The pups caught on rather quickly – Impressively quick actually. Teeny was hands down, the most receptive of the bunch for sure. She really enjoyed the attention and the reward of the process. She’s a smart cookie that’s for sure!

I have always struggled with stacking on the table so Kat gas me some awesome pointers and I will be forever grateful! not only ways to position my hands to make the dog more of the focus but also to place the rear feet FIRST and then the front. It made a huge difference. I will use these tips with TIno fr the rest of the year and am so excited to show Teeny on January. OMG!! Thank you Kat!

All was not lost today though. I got to spend time with some amazing friends, which is worth it’s weight in gold! Another awesome show weekend for the memory books! With Milly due with her puppies in July, we won’t be showing again for another month so that gives me lots of time to to work with Tino. Now we shall be on whelp watch!!

Georgie and TIno did fabulous with their training, each remaining focused on me for the majoring of their training. Now when it was time to do the girls everything changed – and I couldn’t help but laugh!

I wanted to work with Stella one-on-one but she was not going to have it. She just wanted the food – Eating my entire stash! I sent my husband into the house to bring me back out some bait and that is when Blue snuck out into the backyard with him. Apparently having competition helped Stella focus on me and what we were trying to train her on. But that also meant when we decided it was time to treat the girls Blue was working her way into finding a chance to get more food! Pawing at the sandwich bag filled with bait was all it took. Bait went EVERYWHERE! We scrambled to pick it up so the girls didn’t eat at all. Clearly there were remnants because they decided to roll in them! Now we have two girls this smell like beef!

Tino actual did very well. While yesterday he as surfing the mats for random dropped pieces of bait, today I fed him a bit before we got the show grounds. A lot less looking for food for which made for a lot more focus on ME! He did great on the table – the first time he didn’t balk since the judge with the scary-hat-cident! Figgy dogs are finally on a good roll! YAHOOO!! I think the airport is bringing us luck 😀

A loose lead was the first suggestion for both of us and it made a world of difference. Both girls also need more table exposer since they both baulk when others approach. Additionally, Alexis needs to practice her own gait when running with Breezy. A tad smoother will also smooth out Breeze. All in all a wonderful experience for us all – canine and human alike. After we see how these lessons go at the Ocala shows, we shall see how many more of these classes we need to get under our belts.

This year that had some amazing speakers to wok wit the kids. Frank Sabella presented The Art of Handling Show Dogs, giving some very cool tips and techniques. We parents got to sit in on the presentations and Frank’s was one I was very excited about.  His best advice? Don’t be a copycat, be an original! Watch and learn from others – but take it and make it your own.

After his presentation the kids got to show their dogs and he picked his 1st through 4th handlers – Alexis and Harry got 3rd!!!!!

The second was on Canine Anatomy and Health presented by Dr. Samantha Nye. Alexis enjoyed this presentation, relaxing she really needs to learner about canine structure.

The final presentation was given by Lorna Hastings Menaker and it was so unique and cool! IT was about Image and Etiquette. She explained to the kids how important it is to present themselves. She discussed how the things they say and the images they post online should represent their image – a GOOD image! Such an import lesson that we moms to teenagers try to teach all of the time. Having it come from someone else as well as with a focus on the handling of dogs? PRICELESS!

After their lunch, the second have provided the kids a chance to handle and be guided by six different professional handlers giving one-on-one tips and techniques. They were all so awesome with the kids – something I think they appreciated more than anything. Learning how to handle their dogs to the best of their ability is a lesson that is beyond priceless.

The handlers had just minor tweaks for Alexis on her handling of Harry – This team impressed them actually. We learned a few things that coudl only be taught in a ring filled with Juniors….  First, he is a sloooooow walker. If you go too fast, he has the most adorable little hop! Second, he doesn’t seem too keen about large breed dogs. Hesitant would be the word I will use. He definitely knows where each one is at every moment!

When Harry came to live with us he was a couch potato. To help him get into show gear, we reduced his food intake to 1/4 cup of kibble twice a day and exercise. Going up and down the steps as well as daily walks has helped shed the ounces but also tone him up for the ring. He looks GREAT!

KC and Alexis repeated yesterday to a T. Reserve to Stephanie’s sweet baby girl. The difference today was a really cool technique that Rita shared with Alexis yesterday. Holding the tail and the lead at thence with one hand frees the other to bait the dog. PERFECT! I really wish I learned that trick years ago when I was battling tails with Tipsy and KC in the ring myself!