Yesterday’s show was a minor disaster. I was very nervous in advance (not helped along by all sorts of bad omens ;P), because last time we had had this judge Ringo had been such a monster towards me that she had been concerned she had to report him for aggression. Still, she really liked his type, and I wanted to see what she’d think now that he appears to have grown out of the few faults she pointed out last time. Given how nicely he behaved last weekend, I thought we stood a good chance of a fine performance.
Hah.
Its a much bigger show, and an all-breed show, so he was way wound up and started by spending a few hours trying to eat all dogs that got too close, including those three times his size like gigantic mastiffs and Anatolian shepherd dogs. The weather was chilly on and off, so there wasn’t enough heat to slow him down, and he didn’t really seem to settle in at all. Neither did I.
Then the actual show. He did the initial run with the only other dog in the class without any problems, and then when the judge came over to check him over, tried to jump up on her to say hello. I stopped him ... and when she tried to check his teeth and feel him over, he started mouthing at her. No growling, no actual biting. He was just not going to let her touch him unless it was on his conditions. As in, if he got to jump up on her and play rough for a bit.
After a bit, she asked him to do his individual run first, to see if he’d chill out. Again he ran well, no jumping on me, but wouldn’t settle down. She finally had me show his teeth first, and then she gave him some of my candy. I was then able to distract him long enough with more candy that she could feel him over. But ... ugh, horrible. I apologized, said he’d never been like this towards anyone but me at a show, and really just wanted to dig a hole for me and Ringo right then and there.
He then stood very nicely as she looked him over, and we got our 1. Then, back into the ring after the second dog in the class had been judged and gotten his 1 too, and again Ringo ran very well. In the end, she placed him first, and said he’s a very nicely developed dog that looks very finished and well put together. However, he did not get a CK because of his behaviour. Argh. He would have had a good shot at Best of Breed if so, I think. Still, it could have been worse. The judge said she didn’t take it as aggression (so, as far as I can tell, no reporting him, but I am not 100% sure yet), but that it could easily be misconstrued as such, so he really needs to learn not to do it. Boy do I agree. :P
The critique was stellar, probably the best he’s had:
Well-formed, powerful masculine head. Good proportions and profile, good bite, dark eyes, good ears. Excellent neck, correct topline. Well-developed, good proportions, suitable bone structure, harmonious angles. Excellent movements, powerful strides. Needs to learn how to be handled and how to be less brusque. Good coat and colour. Well-presented.