I have said this many times before. The behaviors that a show dog needs to learn are not very difficult to train. The dog needs to be taught to stack, gait and accept gentle handling, BUT he needs to be trained to a level of reliability that makes it possible for him to perform those behaviors in a novel, highly distracting and stressful environment which a nervous, stressed out, emotional owner at the end of the lead. It is not reasonable or fair to enter your dog in a show and give him (or yourself) a week or two or three to prepare for it. People mistakenly believe that handling a show dog and presenting a dog well is easy and takes no work at all, but if that were true professional handlers would be out of a job. It isnt easy, unless of course you know what you are doing and feel comfortable doing it and have trained your dog to a high level of reliability in highly distracting and stressful environments.
So please, dont enter your dog if he isnt ready to be shown. If he isnt ready because he doesnt know what to do, if he is fearful or reactive, if he is worried about being touched by a stranger or if he simply needs more training, then dont enter him. Best case scenario is that neither of you look ready and leave the ring disappointed and frustrated. Worst case scenario is that you poison the whole dog show scene for your dog by asking for too much of a dog that is simply not ready. Trust me, there will always be another dog show.
