HOW I SHOW MY YORKIES
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In this article what I hope
to accomplish is, to help the "new" Yorkie show person who wants to show
their own dog get ready for the ring.
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Although it was a long time
ago, (and I won't tell you how long because then I'd be telling my age
<grin>), I don't think I'll ever forget my first experience or the long
time it took me to be really ring ready.
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I didn't know anyone and, I
didn't have anywhere to turn for help. I just got in there and showed and
learned by trial and error. At first I went in there with the attitude
that I had the greatest dog in the world and should win every show I went
in. I saw other people do it and they didn't have any trouble winning and
my dog was prettier.
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Well you can imagine the awakening
I got. I didn't start winning for about a year and a half and with a different
dog. I'm writing this to help someone (maybe you) to avoid some of the
pitfalls that have either happened to me or that I've learned about.
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It's very nice to start off
with a "beaut" of a dog, but if you're not that lucky don't let it stop
you from showing as long as you have a descent dog. It takes a while to
master this ring thing, and you need the experience.
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The first thing is don't be
nervous. Judges don't bite. A.K.C. won't let them. Besides if you are nervous,
you cannot do a good job showing your dog. Remember, he's the one that
put up with all the discomfort of being primped for his debut and it's
not fair to him. The best way to avoid being nervous is to be prepared
early. Don't let anything go till the last minute and wind up being rushed.
This causes anxiety for you and your dog.
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I usually start getting ready
3 or 4 days before the show. I plan what I'm going to take to the show
and start piling it all up by the front door. Get out the grooming table,
chair and doggy stand. The bag with all my electrical cords, hair dryer,
flat iron, self rinse (no rinse cleanser), paper towels (for pittle pads
and cleanups), a spray bottle filled with water, wraps and bands (for after
the show), and a couple of towels in it.
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Next I check my grooming box
to make sure I have everything I will need in it, then to the front door
it goes. Make sure you have all your brushes, combs, leads, hair bands
and ribbon for the topknot, scissors, and whatever sprays you use for grooming.
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You might also think about bringing
a small show cage and newspaper with you. This way you won't have to take
your pup outside to pittle where he might get dirty. And of course the
most important thing to start thinking about, "what to wear".
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I usually wear either a suit
if it's a big show, or a skirt and blouse if it's a small show. A dress
is also fine. If it's outdoors and cold, I wear pants and long underwear
(I'm the freezie type). If it's outdoors and hot a nice pair of dress slacks
and blouse is ok as long as it's not a big show.
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I don't like long skirts, even
mid calf as it hides the dog from the judge. Also if you were your dog,
would you like your Mommy's skirt flying in your face when you're trying
to show your best for her?
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For shoes, slip ins or keds
are acceptable. I never wear heels or boots. I once saw a woman in the
ring with the full cowboy look with high heel boots. I just don't think
this is acceptable attire in the ring. Also, I leave the "jangly" jewelry
at home.It's distracting.
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Men, it's suits and tie's for
you. At small outdoor shows you could get away with slacks, button down
shirt and no tie. A sports coat would be nice.
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Three days before the show,
I start getting my dog ready. I usually bathe him and if he's in oil wash
it all out. I do leave a little extra conditioner in. I cut his toenails,
clip his ears and private place, trim his feet and coat if needed, and
clean ears and teeth. The night before the show I give him another sudsing
and loosely wrap him in large sections. I also load up the van the night
before. I don't like getting sweaty before I even leave the house.
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I also do all my cutting and
clipping at home. I don't think the grooming area is the place to do major
grooming and it is discourteous to your neighbors in the grooming area
to have hunks of hair floating all around. It is also discourteous to the
owners of the show site to make a mess of their building that they so generously
allowed us to rent. Also if your dog poops or pee's, clean it up. A lot
of buildings won't rent to us because of the mess.
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I always allow myself a half
hour more than I think I need to get ready in the morning. I'm a slow starter
and something always seems to come up to make me late leaving. By giving
myself that extra half hour, I don't have to rush and can take my time
getting ready. If you're fast on your feet, forget this part.
