The journey of Cash - my Hovawart Photos

You'll soon get the hang of it,
I start off my youngsters by teaching the word stand, usually when im grooming, I have one hand gently under their belly, grooming with the other repeating the word stand/stay I don't expect them to hold it for very long a few seconds is plenty to start with, the position is not important for practice, It's mostly learning to be still and be handled.

also get him used to his testicles being touched as he will be checked for it and get him used to his mouth being opened to check his teeth ,(I used the command teeth) so they got used to what was coming.

. And make sure that you get him used to having people touch his head/ears, go over his back and testicles, get them to look in his mouth, open the mouth for people and let people open his mouth and look at teeth. Keep sessions short and fun.

I don’t know how you present your breed in the ring,some breeds stand in front of owner who uses titbits, I always walked mine into the stand and once they could hold for a few mins Id then make any adjustments. When moving him keep at a pace that suits him Reward!.

Have fun and good luck.

Thank you. We're practising the 'stand' command daily now, and I've managed to find a ringcraft class that I start next week. This week we attended the obedience run by the same lady, and Cash was SO good! Greeting people and other dogs very nicely and showed no nerves whatsoever. So hopefully things are improving regarding his nervousness.

lts great to hear that Cash is improving, and with age and experience his nervousness will hopefully go x

Some updated Cash pics...





We haven't yet joined a ringcraft, although are due to. I had put showing on the back burner for the time being. But yesterday we entered our first ever show at a local fun dog event and Cash won 2nd place in AV Pastoral & Working. I was chuffed! He did back away from the judge a little bit which I expected, but he also did better than I expected too, so with a little more practice I'm hoping he'll be fully comfortable in this environment.

He's growing fast

Oh wow - he has grown even more stunning!

Many congratulations and well done to both Cash and you for his second place at his first ever show!

He has grown into such a handsome boy.

Well, I've decided to enter Cash into his first 'proper' show at the end of December. I'm both nervous and excited!

Couple of little concerns though. Cash still mouths my arm and sometimes the lead when I begin to run with him. This is quite bad at it's worst where he will barely walk because he's constantly jumping up at me. I had thought we needed a lot more work, however my ringcraft trainer and other forum members elsewhere have told me to go for it and that the judge may be forgiving as he's still a pup.

Secondly, I'm very overweight and worry I won't be able to run him to his best advantage. That's on me I know, and I'm hooping to lose some weight now I'm becoming more active with him. I guess I'm just a little self conscious and I know no one can really offer me advice on that one. Just needed to get it out there

Would this show be the LKA?

If so, he may be a little overawed by the sheer size of the show, and this could well take the edge of his exuberance.
You certainly wont be the only larger lady there. If you can cope with moving him at Ringcraft, you should manage the ring size, and, the only way you'll find out if you can do it, is to do it!
I say go for it - and wish you the Best of Luck with your lovely boy.

Is there any ring showers where you live, I used them when I was showing my Large dogs (GSD, Rottweilers, Dobermans) they shown my dogs brilliantly & they were all well behaved (the dogs that is) without them I would never have been abled to show some of my more powerful dogs.

OK, what is the worst thing that could happen? Cash messes everything up [could stop and do a poo] - you fall over - but none of that will be the end of the world.

And you are probably far less a "larger lady" than you think you are.

Oh, and please pat Cash for me [I hope you have forgotten the Pat Cash and other jokes] xx

No, it's just a small local show - Luton Canine Association which is being held at Wood Green Animal Shelter in Godmanchester. Obviously there are no Hovawart classes there, so I'm just entering him in the AV: Working class. I only just cope with moving him at ringcraft! but like I said, have barely moved him anyway as he just leaps up Am hoping we can improve on that!

Sadly not. I did ask on another forum about handlers etc, not professional ones as such, but you know, just anyone maybe volunteering to have a go or who wants to get into handling in the future. I got lots of great advice, for example asking a YKC member, or someone in my breed already who could offer to run him. The plan was for my dad to show and handle him but he's kind of chickened out and I just thought I'd give it a go.

Hes still a puppy , so the judge will give him a little leeway for his age, just go with it and use it for experience, you never know, if hes a nice pup the judge will see it.

I remember doing out ringcraft Christmas show with Figo, he was about 6 mths old, he spent ALL the time when I was running him jumping off all 4 legs and swinging off the lead , so don`t worry we have all been there.

Don`t forget you are not running a marathon, a steady pace is enough as long as you remember you want to show him off at his natural pace, not have him try to keep up with a fast handlers pace, as a puppy the more sedate pace may be better because he will be all fingers and thumbs , as he grows you will have to adjust your pace to him, but again you dont want him sprinting round the ring, you want a nice steady even pace showing off him movement, you have time to get fit and lose a few pounds

I`m the same, my boy has a long stride I`m small and a little on the heavy side, so its down to me to make sure I am fit enough to do him credit.

AS for professional handlers, why go there, hes your boy, you have put the hard work into him, so enjoy the experience, you`ll get better, he`ll get better and the bond between you will be stronger, go and enjoy.

I had a Gsd who used to mouth when running he thought it was a game, my hands ended up very sore, tried several methods but found that by giving him a toy to carry when training eventually stopped it, easy to say but try not to get anxious as you'll pass it onto him, take some rescue remedy before you go, relax and enjoy the experience and Good Luck x

I'm sure you'll be fine - look on it as a day out with your dog, and treat it as an interesting new experience. You'll learn lots, and will be more calm and confident the next time! As Jackie says, don't try to move him too fast - just a nice balanced trotting gait, and a tasty treat in your hand for the standing pose.
All the best, and if all does go well - get someone to take a photo for his memories file!

I think I forgot to update this thread with the news that Cash passed his Bronze CGC back in early October at the club show It's just finding the time to work towards his Silver now.

Yay - belated congratulations to both Cash and you, and no more jokes I promise so please give him a huge hug [and not a pat] !

Cash placed second out of two in the AVNSC Working puppy class last month.

He was mouthy and bouncy as I expected him to be and this ultimately impacted on the judge's choice I'm sure. She said he needed a little more control training, but for the life of me I can't stop him jumping!

Anyway, it was a nice introduction as the show wasn't to big or to small. My nerves were off the scale but I had a few words of encouragement from a steward and I went for it.

Now have his final puppy class lined up for the end of January before he turns a year old.

He be winning every class soon, Cash as grown into an handsome looking dog x