Conformation by Cole

Sorry I'm a day late with the info for this week!! I hope everyone is staying inside and safe!
I thought I might recommend something to you that my mentor, George Alston highly recommended.
When George retired, he recommended 3 people to contact, if clubs wanted to give a seminar like his. Two of those people were Will Alexander and me.
Will has some excellent videos on his site, and they are endorsed by George. I recommend them over any others you might want to see.
Will's website is willalexander.net.
Enjoy the video's and I hope we'll be able to get together soon!!

COVID time...sigh, I hope everyone is doing fine and quarantining! For this week's reminders, we'll go with the little dogs!
Remember, when you put them on the table, to pick them up and handle them like they are very precious, and not a sack of potatoes! Pick them up with your left arm over the dog, and around and under the chest, with your forefingers between its front legs, and your right hand under its JAW..not on the neck! Put its hind legs down first, and then when they're on the table, stretch the dog a little forward, and set it's front down. Then only fix the feet that need to be fixed!
When you take the dog OFF the table, turn around to set it on the ground, away from the judge, and then start off right from the table, for your down and back.
If your dog needs a ramp, start it by using a stable grooming table on the floor. Once it's used to that, and raising it, get the dod to the platform part of the ramp for the exam, and then turn him INTO you, and have him go back down the ramp. DON"T have him just bail off of the ramp, to start the moving exercise after the exam!
Those are a couple of things for you to remember, that I"ve probably worked with you before on, and I know we will again soon.
Remember to keep the sessions short, praise for a good job, and have playtime between sessions, to keep it fun, and the dog wanting more!
Stay well, and inside, and practice with your dogs for that Best in Show!!

Wellp....No classes AGAIN!!! Sigh.. Tips for this week, Don't forget to reward your dog right after good behavior and give them a release (I use "O-KAY!!") so they know it was an "exercise" that they accomplished well. Also, don't forget to keep your hand under the collar, and pull UP, and very steady when you set their rear up. Don't fidget, and only set the legs that NEED to be set!!!
YOu guys are great.. More tips and reminders each week that we don't have class.. (Which I hope is a very short time!!) Take care, stay safe, and hug the pups for me!!!💕❤️🐶🐕🐩🐾