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I like to arrive at the show
site at least
2 hrs before ring time. You
can't always find a place to set up and sometimes it takes about a half
hour just to find a place and get unloaded and set up. If it's especially
crowded, go to the show chairperson and ask their help in finding you a
spot.
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First I set up my show cage,
apply pittle pads, and let my little darlings take care of business. While
that's going on I set up my table and take out everything I'll need for
grooming.
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This is the fun part for me.
I love turning my little ugly ducklings into beautiful swans. I guess it's
like Cinderella going to the ball and I'm the fairy godmother.
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First, all the wraps come out.
Then a through brushing to get all the tangles out. The secret to getting
rid of wrap crinkles is to take one section of coat at a time and wet that
section down thoroughly with my water spray bottle, and while using my
blow dryer, brushing each section until it's dry. Do the whole coat like
this. You can also clean the pittle area at this time.
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Then I use my flat iron and
go over every bit of coat till all the hair is straight as a board and
has no crinkles. I use the self rinse on the eye area and then blow it
dry. Use the low setting on the face.
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Then comes the really fun part,
the topknot. Sometimes mine go up the first time, and other times it takes
me two or three tries. Also talking to everybody who stops by your table
takes up time too. I'm the worlds champion talker. And if you're late,
you'll also miss out on all the "fun and games" that go on in the grooming
area.
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Usually by this time, I'm so
worn out that I'm practically falling asleep. But if you're not, and are
still nervous, this is the time to take those deep breaths and keep saying
to yourself "I will survive". And, I promise you, when you come out of
the ring you'll wonder why you were ever nervous in the first place.
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Finally we get to the ring.
(I told you I talk a lot). Always get there about 20 to 30 minutes
early. All judges are different. Some want the dog facing east on
the ring table and some west. I've even showed under a north and a south
judge. By getting there early you can check out the judges' habits and
will know what he will expect of you in the ring. Also you get to talk
some more.
(hee, hee).
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If your breed is first in the
ring, watch the pup in front of yours. Try not to be first in the ring,
but if you have no alternative, listen carefully to the judges instructions.
He will usually tell the first one in what he wants them to do. He expects
everyone who follows to be watching and do the same thing.
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For the new kid on the block
your best friend, if you don't have one handy, is the ring steward/ess.
For now we are going to pretend it's a she. Most of them are, she's I mean.
You have to pick your number up from her. Tell her that you are new and
you don't know when to go in the ring. Always make sure you are finished
showing before you leave ring side. If you aren't sure, ask your friend
the stewardess.
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Remember your number and go
in when she calls it, just in case she forgets. When you enter the ring
go to her and ask where you are to set up your dog if you are the first
one in. If you are not, then just play follow the leader and go where everyone
else is going.
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This is the only time I clam
up. Well, sometimes I slip, but I TRY not to.
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All your attention should be
focused on the judge and your dog. Some people carry their dogs in the
ring, but I walk mine in. It not only looks better, this is the correct
way to enter the ring.
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Immediately, drop to your knees,
quickly stack your dog, and give him a quick brush if he needs it. You
will spend more time on your knees in the ring than you do in church. I
once went to a specialty and came out of the ring with torn stockings and
blisters. You better believe that if I EVER decide to show under this judge
again, I'm going out and buy me a pair of knee pads.
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Be ready when the judge comes
down the line to get his first viewing of the dogs in the ring. It's
important to make a good first impression.
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The judge will then ask everyone
to take the dogs around the ring and put the first one on the table. Another
reason why not to be first. You don't get a whole lot of time to get your
pup stacked and looking his best. And also another reason why not to be
nervous. If you're nervous your movements in the ring are going to be jerky.
You should be fluid, and move with ease and grace.
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The judge will go to your pup's
head first. While he is at the head I keep my hand on the rear so my pup
doesn't move around. When the judge goes to the rear, move your hands to
the front.
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Then comes the geometry thing.
