Remy’s Show Thread

[JanS]

Both of you looked great out there!

I also think I will just show him myself from now on. The handlers were great and super kind people, but I think he just prefers to be with me.

That's the same thing people have said to me too but I just can't run fast enough to get them to gait correctly.

I also bought him a cooling coat. It wasn’t supposed to arrive for 2 weeks but it showed up in the mail a few hours before we left for the shows!

That looks great on him!

 

[Ravenbird]

As long as you're both having fun, nothing beats this! He looks good, he loved his toy for sure and that wag at the judge is priceless! Blue ribbon for Team Remi for showing up and doing life together!

 

[Rits]

He looks great and his day will definitely come. He is such a lovely boy. So so proud of you! Hiring the handlers was beneficial as now you have some faces to look for and they know your face too. Plus, bonus grooming tips from Elizabeth was very nice of her.

 

[remy]

He looks great and his day will definitely come. He is such a lovely boy. So so proud of you!

Thank you so much! We’re going to work on the things we talked about and see if that helps!

Hiring the handlers was beneficial as now you have some faces to look for and they know your face too.

Yes! I’m sure he would have been fine either way, but I think it was nice for him to be able to experience the ring/showing without me too. That way he was sort of prepped for me and didn’t have my nerves coming down the lead to influence him in anyway lol.

Plus, bonus grooming tips from Elizabeth was very nice of her.

It was! She was surprised how “fuzzy” his neck was lol. I know people will shave the sides that stick out but I didn’t realize some do the whole neck too.

As long as you're both having fun, nothing beats this! He looks good, he loved his toy for sure and that wag at the judge is priceless! Blue ribbon for Team Remi for showing up and doing life together!

I do really enjoy it, but it might not look that way on videos since I try to block everything else out to not get nervous lol.

He doesn’t really get stuffed toys anymore so I think he couldn’t control himself once he saw that. It was probably good for him to experience something fun like that in the ring though!

 

[Kswoodssue]

He looks beautiful!

 

[LifeofRubie]

Every time you (or your dog!) steps into a ring, it's a good day and a learning opportunity.

He looks might handsome in that cooling jacket!

 

[remy]

The show this upcoming weekend has been cancelled. I’m bummed but understand completely as the area was affected by Hurricane Helene! The flooding from this storm was insane, especially in western N.C.

We’re showing on the 12th & 13th. I may look for one in November now too lol.

 

[JanS]

The show this upcoming weekend has been cancelled. I’m bummed but understand completely as the area was affected by Hurricane Helene! The flooding from this storm was insane, especially in western N.C.

That's too bad but I totally get it and it would make it hard for competitors too. I was wondering how it was going to affect the Nationals in TN too but it looks high and dry there.

 

[remy]

I was wondering how it was going to affect the Nationals in TN too but it looks high and dry there.

I have to say, I’m glad it didn’t work out for me to go because I would have had a very difficult time getting there. One of my friends who lives a few hours away had to turn around and go home. A lot of SC (where I would need to drive through) had no power, no gas, etc… Then I would have to go through western N.C. which the DOT has now said to consider all of those roads closed!

 

[JanS]

A lot of SC (where I would need to drive through) had no power, no gas, etc… Then I would have to go through western N.C. which the DOT has now said to consider all of those roads closed!

Wow I don't even think I would have attempted it, even if the show hadn't been cancelled. It's one thing to try to brave it myself but when you have a dog with you the whole dynamic changes.

 

[remy]

We showed yesterday and today! It was our first outdoor show. A few family members came along which was nice. None of them had been to a dog show (except my mom who usually comes) so they had fun seeing all of the different dogs!

Yesterday was just okay. He always gaits nicely but he pulled a lot, especially during the go around. I was kind of expecting this to happen though because he was doing the same thing walking around the show and he’s usually pretty good. He stood very nicely for the exam. When we lined back up for winners he just didn’t want to stack or stand still. I’m not really sure why as he didn’t have a problem earlier. And yes, he peed and pooped beforehand lol. He went reserve but there was only one other dog (the third was absent both days). He had a blood test done and did fantastic! They tried twice in his neck but couldn’t get any blood, so then had to try a third time in his leg, which thankfully was successful! He sat (for the neck) and stood (for the leg) very patiently and never even flinched.

I was hoping to improve things today, but overall it was worse in terms of “performance”. For starters, I forgot his cool coat at home and it was getting hot with little shade there. I probably waited ringside longer than I should have also. He had his head dropped most of the time he was gaiting, which is typical for him when he gets hot. The judge even commented how hot he felt when examining him. I can’t blame him for that, just noting how things went. This was the first judge we’ve shown under who was kind of “handsy” with the mouth. I had to re-show a side and the open mouth and he was getting fidgety. He doesn’t really have any practice with someone else doing that, so I’ll have to see if someone at handling class is willing to try. At the end of the down and back he went straight to sniffing the ground, so I had to lure his head back up and regain his attention. One of the dogs in the breed ahead of us was in heat, so I’m wondering if he was picking up on that? When he was in for winners again he did the same thing as the day before. He’s never had a problem being in a line up of dogs, so I’m really not sure what the issue was… maybe he was just “over it” by that point? I know I was also feeling flustered by then so it’s possible he was feeding into my energy too. I’m trying to be better about that, but I was just feeling like everything was going wrong . I finally watched the video after being home for like 7 hours. It definitely wasn’t pretty, but it wasn’t as horrible as I felt like it was. When we got home we took a long walk to decompress and enjoy each other’s company lol.

