Ring Jitters, need advice Options

[KiaKlondikeMom]

Klondike will be in his first rally event in June. He is very good at it, but doesn't always want to do the finish to the right. Now since it got hot here in the upper 80's, he is not interested in training at all. He will lay down in the middle of our run. I am really starting to regret entering him in the upcoming shows. The butterfiles in my stomach have turned into dinosaurs. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I would love some advice from any of you who have been in the obedience or show rings.

[MalsRule]

If Agility Trials count, then here's how I handled it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I had no idea what to expect how mine would do in a real agility trial. I was too nervous the first trial and messed things up myself (handler error).

From then on, my attitude at the trials was "whatever they do, have fun, keep a sense of humor and it's all good"

Cinnabar did well after that (and so did I); Sebastian helped me remember to keep my sense of humor by running half way up the A Frame and proudly wagging his tail, when we were supposed to be doing a jump (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)


Sheryl

[fuzzypuppies]

I have never entered any sort of competition with my dogs, but some of the training milestones have been slghtly nerve-wracking. Such as "Will they come back when off leash and unfenced?" They did, and are always surprising me by earning more and more trust every day. I just need to relax and just let them do thier thing. They really do want to please, it just sometimes comes at thier pace and not a human one.

I know they can feel when I am nervous or unsure... several times Chinook has turned her head to me as if to say "Geez, why are you sweating the small stuff?"

[Jeff K & Granite]

From then on, my attitude at the trials was "whatever they do, have fun, keep a sense of humor and it's all good"
Sheryl

I think Sheryl has given great advice . . . remember, Klondike is a malamute, not a border collie!

(And I speak from the experience of entering Granite in the 2003 Sturbridge, MA Malamute National Championship Weightpull, only to have him sit on the cart grinning at everyone, and registering a "no pull".)

[Patty & Bill]

Jeff. Some working dog you got!!! LOL Well I know he's done other working events but you have to admit, it's a funny visual!

[Freya]

I know exactly how you feel - especially with the not wanting to train in the heat.

But, you know what, no matter what happens always remember you have a beautiful, loving dog and you relationship with them is important. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

Have some fun and remember to laugh afterwards - even though at the time you might feel not so good. I look back on Freya's obedience ring antics and can't help but laugh. (see post Freya's obedience )
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With Malamutes you ABSOLUTELY have to have a sense of humour.

BTW - Freya got her CCD title (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Lori]

Remember Rally is FUN! Keep training short and interesting to avoid losing him to boredom and/or heat.

If your experience in Rally is like mine, when you show up to get your armband the stewards will start commenting on your having a 'rare' Mal (one who is entered in obedience!). Then spectators and fellow competitors will comment. Then the judge will notice you and will comment.

With very, very few exceptions, the comments are all good, praise to you for working so hard with a breed known to not be good in such areas of competition, compliments on how beautiful your dog is and just a whole lot of smiles all around.

With Tigar, in the formal CD Obedience ring, when he sang with joy to me, many of the judges knocked points off. When Tigar sang in Rally, the judge just grinned and people outside the ring laughed, encouraging Tigar's serenade. And the audience (which always grew huge when we were in the ring) participation made Tigar really want to strut his stuff and show off just how much he knew.

Good luck, and remember, Rally is FUN, both for you and for Klondike.

[KiaKlondikeMom]

But, you know what, no matter what happens always remember you have a beautiful, loving dog and you relationship with them is important. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

Thank all of you for your advice. Yes with malamutes, you definately need a sense of humor. Don always says, malamutes are companions, and that I shouldn't expect anything more from them. But mals are so much more than that. They really give their all when they want to, you just gotta hope it's also when they need to. LOL. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) My dogs are SOOO talented and I hate to see talent wasted.

Getting an obedience title for one of my dogs has been a dream of mine since I was 9 years old. It is just so hard to get there when you have malamutes with a wild and crazy sense of humor. From past experience, I had my first mal Kiana in obedience shows. In fun matches, she was outstanding and got scores between 190- 196 out of 200 points. The instructors and everyone who seen us working together, said we were an awesome team and are ready for the ring. Wrong. Kiana's first trial was outdoors at the Elgin Dog Show and lasted only 15 seconds when she decided to pee when we made a halt. We were thrown out immediately. Kiana and Kia's breeder Nancy Russell was at the show and was very disappointed with the judge for not letting us go on just for the experience and fun of it. The next time in the ring, Kiana stood up and ran around the ring all bouncy like she wanted everyone to join her, during the last 40 seconds of her down stay. I was so frustrated, I gave up on her after that. I have not been in a ring since. Now 11 years later, I am hoping to make a come back with Klondike. He's not as intellegent as my other two mals, but he is more focused and willing when he has to be. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Maria]

WOW, SUCH AMBITION FOR A 9YR OLD.. MY ONLY DREAM AT 9 WAS HOPING MY SISTER DIDNT EAT ALL THE DANG CAKE FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE..LOL
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I WISH YOU ALL THE LUCK FOR YOUR SHOW..SO MUCH WORK AND DEDICATION YOU ALL PUT INTO IT.... SHERYL HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD..FUN!

