Puppy Show Ring

The puppy show ring is just as it says, a show. Mainly the most accurate depiction of a bio dog show in the community. It is preformed as a part of IPTC (International Puppy and Trainer Contest) as part of the competition.

The show ring involves a handler/trainer and a puppy involved in a series of presenting movements and tricks for the puppy to perform. It also deals with the care of the puppy by the handler checking their gear and communicating the trick in a way the puppy can understand while in headspace.

Entry to the ring:
When entering the show ring, the puppy will be led on leash by handler. They enter the ring from a corner, stop and straighten so both handler and puppy are aligned side by side as they walk forward to the far corner of the ring. Once reaching the far corner, the handler and puppy turn together and walk to the next corner, at the next corner is another turn then halfway down the side of the ring before turning to walk to the center of the show ring.
Once centered, the handler/trainer will remove leash from the puppy’s collar, the puppy will then preform “stack”, the handler will check their gear and make sure every thing is in place from the movement and that the puppy is comfortable in their current position.
In the “stack” position the puppy is ready for tricks, the handler will take a few steps back to the center of the side of the ring. Facing the puppy and maintaining their attention.

Tricks:
The next part of the show ring is tricks, there are a series of tricks the puppy should be pretrained to perform.
• Stack – the Starting pose and return pose after each trick, the stack pose has a puppy on all fours facing forward, chin facing straight forward, back straight and not hunched or arched. Knees are aligned with shoulders, arms down in front with slight bend to elbow, paws are aligned with shoulders.
• Sit – the puppy sits back on their hindlegs, some puppies will sit right to the floor others will sit on the back of their legs hovering just above the floor, both are considered a sit.
• Sit Pretty – this is a pose that is slightly different for each pup, as the pose itself involves a level of excitement. Sit Pretty is a pose where the puppy rises on their knees and raises their arms bent up in front of their chest, paw curved down. This pose can be still or have some slight movements.
• Roll over – the puppy will roll on to their back and continue fully over to the other side of their body until they can raise back to their feet, the puppy is normally then instructed to roll back to their starting position.
• Speak – the puppy with make a sound appropriate to their canine headspace, normally this is a bark. Speak does not involve verbal usage of words.
• Come – puppy will walk to the handler/trainer side and sit looking up at them awaiting further instruction.
• Stay – puppy will retain current pose as handler/trainer move away or out of view, puppy will be maintaining focus forward and not move from position.
• Special – these tricks are special tricks dictated by the puppy and/or handlers/trainer, the special trick usually involves something meaningful, and can include the puppies favorite toy.

For the trick portion, a Ring master will give the handler/trainer a trick at random for them to relay to the puppy. The puppy will perform each trick as instructed and then return to the “stack” pose. After the puppy returns to the “stack” position, the handler/trainer should check the puppies gear to insure it didn’t shift during the trick and the puppy is still safe and comfortable. The handler/trainer can verbally commend the puppy, give them a small treat, or a physical sign of affection (like a pat on the head, or scratch behind the ear), these movement or gestures should be quick.
After the handler/trainer checks the puppy, they will signal the ring master that they are ready for the next trick, normally show ring will involve two random tricks and end with the special trick.

Exiting show ring:
When the ring master releases the puppy and handler/trainer from the ring, the handler/trainer will reattached the leash to the puppy’s collar and lead them back to the side of the ring, then around the outer edge, retracing the same path they used to enter the ring, exiting at the same corner they entered.