Handling Class

[Archie]

I went to my first handling class this week. I'm hoping Quinn will turn out and do some conformation stuff, so the breeder suggested I start taking her, just to get her out. She's entered May 1 in baby puppy at a show in my area.

Anyways, I've been around a lot of animal sports, between horses and dogs, and this was still a learning experience. The judge/instructor was great. Really kind to Quinn and laughed at me (in a friendly way) for having no idea what I was doing. Quinn was a good girl, very calm around all the dogs (there were about 20 there, all different breeds).

I had to laugh though, I kind of felt like I was in the movie Best in Show. Especially when I saw a large man with his min-pin. He never looked at or talked to anyone, looked very serious. I almost died when he brought out a little squeeky toy and very seriously squeeked it at the dog lol.

Looking forward to an interesting experience with Quinn!

[JenC]

Enjoy your experience! Have fun with it.

[POPTOP]

Sounds like you two are going to have a lot of fun!

[fidgetyknees]

LOL .... dog people are nice but sometimes just plain old different .... I am at agility trials most weekends and I like to think I am one of the normal ones - but that is probaby exactly what the eccentric ones thinks as well.

Have fun with the conformation.

[Labradorks]

It is interesting, isn't it??? I dabbled a little with Linus and he did OK. Then his tail happened. I think the main thing is to feel comfortable doing it. I always felt like a tool when it came to actual showing and his breeder or someone else from the club showed him for me. Awful, I know...but I did not go to class enough to feel confident in the ring.

[Sam I Am]

Have fun! Dog people can be quirky, but they're mostly nice and encouraging.

[Archie]

Thanks for the encouragement! I went again tonight and Quinn was great. I on the other hand was a bumbling idiot. Tangled in the leash, almost letting her loose, asking for directions around the ring lol. Good thing I won't be her handler. 3 more weeks til her baby puppy debut!

[Snowshoe]

Years ago I had some training for line classes for horses. My gosh, it's just as much about math and psychology and some other sciences as the horse. Talk about needing eyes in the back of your head and an extra set of hands. I'd really rather watch someone else do it so I can watch the critter. Have fun. A neighbour of mine does the handling for her own dogs and for others and she's very involved in teaching junior handling. She makes it sound so interesting, I should at least go to watch her.

[Archie]

Years ago I had some training for line classes for horses. My gosh, it's just as much about math and psychology and some other sciences as the horse. Talk about needing eyes in the back of your head and an extra set of hands. I'd really rather watch someone else do it so I can watch the critter. Have fun. A neighbour of mine does the handling for her own dogs and for others and she's very involved in teaching junior handling. She makes it sound so interesting, I should at least go to watch her.

See, that's the thing. Line classes I can do! I've had 3 year olds at the Royal on the line. I enjoy showing horses on the line. Ever ridden in a busy warm-up ring or huge hack class? Talk about needing eyes in the back of your head!

But a wiggly puppy and a slip lead? Forget about it!