To be honest I was feeling really discouraged after today, but at the same time I really want to get out there again and feel like we did a better job! I might enter a show next month, which would likely be our last until late January. His breeder messaged me and said she may be at the show in November, so it would be cool to see her and for her to see Remy (in person) again.


Trained for a few minutes tonight to keep things fun and makeup for earlier lol.

A few more stacks from Friday.

 

[remy]

Forgot to add this clip. The same as last time, he loves when the judge first comes for the exam. He’s like “ooh, time for pets!”

 

[JanS]

I'm sure you did a lot better than you thought and he looked great.

The frustration usually sets in on me first and of course the dogs feed off that so it turns into a cycle.

 

[Rits]

I just love him. His conformation of course ever since you joined here but also his personality

Was this his first outdoor show? Those are a new ballgame and always add in for a bit of extra spice for some dogs. You are going through all normal motions of learning what to do and what not to do. Def keep your head up! We all go through stumbles in showing, training and trialing! Can't succeed without seeing where some holes may be a long the way. Now you won't forget that cool coat, fan and an ice chest with some icy water to put the coat in next time

You guys are doing great! I know it's hard but look at these entries as learning opportunities for showing and if you guys pick up points, bonus!! That'll be great if you can meet Andria at a show!

 

[Ravenbird]

You are going through all normal motions of learning what to do and what not to do. Def keep your head up! We all go through stumbles in showing, training and trialing! Can't succeed without seeing where some holes may be a long the way. Now you won't forget that cool coat, fan and an ice chest with some icy water to put the coat in next time

So true! I've learned way more from experience from one day going & doing than all the days training put together. Even after thoroughly disappointing results, when I look back a day or two later the insight becomes clear and ever so helpful for the next time.

 

[Two Dobes]

You both look great! Thanks for always sharing your adventure with him! He is maturing so beautifully....it is hard not to beat yourself up, but you need to look at every show as opportunity to learn. It's expensive, but the only way to learn, is to 'show through it'. As @Rits said; outdoor shows are a whole new game; even if you have practiced outdoors. Females in heat is all over that grass

 

[remy]

I just love him. His conformation of course ever since you joined here but also his personality

Of course I’m biased, but he does have the best personality!

Was this his first outdoor show? Those are a new ballgame and always add in for a bit of extra spice for some dogs.

Yes. We do 90% of his show training outside (at home or handling class) so I wasn’t expecting to have issues, but it was a new place and obviously a lot more dogs.

As @Rits said; outdoor shows are a whole new game; even if you have practiced outdoors. Females in heat is all over that grass

I think he found them all too! He was sniffing a spot then a lady walked by and said “it’s not his fault, my girls are in season and peed over there.”

Def keep your head up! We all go through stumbles in showing, training and trialing! Can't succeed without seeing where some holes may be a long the way.

I've learned way more from experience from one day going & doing than all the days training put together. Even after thoroughly disappointing results, when I look back a day or two later the insight becomes clear and ever so helpful for the next time.

Very true! It definitely feels disappointing in the moment but I know experiencing things like that will help us to get better.

You both look great! Thanks for always sharing your adventure with him! He is maturing so beautifully....

Thank you very much!

it is hard not to beat yourself up, but you need to look at every show as opportunity to learn.

Definitely! I’m sure you guys can tell I’m hard on myself lol.

The frustration usually sets in on me first and of course the dogs feed off that so it turns into a cycle.

I’m assuming that’s what happened to us by the end.

 

[remy]

Forgot this picture. I think it summarized the day

 

[okaygreatthanks]

Forgot this picture. I think it summarized the day View attachment 150080

Aww he is so handsome, and I think he looked great! When heat (temperature) is a factor, it seems to realllllly affect this breed, so I bet that definitely sapped his energy quite a bit. And females in heat with an intact male…major distraction! Good for you guys for getting out there and getting the experience in!

 

[remy]

Well, we finally did it! Yesterday Remy was Winners Dog for his first point! I don’t think anyone has been happier for a single point.

I always say how I’m terrible at hand stacking and making Remy look bad, but with the help of a friend and the photographer I was able to get a decent picture. Is it his most flattering picture? Nope, but I still had to buy it since it’s our first one!

We showed again this morning and he was reserve! I’m likely taking most (or all) of the summer off and we’ll get back to showing in August/September. I hate to take a long break but I’m typically very busy on weekends in the summer.

I’ll come back later to add some videos and post about the UKC show we did on Friday.