Give your dog a quick brush on the table and follow the judge. He will
usually ask for you to go down and back or to make a triangle. Although
there is also the "T", and the "L". This is something I can't tell you
how to do. Sorry, but you will just have to learn by watching or, get help
from some knowledgeable show person.
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I have been to only one show
where I had to do an "L", and have never had to do a "T". The down and
back will be a snap for you. The triangle is not too hard. Learn these
two and leave the other two for later. If you are so unlucky as to happen
to get a judge that ask you for one of the hard ones, just go cry on his/her
shoulder and tell him/her you are new at this and your breeder didn't teach
it to you yet. They'll have pity on you and ask you to do something easier
and blame the breeder.
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Then it's back in line and down
on the knees again. Stacking is more important than brushing. If you have
time to brush than do it. But better to spend the time stacking.
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Never take your eyes off the
judge, except for a quick peek at your future champion, every few seconds,
to make sure he's exactly the way you left him the last time you peeked.
Judges can be sneaky sometimes and when you think they're involved with
someone else they sneak a quick look back at the line. You've got to be
ready with your pup looking his best for this sneaky behavior.
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The judge might or might not
go down the line again to have another look. If he/she does come down the
line, when he gets to my pup, I usually give the judge a little smile.
I know I have the best dog in the ring and I want him to see that I have
confidence in, and am proud of my dog. Besides only the winners ever smile
at judges, and they don't get too many smiles. Be generous.
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This is when you watch the judge
like a hawk. If he points to you, you want to be ready for whatever he
ask of you or, in some cases, "sign languages" you to do. I've noticed
more judges using sign language lately. It is a good way to keep us on
our toes and see if we really want the point or not. A lot of judges won't
call out a person a second time when they are off in "La La" land. They
will just pick another dog. I've seen it happen quite a few times.
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As you go around for the final
time (sometimes 2 or three times when a judge can't make up his mind in
a hurry), always use two eyes. One on the judge and one on the dog. In
one show I was glancing back and forth so much that I lost one of my contacts
in the upper part of my eye. Ever see a grown woman crying in one eye only?
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If he picks you out, watch closely
what position he gives you and go to that number in the winners corner.
Don't know where this is? Look before you go in the ring. Another reason
for being early. It's the only corner with signs numbered 1,2,3,4, on them,
and just hope you get the chance to go to one of them. Preferably the one
with the "1" on it.
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I know everyone says you don't
thank the judge when he hands you the ribbon, but I was brought up to be
polite and, I always have and always will say thank you.
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If you didn't win, always congratulate
the winner before you leave the ring. Although I must admit there were
a few times I stormed out the ring madder than a hornet. That was in my
earlier days. Now I know that if the judge puts up a really bad dog, he/she
is only making a fool of themselves. Everyone outside the ring can see
for themselves what this judge did.
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I keep a record book on all
the judges that I show under. I give them 2 tries to find the best dog.
If they can't the second time around, then I will not show under this judge
again.
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Then, there is also the typie
judges as I call them. They might not like my type of dog, and that's their
prerogative, but I won't show to a judge that puts up a bad dog that is
his type over a good dog because it isn't his type.
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Shows today cost a lot of money.
Hotels, meals, gas, show fees, and numerous other expenses like the venders
(boy, can I spend money here). You have to show to all the judges when
you are just starting out. But, once you learn your judges, support the
ones you know are good and stay away from the ones that aren't. You'll
be "richer" for it.
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Never, ever make any bad comments
about other people's dogs at ringside. No matter if it has 2 heads and
5 legs. Wait until you get back to the grooming area, or better yet, to
the restaurant you are going to after the show. Then you can blow off all
the steam you want to. If someone overhears you around the ring, you can
be suspended from showing and fined. It's also in bad taste. Be a "Lady"
or "Gentleman", at least at ring side. You can file a complaint at the
show and you also have the right to write to AKC if you feel you have a
legitimate complaint and can prove it.
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Most important of all, win or
loose, "HAVE FUN". You don't want to turn into some of the people I see
walking around the shows with their frowns dragging the ground mumbling
to themselves.
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