Every Dog Has His Day

Being involved with dogs and the dog show game, you need to appreciate that dogs are under a great deal of stress. It is an intense experience for them and they burn a lot of calories during a show. Being confined to a crate most of the day riding from one strange place to another and being separated from their owners are very hard on dogs.

Because they can't speak out and tell you their problems, you need to observe their behavior and performance. A recent article in the Portland Oregonian newspaper on pet stress points out that "recent technical advances reveal that pets can face the same health risks as people, such as hypertension." You and your dogs share the same risks that stress presents.

Some dogs handle all of this with aplomb. Others react with varying symptoms, often failing to respond to their handlers wishes. I know many a handler who has come out of the ring cursing the handful he had to contend with that go-around.

Most animals are happiest when they have a standard routine. They get let out to their runs at a certain time; they get fed at a certain time, and in the same place. Kennel and home surroundings are constant. They gain confidence by this routine. They know what and when to expect things to happen. In effect, they are in control. Now you take that same well-adjusted dog to a handler. First off, he is in a strange environment. He is not sure where he is supposed to go or what he is supposed to do. His feeding schedule and often his food are different. He enters into a training program that is foreign to him. He eventually gains confidence in his handler, but things are not the same.

Just as he gets used to this routine, he is tucked into a crate, put in some kind of vehicle, and then driven many miles away. He gets hauled out into unfamiliar surroundings again and has to perform in a strange setting. (Happily, most of the time he can do it.) Then, once again, he's tucked into his crate and is off to another show on the circuit. The handler can't pay much attention because he has a full string of dogs entered. So, the dog gets a quick brush out, a cluck under the chin and he is expected to do his thing to perfection.

Is it any wonder that sometimes these great dogs "go off their feed?" They can handle only so much stress and then there is a breaking point. This point, like the ones for humans, differs with the individual dog. He may react in a number of ways: Hanging back on the lead, not wanting to go into the ring, not responding to the handler.

In addition to these psychological reactions, a dog may exhibit physical symptoms that can include a dull coat, dropping coat, pulling back on the lead as though he was suffering from tonsillitis, but the vet doesn't see any inflammation; whimpering when touched in certain places, but there is no evidence of bruises or wounds. These symptoms are reactions to situations a dog cannot handle. He wants to withdraw and unconsciously chooses the route that works best for him.

A few years ago one of the top contenders for top winning dog of the year went "sour". There was much rumor and innuendo about how his handler may have abused him and the poor handler took the brunt of such criticism. The dog had been well treated and was never subjected to abuse. He just reached his burnout point and would not respond. He did not and would not be a show dog anymore. It was too stressful for him.

Dogs do become truly ill while being shown, but that is another matter and can be dealt with by a vet.

To the stress the dog is experiencing, add the handlers disposition and mental and physical health, and you can understand why odd things can happen on any given day.

We all recognize that good temperament is essential in any breed. This means that the dog has to come from parents and grandparents who exhibited these qualities. Today, a big thing is made of behavioral testing to see which puppies in a litter can react to strange and challenging situations and not panic or attack.

There has grown up a whole body of literature on the subject. One of the best sources is a series of articles written by Dr. Ian Dunbar for the AKC Gazette in 1990. In one article he points out:

"The quality of a dog's behavior, temperament and training varies inversely with the number of dogs in the household. Most dog fanciers start with a single dog which is both a pet and show dog. Additional dogs are acquired along the way and, at some point, many breeders opt for outdoor kennels to accomodate their growing dog population.

"Kennel dogs receive less human attention and affection than household pets. Most breeders are women, and less than 40 percent of breeders have children living at home. This means many puppies and adult dogs sold as pets have seldom met children or men (the two most common stimuli for fearfulness and aggression), are seldom exposed to the confusing commotion and cacophony of an ever changing domestic environment and are less likely to be walked regularly, where they would meet a wide variety of human strangers as well as other dogs and animals in different urban and rural settings."

It is easy to see that the dog you purchased as your show dog may have come from just such an environment. Not that he hasn't been raised well and shows some equilibrium, but he may not be ready or able to handle the new world you have thrust him into.

While a dogs basic personality is set at an early age, you can still help your dog and yourself by building on the foundation you have. Take your dog with you on walks, take him to the mall (if he's allowed there), take him to outdoor shopping centers, and take him on short rides while in his crate that don't end up at the vet's or the boarding kennel.

Reassure him at all times when he comes across a strange situation and is not sure how to react. Be positive and don't drag him into frightening situations telling him he is a crybaby and should be bold and aggressive. Buddy, if you do that, I can guarantee a problem dog, (then you have to read the new book POOCHES & SMALL FRY from Doral Publishing to solve your problems).

Go with your handler to the dog's first shows. Let him know that you are there and pet him a lot. Slowly, he will make the transfer to his handler and you will probably become jealous because the dog seems to prefer this person to you.

Keep your expectations reasonable. If this is your first dog, the breeder probably did not sell you a Best In Show specimen. You may more likely have a finishable dog. Having him finish his championship is surely better than a sharp stick in the eye, so show him, enjoy him, and most of all, love him!