Ring Tips

for the beginning Junior

Pre-show Tips

• Register as soon as you know you can go so if you have any problems with entering, they can be ironed out before the closing date.
• Look for a judge that is licenced to judge the breed of dog you handle. They can often give you tips on what you are doing wrong.
• Try not to look at the prizes. It makes you loose focus of the real purpose of juniors--to have fun!
• Get together all of you things the night before so you won't run around looking for stuff that you forgot to pack.
• Make a list of everything you need, then check it off the morning you leave.
• If you are going to your first show, try to pick one that is the closest to your home, so you won't have a long, anxious drive.
• Go to a few matches before jumping into the real competition.

• After you take care of your dogs once you get to the show grounds, walk around to familiarize yourself with the place. Find the ring you will be showing in, the time you will be showing, pick up your armband number, and check out the vendors. Be sure to also find the superintendent's desk and get a cataloge. If you are nervous, this can take your mind off of it all. Plus, the vendors are really cool anyways.
• The nervousness can really get to some people (including me!), so it is wise to use something to calm you and your dog down. There are all-natural, herbal products you can buy that don't make you drowsy, but do take the "edge" off of the situation.
• Be sure your dog is starting to get use to the busy show world. Walk him around until he seems ok with the traffic of dogs and people. The better your dog adapts to the show, the better you two will do in the ring.
• Suck on a mint or chew gum right before you go into your class. This can hide the nervousness on your breath and give you something to do. But be sure you spit it out before you go in!!
• Be very tuned to your dog's behavior. Make sure he is not over-stressed or even too relaxed. Make sure he is comfortable (especially in hot weather).
• Relax!!

• No gum or mints in the ring! Smacking is very rude.
• Take a deep breath and relax!!
• Try to make the best first impression. Remember, you only have about 3 minutes to be your best, so first impressions are very important. Sometimes, the difference between getting Best Junior and not placing is the first time that judge looks at you!
• Don't worry about embarrassing yourself. It will happen eventually anyways. Plus, no one cares!
• Take your time with everything. It is better to look slow and together than fast and sloppy.
• Do not groom your dog excessively in the ring. It draws attention to you, which is not the point of the game. (Your supposed to draw attention to the dog!)
• Do not bring any of your nervous habbits into the ring either. Again, it draws attention to you. Try your hardest to have "quiet hands".
• While you wait to be judge individually, take your mind off by playing with your dog. The judge doesn't much care about what you do while you wait, as long as it doesn't bother him or others.
• If you like smiling, smile! If you would rather not smile, don't smile! Don't make yourself wear a fake smile or a stern face.
• If the judge asks for a gaiting pattern, or a position that you have never seen before, watch someone else do it. If you can't, ask the judge to explain it more thoroughly. It will look better than just attempting to do something that you have no idea what you are doing.
• Watch your dog closely. Don't let him get away with anything he would normallly.
• Very important: Always watch and listen to the judge!! He is the one who puts you up, so don't ignore the guy (or girl)!!

• Whenever possible, congradulate the winner with a smile! If you won, be a gracious winner! You should be as good a winner as a loser!
• Take whatever place you get with a smile. Even if you think that you were wrongly placed, you should always except the judge's decison.
• Don't wad up your ribbon and throw it in the trash! It makes me so sad when I see a ribbon trashed like a piece of paper. So, just don't do it!! :-P
• Talk to other juniors and people that saw your preformance and ask them what you could have done better. Do the same with the judge, but be warned that sometimes judges don't want to talk about their placements. Most people are very glad to give you all the tips you need!

Hope these help a lot! If you have anything that you think would make a great tip (i.e. something you learned from your parents, mentor, or stuff you just picked up) send it to me! I'll put it up, and I need tips anyways.

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