't happen the first day. It'll come. The only real problem I foresee is the judges who aren't used to young dogs behaving. The breeder of the sire of one of my girls is an AKC breeder/judge and she gave me an earful about one of my puppies (Mace) being under-animated and too controlled. Oh, you mean because she wasn't climbing on her handler and trying to molest the other dogs? She likes a more "spirited" dog (too bad she didn't see Sybil's performance  She would have loved her  ) Because roughly half of the conformation people barely bother to leash break their puppies before they bring them into the ring, you see an awful lot of "animation" - some of it a pained expression on the handler's face 
Some judges mistake misbehavior for "attitude". There's nothing you can do about that. Kristine |
Here is a really old picture of Toby gating. I'll try to find some more when I get home. (It was one of our first shows!) Don't look at his legs but where the lead is coming from and where my hand is.
I know that there are several videos of me with both Suzi and Toby on Youtube. (Thanks Deb) Also, don't forget the videos on the Westminster site. The big thing about those are that a lot of people DO NOT gait correctly on them. If you want to watch them and see what people do, it's a learning experience. Good or bad depends on who you learn from! I try to step in front of my dogs a little bit at the end of gaiting so that they know something different is going on too. Don't pull up on the lead like you would with the automatic sit. Try a quick double tug or a backward tug or something that feels different. As Kristine said, it should be different for your dog. With one of the younger dogs I was working with, I would actually reach down into the collar to show him something else was going on. |
| It really shouldn't be a big issue. We do the same (both obedience and conformation) - and always have over the years. The lead is different and the whole style is different. Abi will tell the difference pretty fast. I promise!!!
Here is a conformation picture that shows the lead with Chewie 
(and yes, LeAnne is pregnant, not just "buffet-chubby"!) use of the lead in the stack - 
(yes, she was pregnant here too.... )
Chewie was working obedience/rally at the time of these pictures - LeAnne does use the "stand" command quietly as she stops gaiting and eases into the stack. I guess I will have to dig and download an obedience picture. |
| YAH for good pictures!!! |
Mad Dog wrote: First of all, different collar/lead for conformation. Something, very, very lightweight.
Ok, just got mine in the mail. you say something like "let's go" and give her head a little bit. You want her to be looking straight ahead and moving straight and true. This I can do. Don't praise her in motion or she'll look at you. When you go to stop, don't make her stack at first - release, praise and woop it up a little bit. This could potentially work. OK, so you've changed the picture in her head. Then as you practice gaiting her, you add giving her your stand command as you are coming to a halt. Physically help her the first few times. Prop her up a little if need be, or walk a couple more steps if she's about to sit and then praise her for standing even if it's not a perfect stack. You want it in her head that it's OK to stand first, before you work on "this is how I want you to stand" This is going to take practice, but, I understand. You also hold your hand very differently for conformation - people? Who has a good picture of someone gaiting please? This also changes the picture in her mind. being under-animated and too controlled. "spirited" dog No problem there! In obedience class, when all the other dogs are acting very mature and looking at their owner for the next command, Abi is singing "Girls Just Want to Have Fun!", and is waiting for the next opportunity to sniff the bum of the dog in heel infront of her. Because roughly half of the conformation people barely bother to leash break their puppies before they bring them into the ring Sorry but, stupid here, doesn't understand "leash break their puppies. I'm trying to learn the lingo- please be patient. I promise I'm not as dumb as I appear. Thanks y'all for the pictures. They however have lead to my next question: "walks on loose lead" y'alls don't look loose and I know you are holding the lead properly. Please explain. In obedience the lead is really loose almost as if not there. So I guess y'all mean that she will know the difference because the lead is held tighter? But then the standard reads "walks on loose lead" The picture of Leanne stacking is what I want Abi's bum to look like. May I print that and use as a reference? Mandy, do you have the links for your gaiting on YouTube? I will work on all the above and am sure will have more questions. Thanks |
DandAbi wrote: No problem there! In obedience class, when all the other dogs are acting very mature and looking at their owner for the next command, Abi is singing "Girls Just Want to Have Fun!", and is waiting for the next opportunity to sniff the bum of the dog in heel infront of her.
roflmao!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, wow, already she's ready to be a conformation dog. You must be so proud
Loose lead? Nobody trusts their OES on a loose lead. Well, I do actually (except, Sybil on a windy day! ) , but most people just string them up. You'll see some of that on the westmin video from this year...Try to find a happy medium with some contact and anchor your arm when gaiting her so you're not swinging it (and her) all over the place (we really need a pictorial/videographic tuitorial here, guys...).
But don't think obedience loose lead. Think horse. There's a difference between a true loose rein - where you let the reins slip out to your finger tips, and giving the horse his head but keeping just enough soft contact on his mouth that you can collect the horse easily if need be...you want that much contact just in case
Someone else can explain it better, I'm sure. And ball the rest of the lead up in your palm. (If you got a really long one - 6 ft? - you can shorten it. Some knots, a quick snip) Nothing looks worse to me that someone gaiting their dog with the remainder of the lead flapping in the wind. Very untidy, Distracting. Kristine |
| oh, wow, already she's ready to be a conformation dog. You must be so proud
Ready, hardly. Just thinking ahead. But don't think obedience loose lead. Think horse. There's a difference between a true loose rein - where you let the reins slip out to your finger tips, and giving the horse his head but keeping just enough soft contact on his mouth that you can collect the horse easily if need be...you want that much contact just in case
This really helps. All those yrs of horse back riding pays off! |
DandAbi wrote: This really helps. All those yrs of horse back riding pays off!
