Amanda Kelly of Fwaggle Toy Manchester Terriers joins host Laura Reeves for some final thoughts on Owner Handlers and how they can earn the advantage in the ring.
Have Fun“There is nothing more eye catching than looking in the ring and seeing a dog that is having a good time and a handler having a good time. Maybe the dog isn't standing perfectly. Maybe it's got one foot out in the wrong place or whatever. I guarantee you that if that dog is having a good time it has better posture, he has better expression, it's holding its shape and its outline regardless of whether every foot is where it needs to be it is a more attractive dog to look at then the perfect statue at the end of the line.
Take a Video“It is so imperative that you see yourself, because showing dogs is just about making pictures. That's all that we do when we go in the ring. We make a picture on this mat and then we make a hopefully nice picture as we move around the ring and then we get on the table and we make another picture and then we do the down back we make another picture. And in all those photos the handler’s job is to frame the artwork that is the dog but you don't know what that picture looks like if no one's ever shown you.
Make the Picture“I think that one of the best ways of figuring out what picture you want to make in the ring is to choose handlers who present dogs in a way that you appreciate. You can do that really easily. Start with Westminster videos or maybe your national video. Watch it. Pick out someone who you think is the whole package and then look at what they're doing, what are the little detailed pieces that make the difference in your mind.
Make it Muscle Memory“The entirety of learning how to handle (is to move) from worrying about one thing to worrying about the next thing, because you've mastered the other thing that you used to worry about. Now you don't think about it anymore. I can tell you I've shown my breed 35 years. I still have a thought process when I'm in there, but I'm not thinking about my lead. I'm thinking about things like when is the judge watching the dogs in the lineup and how do I stand so that I have the right angle, showing the profile that I want to show or how do I get this dog to stop shivering because it's so cold.
YOU Can Do It“Every single day at every show across America, across the world, people like me, people like you, people like those who are listening, are successful. You just have to make a plan. Learn manage your expectations so that you're picking goals that work and are realistic. I would encourage you to go one step further and make sure that the goals that you set for yourself are achievable goals that have nothing to do with who the judge points to. If your only measure of success is whether or not you won a point or whatever, you're doomed. You are doomed. If your measure of success is ‘I want to go in that ring and I want my dog to do X or I want to remember to hold my elbow in against my body and not have it flail around, whatever it may be. It needs to be something that's within your control. I guarantee you that if you go at it with that attitude and you adjust your idea of winning and losing, you will have more fun. And if you have more fun you will win more.
535 – Feeding Performance Dogs is All About Balance
534 — Changing the Conversation on Cancer Diagnosis in Dogs
533 – Meet Dr. Darin Collins, Saluki breeder, new CHF CEO
532 — Breeder, Buyer, Vet: Let’s TALK!
531 – Elaine Lessig: “Fashionista” Passionate About Dog Judging
530 – Poodles, Professional Handlers and Public Image
529 — Christian Manelopoulos: “I’m Going to America”
528 – Amanda Kelly on Sportsmanship, Spine and #squeezethejoy
527 – Pre-Breeding Veterinary Exams and Why They Matter
526 – Chinook: The Gentleman’s Carriage Horse of Sled Dogs
525 – Nederlandse Kooikerhondje: The Original Duck Decoy
524 – Norrbottenspets: “Your GPS in the woods”
523 – Special Reproductive Considerations for Rare Breeds
522 – EOAD Gene Identified in Rhodesian Ridgebacks
521 – Competing in Subjective Sports: Dog Shows vs the Olympics
520 – Talking Toplines with Stephanie Seabrook Hedgepath
519 – Spinal Cord Injuries and Diseases on Veterinary Voice
518 – Ante Lucin on How to Help Dog Breeders in War Torn Ukraine
517 — Veterinarian: Brachycephalic Does NOT Equal Unhealthy
516 — Singleton Puppies: Whelping and Raising Strategies
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett
No Bad Dogs Podcast
Your New Puppy: Dog Training and Dog Behavior Lessons to Help You Turn Your New Puppy into a Well-Behaved Dog
Black Beauty
Just So Stories
Amazing Wildlife: A San Diego Zoo Podcast
Bawk Tawk! Your 100% Friendly Backyard Chickens Show