[doris]

I just wanted to echo what the others have said about competing with Malamutes. Try to make training fun. Go into each competition with no set expectations. Regardless of what happens, good or bad, remember that the main reason you are there is to have fun with your dog. When I started weight pulling with Kodiak, I got all pumped up about his progress. Being around competative handlers of other breeds sparked the competative side in me. I was pretty bummed the first time Kodiak decided to play Malamute games in the chute. Luckily, our pulling club really stressed making each pull a fun/rewarding experience for the dog. I quickly realized the trophies and ribbons were for me. Kodiak had a blast regardless of where he placed. I was so glad I learned this early. Kodiak had great pulling days and lousy ones but we had a wonderful time pulling for 7 yrs and it brought us even closer together. Good luck to you and Klondike! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[KiaKlondikeMom]

I just wanted to echo what the others have said about competing with Malamutes. Try to make training fun. Go into each competition with no set expectations. Regardless of what happens, good or bad, remember that the main reason you are there is to have fun with your dog.

I do have to say, the advice that you all gave me about just having fun really worked for the first show. I had so much fun and I know Klondike did too. But there is something that I had learned through my experience at both of the shows. Expect the unexpected not only with your dog, but also with the Judge, the show attendants, and the weather.

The first show was pretty much a breeze. It went quick, very organized show. The weather was hot but thankfully it was early in the morning. What I learned from that show was, just because the premium says its an indoor show, doesn't mean there is air conditioning. Yikes it was hot. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

The second show started out as a nail bitter from the beginning.

1. The show was VERY unorganized. I had to call several times to the show superintendent for a premium since the show was run by the Kennel club. I also sent personal mail requesting for a premium. I finally got it 3 days before the due date. So I had to hurry and get it in.

2. I got the show info 4 days before the show. It said that I was the first one in my class to start. So that made me a bit nervous. The Novice Obedience was to start at 12:00 and the Rally show would start afterwards. Rally was suppose to be in ring one. I didn't want to get there too early because I didn't want Klondike to get bored so I timed it to get there about 12:35 when most of the Novice Obed. would be done. Wrong, They just started when we got there. So Klondike had to wait for well over an hour before we started. And Rally ended up being in Ring 2 instead of ring one.

3. The show was in Indiana and the premium said it was on EASTERN time not central. The map they gave us was not legible at all. So Don and I decided to make a special trip two days before the show to see where the show was to be held. We found the place, and noticed that all clocks around there had central time. I asked a woman in a building near by and she said they are on Central time not eastern.

4. After the Novice Obed. show ended the judge placed all of the signs in ring 2. He then hopped skipped and jumped his way around the ring going through the signs. At that point, I thought he was a pretty cool guy looking like he was having fun. Then he called us in the ring. He gave us an oral TEST before we made our run through. The only thing was, he was asking us the most rediculous questions. He asked us the distance between each sign, measurements, and stuff we had no clue about. He than said he would take off 10 points for things that would normally require only 3 points off. We all just stared at him dumbfounded. After he got us all nervous, he started asking us normal questions. All 15 of us had to answer a question. It was taking forever. It was like he was delibertly trying to make us nervous. And it was working. I heard Klondike Woooing because he was soooo bored.

5. After we finally got to do the run through, the judge put down the wrong signs and had to replace them with the right ones. Then a woman noticed the signs weren't numbered. So they had to search for the numbers. Run throughs usually take 10 minutes to go through, but this took over 25 minutes. Klondike already was there for over two hours very restless and bored as heck.

6. The temp outside was 100 degrees and we didn't want to let Klondike out in the heat before the show otherwise he would get lazy and just sit the whole time.

Out of all of that, we managed to get a qualifying score. Thank goodness. Our next show, I am going to keep all of this in mind, and whatever happens, happens. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) And to just keep smiling. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Lori]

I had to read all the way to the end of your interesting post to find...YOU GOT A QUALIFYING SCORE!!! Woo HOO!!! Way to go! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Congratulations, big huge congrats!

Good thing you were on top of things.

Yeah, Rally is really disorganized, from the shows I've gone to. The second show we went to, the premium said the walk through was at 10:45. I showed up at ringside at an early 10:30 and found the walk through had been done at 10:15!!! And I was the first dog in the ring! I made sure to comment loudly as I entered the ring that I sure wish the walk through had been done at the posted time so I knew what the heck was going on. (Must have worked, we got second place out of 16 dogs that day!)

[KiaKlondikeMom]

I had to read all the way to the end of your interesting post to find...YOU GOT A QUALIFYING SCORE!!! Woo HOO!!! Way to go! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Congratulations, big huge congrats!

Thanks Lori. Yes, The first show Klondike got first place, the second show he got last place but still got his leg and a score of 83/100 which is great considering everything we went through that day. I have a post and pictures of his ribbon listed under Activities, Yippey!