For owner/handlers, who show their own dogs in the conformation ring, it can be very frustrating to know that your dog was the best he could be in that ring today, and you still end up with a second or third place ribbon.  What was missing?  What could the owner/handler do differently next time?
      Let’s assume a few things, first.  Your dog is a healthy, structurally sound, specimen of his/her breed.  The grooming part is covered, every hair has a place, and is in its place.  Your dog is well behaved and shows no aggression towards the judge or the other dogs in the ring. What else is necessary to win?  What are the judges looking for?
      It starts from the moment that special show puppy is able to stand on its own.  The breeder entices the puppy with a morsel of food, while stacking the puppy in the proper position for showing.  When the puppy holds that stack, even for a few seconds, praise that pup with the best smiley voice you’ve got.  Make the puppy feel that “Yes, I’m the best!!!!!”  When the pup realizes that not only does he get a little morsel, he is, at the same time, pleasing the one human that means the most to him, well, he’ll keep right on doing it, and have fun at it, too.
      This takes us to the next secret, which is to have fun.  Both of you.  Make it interesting.  When you’re happy, the dog is happy.  If you have any experience in the ring at all, you know that if the handler is nervous, or unsure, that the lead and collar connects those feelings, and transmits them directly to the dog, who in turn, is nervous and unsure.  The way to overcome that nervousness and tension, is to play with that special puppy or that show dog.  At home, in the kennel area, outside the ring, and yes, inside the ring, too.  Of course, when you’re in the ring you do have to control the exuberance, but if the dog is having a great time, a sparkle is introduced to the team.  The judge cannot help but notice.  Teaching the dog to love its job, is not always easy, a lot depends on how much fun the dog and you are having.
      When inside the ring, the handler should remember that a dog that can stack himself, can show himself off without human intervention, is more impressive to a judge, than the dog who is constantly being handled and manipulated by the handler.  These dogs are not dolls with movable parts, most of the time the dogs already know what’s expected.  Let them be, as long as they have been trained, which leads us to the next subject.
      Individualizing the training techniques to the dog involved is very important.  Each dog is an individual, some are easily trained, while others are so “alpha,” they believe that they are in charge of the world.  Training begins at puppyhood, conditioning to build stamina must not be neglected, and making the show dog a pet in the home, this last is to teach the dog to compete for attention.  Yes, I said to compete for attention.  That way in the ring, the dog wants the attention of the judge, and will compete with the others to get it.
      Imagine Arnold Schwartzneger with a beer belly, or PeeWee Herman competing in the Mr Olympia contest.  Don’t send your dog into a conformation ring without conditioning.  I don’t mean hair conditioning either.  Your show dog is not a couch potato, he is a competitor.  He needs exercise, and lots of it.  It’s good for you, too, even if you watch your dog from the sidelines.  Muscle tone will not occur overnight.  It requires months of work, dedication and effort, as well as ingenuity.  The dog that starts out liking to chase tennis balls, will not keep chasing tennis balls for six months.  You have to be creative in thinking of ways to work the dog, exercise the dog, without you covering 100 miles per day, unless you’re considering the Mr. Olympia contest.
      It has to remain FUN!  Working, showing, or playing, the dog is with you, looking for approval, praise and rewards from you.  He is the center of your universe, you are the center of his.