Showing and Agility with your Japanese Spitz

Showing Your Japanese Spitz

Step 1 – Join Your Local Canine Control Council

To be eligible to show your dog you will have to become a member of your local Canine Council. Look up on the internet or in the white pages and contact them to get the relevant forms to join as a member. Annual fees vary from Council to Council but expect to pay approx $100.00 per year to be a member.

Once you have done this they will send you back your membership card which will have a membership number on it.

Step 2 – Register your puppy under your membership number

If you were not a member of your Local Canine Control Council when you got your puppy, and the breeder was unable to register the puppy under your name and number you will have to fill out the relevant form to get your puppies membership number. If you did have your Local Canine Control Council membership number then you will have to call up the office and tell them that you have now purchased a puppy and give them all the details on your pedigree that came with your puppy and they will register the puppy against your membership number. You will have to do this before you can enter a show.

Step 3 – How to Enter Shows

As a member of your Local Canine Council you will receive in the post their Dog World or Magazine each month. This Magazine will have lots of articles on things happening in the Dog World and near the back of the magazine it will have all the show schedules that have been planned for the coming month. You will have to buy from your Local Canine Council a book of Show Entry Forms as these are required to be filled out for each show and sent to the Show Secretary for that show which will be in your Dog World Magazine under the show you are entering. You can order a catalogue when you put in your entries. It is worth the $2.00 or so as it will give you an idea of how long before you will be in the ring (they say an approx of 40 dogs a judged per hour) and also it makes good reading of who has entered not only in your breed but in the whole show. In the catalogue you can write down the results and keep these as a record keeping system. If the show schedule asks for you to include a self addressed and stamped envelope then do this as they will send you back your numbers, which you will then have to remember to take with you to that so, if they do not ask for an envelope then you will need to pick up your numbers from the office at the show along with your catalogue. Just ask someone at the show where the numbers a being handed out. Sometimes at the country shows they are set up under a marquee/gazebo somewhere. 

Once you have entered your shows, write your shows in a diary. I put on the show date in my diary where it is at, what time it starts, what dogs I have entered and in what class. I then put on the Monday before hand a note to remind me that I have a show on that weekend. That way I won’t get to Friday and turn my diary over and realise I have a show the next day and I have not prepared myself of my dogs.

Your First Show

What you will need: 

Show pin to hold your number or arm band to hold your numbers, Pin Brush One without any balls at the end of the pins as this will rip the coat, Slicker Brush, Metal Comb, 2 x Spray Bottles, One for water with diluted coat conditioner and one for water and diluted shampoo, Towel, Chux or soft cloth. Lead and Collar – Get either a show lead that has a collar all in one or a check chain and a show lead. Ask your pet shop for suppliers or go online to find these. Bait – what ever food your puppy response well to Small squeaky toy. This helps to get your puppies attention Showing outfit. It is best to dress in work type attire, so pants suits, skirt suits or pants and jacket. Remember you will need pockets either in your pants or our jacket for your bait. Show Trolley – You will notice when you start showing that most exhibitors have show trolleys. They are on wheels so you can put your dogs in them securely and when you need to take them out and groom them on top. They are the best investment you will make for your showing career. You can get them from a company called c-crates there web address is: http://www.ccrates.com.au/supa.html Or you can contact your local produce or pet shop for supplier details.

How to Show Your JS:

Judging Order

Baby class is the only class that does not get to go back in for challenge line up. As babies you are not eligible to get points only when you move up to Minor class are you eligible for the Challenge Line up. You are however eligible for going back in for General Specials in the Baby Class against all the other babies in Group 7 that have one.

All the Male Dogs are exhibited first in age order. The classes are: 

1 Baby Dog

2 Minor Dog

3 Puppy Dog

4 Junior Dog

5 Intermediate Dog

10 Australian Breed Dog

11 Open Dog

Who ever gets 1st in each of these classes will go back in the ring at the completion of the Open Dog class. This is called Challenge Dog Line Up. This is where you get points for winning. The Dog that wins Challenge Dog will then go in the Best of Breed Line up after the completion of the Female Open class.

Now all the female dogs are exhibited in age order. The classes are:

1a Baby Dog

2a Minor Dog

3a Puppy Dog

4a Junior Dog

5a Intermediate Dog

10a Australian Breed Dog

11a Open Dog

Who ever gets 1st in each of these classes will go back in the ring at the completion of the Open Bitch class. This is called Challenge Bitch Line Up. This is where you get points for winning. The Bitch that wins Challenge Bitch will then go in the Best of Breed Line Up against the Dog that won Challenge Dog. 

Who ever gets 1st here wins Best of Breed. They will leave the ring and who ever got second to that person will go back in the ring against the other dog that is still in the ring. So if the male gets Best of Breed the 2nd winner of the Challenge Dog Line up will have to go back in but if the female gets Best of Breed the 2nd winner of the Challenge Bitch Line up will have to go back in. This is for Reserve Best of Breed

What To Do In The Show Ring

1. When your number is called to enter the ring by the Steward they will either tell you what to do or the judge will, so make sure you are alert and listening to your instructions. It is best to watch what others have done before you in the ring as this will give you an idea of what the judge is going to ask you to do.

