I could really do with some ideas please!

Ravenwood

Ravenwood

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Next week I am judging the dog show at the local show - Gulp! (Actually I am kicking myself for agreeing to do this now :o)

Anyway - two of the classes are Best Child Handler split between 7yrs and under and 7-15yrs.

I thought that for the latter class I would ask the child to heel his/her dog, ask it sit and stay, walk away a few paces and call it back but I think this might be a bit much to ask of children under 7 :confused:

So what can I do for the first class? we need to think of something fun to do as it is just a fun family dog show - at least its disguised as such! :eek:
 
For children's handling we normally just ask for the kids to handle like they would at a normal show - ie go around, for the individual, stand the dog, show teeth, show gait coming, going away etc.
Ask the kids in the older class where things are, the stop, the pasterns etc. Or ask them if the dog can do any tricks and ask them to demonstrate rather than ask them to do something they might not have trained for.
Sit stays off-lead in a children's handler class might end in tears :o
 
OMG - I am dreading this even more now :(

Good idea asking about tricks - paw, that sort of thing.

What parts of the dog would you expect a seven year old to know? (other than the obvious!)

If all else fails I'll just pick the prettiest one :o ;)
 
Child handling classes are a nightmare to judge, all those little eyes looking appealingly at you. ;) As CC says, I would steer clear of too much obedience, most people I think expect the handling to be of show ring type, although a few basic questions are a good idea. Maybe ask how they groom their dog or some similar care question. One tip, check in advance with the organiser of the show if they will have a prize/rosette for every entrant, if they haven't got this covered then buy some sweets, dog treats etc that you can give out yourself so everyone leaves the ring with something.
 
I'm only saying because I did junior handling with my old female and she adored my mother and looked alert because she was looking for her - I know if I'd dropped the lead she'd have been out of the ring :p maybe that's just a naughty GSD outside attraction thing :p

You could ask the younger ones what their favourite thing is about their dog or what the naughtiest or best thing they ever did was, etc :)
 
As CC says, show like an adult. For me, I like to see a child walk smartly with the dog, not just slop along with the dog at the end of the lead and be able to stand the dog out correctly. The under 7's class could be fun;), parents may well assist the younger ones. Good luck, keep smiling and have fun:)
 
If young handler for dogs is anything like young handler for horses, for our diddies it is basically who is still on their feet at the end!! Isn't it just who tries the harderst at that age? I'd just have them walking round as a group, then ask them to line up, walk out to you and stand the dog up while you have a chat..

The 7-15 yrs class sounds a nightmare - how do you compare a diddy 8yr old to a 15yr old! It would have been fairer 10 and under, and over 10s!

Good luck.x
 
OMG, don't let them let go of the leads! I foolishly thought the advanced class (this is adults btw) should have a go at off-lead heelwork the other week - it all went swimmingly for about 2 minutes, then one of them cracked and it was a free-for-all (good recall practice though):D
 
Spuds, OT but our trainer a while ago, made us do a long group downstay with handlers at a distance, and then proceeded to start throwing balls in front of and behind them - I think there was a lot of butt-cheek clenching on the handlers' parts! :o :o :o
 
CaveCanem said:
Spuds, OT but our trainer a while ago, made us do a long group downstay with handlers at a distance, and then proceeded to start throwing balls in front of and behind them - I think there was a lot of butt-cheek clenching on the handlers' parts! :o :o :o
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lol, your trainer sounds like they come from my school of thought... make 'em sweat!:D I am determined that we WILL do group, off-lead heelwork in the future, even if it kills us;)
 
Thanks for all your replies and I am sorry I haven't answered earlier - its been a busy weekend ;)

I have another problem now... the dog show starts at 1pm with a break at 3pm for the Staghound parade but I have 12 classes to judge (including the Championship - bigger gulp!! :o)

I'm still going to be judging in the dark aren't I :(

Gah! Its a nighmare!!

Mark was going to steward for me but it looks like he will be silaging that day now :(

Anyway, to answer questions above... the rossettes only go to third place but I had infact myself thought about buying a huge tub of lollies to give to all the little kids.

I'll update you all on how it goes :o

My boss thinks I will end up getting hate mail!! :eek:

Oh and just to add - all the kids round here will be Farmer or Keeper offspring, there's no real "show" dogs as such. We are very rural! I am pretty sure that all entrants will be labs, springers, collies and terriers! Anything else will stand out like a sore thumb LOL! :)
 
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Weeeell, don't want to alarm you but I judged the fun class at a charity dog show a while back, and recently I've had one ailment after another... I think there are a lot of voodoo dolls of me having pins stuck in them by disappointed owners:eek:

:p:D
 
Arghhhhhhh! :eek:

Just watched the forecast - I am praying like mad that the massive band of rain hits us on Wednesday afternoon!! :o
 
Ravenwood said:
Arghhhhhhh! :eek:

Just watched the forecast - I am praying like mad that the massive band of rain hits us on Wednesday afternoon!! :o
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lol! You'll do fine - believe me! ;):D

Sorry I haven't replied earlier to this, but I'm hopeless when it comes to ideas........:rolleyes:

And I don't show, either, as the Germans are a tad boring/serious and don't seem to have fun events like this.........:(

That said, have a good time, enjoy yourself, and let us know how it goes. :)
 
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