Oh, man, with your background as a skater (body awareness and timing - your own ) and a background in horses - you're already way ahead of the game. Give it a few years and we'll all be asking YOU for handling tips.
Kristine |
| Yes - the horse experience will help! I do too, and they really are similar with contact and timing.
Skating too - but I never progressed beyond a few jumps and spins. My dad coached hockey - I guess I was more of a frustrated hockey player (girls weren't allowed to play in my day.  )
Yes, you can copy Chewie's butt . He does have a nice one!!
The lead with full contact in conformation does help. With the coat and impaired vision part of it. Practicing and developing trust that you will safely guide them through the pattern is important. You want a nice full stride with confidence - for both of you! For Chewie - it is just enough tension for the slack to be out and for him to "feel" the handler. He really isn't a puller - despite all the pulling activities he does. Here is a picture - I had to nab one I had of Gale and Bebe - I doubt she will mind in the pursuit of education! 
See the totally different body language? And another one just for fun - Chewie's long sit in his 1st obedience trial. 
It is the same one as Chewie's favorite Aunt Bebe - he loves her! We were at an ASCA obedience trial - it was fun. |
| I guess I was more of a frustrated hockey player (girls weren't allowed to play in my day. )
Oh those evil hockey players hogging up the ice! Yes, you can copy Chewie's butt . He does have a nice one!!
Thank you! Practicing and developing trust that you will safely guide them through the pattern is important. You want a nice full stride with confidence - for both of you! That's why I want to practice before I show. I want it to be fun and not stressful-if that's possible See the totally different body language? The pictures do help Thank you |
DandAbi wrote: Mandy, do you have the links for your gaiting on YouTube?
I'll get them for you tonight, I can't access YouTube from work. |
Maxmm wrote: DandAbi wrote: Mandy, do you have the links for your gaiting on YouTube? I'll get them for you tonight, I can't access YouTube from work. Me either - how inconvenient is that |
| We used to have it. Then, I think the government go wise to what we were doing. |
| you work for PA? NY did the same thing - hence we no longer have access. |
kerry wrote: you work for PA? NY did the same thing - hence we no longer have access.
Nope, bigger than just a state worker. |
that's not fair - fess up. And I work for budget - we don't consider ourselve sthe same as other State workers prob should have kept that to myself shouldn't I  |
I'm a Fed. We giggle at state workers! 
Here's the link to some of the YouTube videos. http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... arch_type= I think this one gives you a good view of hand/arm positions. You'll see several of us with the same arm position. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGkjf2mLY-I |
| with your benefits you can afford to |
| The Postal Workers are the ones who really have it made in the benefits department. I hear they openly make fun of all of us. |
| Thanks for the links Mandy. I guess I'm a visual learner. |
| No problem. If you need clarification or more help, start screaming. |
| How about you let me gait one of your babies when I see you all in Apr.? A 5 min crash course if you will. |
| You sure can. They can smell fear and will take every advantage of it so make sure you prepare yourself! |
Maxmm wrote: The Postal Workers are the ones who really have it made in the benefits department. Hazardous duty pay. |
Ron wrote: Maxmm wrote: The Postal Workers are the ones who really have it made in the benefits department. Hazardous duty pay.There's a waiver that you have to sign. |
| What's the hand position for that wave? |
| Let me see if I can find that video! |
DandAbi wrote: How about you let me gait one of your babies when I see you all in Apr.? A 5 min crash course if you will.
These are the same babies who dragged Maxmm out the door which caused her to get stitches on her hand!! |
VerveUp wrote: DandAbi wrote: How about you let me gait one of your babies when I see you all in Apr.? A 5 min crash course if you will. These are the same babies who dragged Maxmm out the door which caused her to get stitches on her hand!! That was only one of them and she is called something else starting with a "B"! |
I saw someone mention loose leads- Is it bad if your OES is gaiting around the ring with a loose lead??? We are still learning, but I usually see people have a nice tight hold on the lead while running/jogging around the ring....
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I Dream Of Sheepie wrote: I saw someone mention loose leads- Is it bad if your OES is gaiting around the ring with a loose lead??? We are still learning, but I usually see people have a nice tight hold on the lead while running/jogging around the ring....
A number of judges will ask for a loose lead. Few get one
A loose lead requires a welltrained dog. Even then, I think most prefer to have some contact with the dog just in case. To the other extreme you have people who basically string their dog up (control issue?) thus interferring with the dog's movement. This is definitely bad. Basically it's a balance between control and allowing the dog to move with as little interference as possibly. A loose flapping lead does nothing to enhance the picture either. Don't worry - you'll get a feel for it. Kristine |
| Thank you much!!! So then it's a good thing if the dog can actually run on a loose lead? that's really cool. I'm glad I asked!!!
by the way, love the avatar photo!! |
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