2. As the JS is a table dog (meaning when the judge goes over your dog it will be up on a table. Table dogs are 15 inch and under) the table can be set up anywhere in the ring. Usually away from the entry and mostly in the middle of one side. So you will enter the ring with your dog on your left at all times and the judge will stand in the middle of the ring. Most of the times they ask you to go around the ring and to the table. So do a circle around the judge (say 20 meters in diameter, depending on how big your ring is) as babies it is best to do a fairly small circle but you want the circle big enough for the judge to see your puppy moving. 

3. Once you get to the table. Stop behind it and pick up your puppy and place them on the table setting it up square at the front left hand side of the table cloest the the judge. This way it is easy access for the judge to go over the dog.

4. The judge will stand back and look at your dog one you have set it up on the table nice and square. They will then approach the table and come around the front to view the puppies head and to check their mouth for a correct bite. They usually ask how old so make sure that you have worked this out before you go in the ring. You are to stay on the side holding your puppy while the judge inspects the head.

5. The judge will then move to the side of the puppy and you are then to move to the front and hold your puppy either behind the ears or behind the front legs. Just try and keep your hands out of the way of the judges. The judge will run their hands down the front legs and under the chest and along the back to the tail and then move to the back of the puppy to check the back end. Just stay where you are keeping your puppy still. 

6. When the judge has finished going over your puppy they will ask you to do either a triangle, or go out and back, or a circle. Some of them once you have done say a triangle will then ask you to do a circle around the ring again. When you have finished they will award you 1st if you are on your own. 

7. If you are not the only baby then just wait your turn while the dog in front of you has done their thing with the judge. If there is a dog in front of you it is best that you are ready to put your puppy up on the table once the other one has left it and is off doing her walk around the ring so when the judge turns around to see you are up on the table with your dog standing nice and square ready for them to inspect. If you are first in line then make sure that you have your dog standing on the ground nice and square and still so when the others have finished and return to the line behind you yours is already set up for the judge to view again. These are just little handling tricks that are really handy and work. Being prepared and having your dog doing everything right the whole time you are in the ring as if the judge was watching you the whole time is my motto. You are only in there for a few minutes at a time and being prepared and showing your dog off the whole time makes a huge difference.

8. If there are more than one of you in the ring at one time, and once the judge has gone over you all on the table they will usually start at the top of the line and look at the dogs and walk down the line. Sometimes they then get all dogs to go out away from the judge in a straight line and then back to them stopping a few meters in front of them and getting your dog to look at your hand and sometimes the judge will make a noise to get the dogs to look at them. They will then move up the line and ask all to do the same. Sometimes they ask you all the go around the ring in a circle together so they can see all the dogs moving at once. It is always a good idea to keep eye contact with the judge and also watch where you are going at the same time and watch your puppy so that if the judge wants you as first you will see them point to you. They do usually say I will have the male or bitch or say what class they are in ie I’ll have the Open Dog thanks.

9. If you win your class or Best of Breed or anything you are to move to a blue maker that they should have in the ring and the steward will call out your number and announce what you have one. If they do not have a marker move to the side of the ring near the steward and wait for them to call out these details before leaving the ring. You are not to leave the ring until they have called out these details.

10. It is best to stay near the ring and just wait to see if the steward calls your number again. Just while you are learning how it all works just hang around to see if you are called in to the ring again. Once you have done a few shows you will get the hang of it.

11. Now that completes the showing for the JS breed, unless there are dogs and bitches in the same age class. If this is the case they will have to do run offs to choose the best for each of these classes.

12. The next thing will be General Specials. This is done after the completion of judging in Group 7. So once they have finished with the Tibetan Terriers you will know that Group Specials is next. 

13. First in the ring will be all the Best of Breed Winners so one dog from each breed will be called out and will enter the ring. Once all the dogs are in the ring lined up the judge will decide on who will get Best Exhibit in Group and Reserve Exhibit in Group. Now if the Best Exhibit in Group is from the Open Class then they have automatically one that Open Class, same for the Reserve Exhibit in Group if they are from the Intermediate Class then they have automatically won that class. So any dogs ready to go in from the Open and Intermediate class have been knocked out and those classes will be skipped in the Group Specials.

14. Next in the ring will be all the winners of the Baby Class. So one baby from every breed will be called out and will enter the ring. Once all the babies are in the ring lined up the judge will decide who will be Baby in Group.

15. Next in the ring will be all the winners of the Minor Class and so on through all the classes. Once they have finished all the classes that completes the judging of Group 7 for the Day.

16. Next is the judging for General Special so the In Show judging. Only those dogs from Group 7 that won either Best Exhibit in Group, Reserve Exhibit in Group, Baby In Group, Minor in Group, Puppy in Group, Junior in Group, Intermediate in Group, Aust Breed in Group and Open in Group need hang around for the In Show Judging. This cannot commence until all the other groups have completed their judging. General Special “In Show Judging” usually does not happen until late in the arvo at most shows.

17. First in for General Specials will be the Best Exhibit in Group from all the groups. They will go in and be judged and who ever wins Best in Show ie if a Standard Poodle Wins which is from our group then the Reserve Exhibit in Group 7 will go into the ring to be considered for Reserve In Show.

18. They will then run through the age classes again starting with the Baby class. Remember that what ever class the Best in Show and Reserve In Show are out of have automatically be won by these dogs and any dogs waiting to go in for those age classes are now knocked out.

19. Once all this is done then the showing is now completed and the show if finished.

Japanese Spitz Standard

Agility with Your Japanese Spitz

Here is a link to the Qld Agility website with all the relevant information required for the Agility discipline.