Showing Bouviers

Showing Bouviers

When you enter the show ring, remember the Bouvier is on show from the second it steps into the ring. The judge will spend approximately 2 minutes with every dog in the ring. The judge sees what you present. So make each second count.

Presentation is very important. The Bouv. should be immaculately groomed, no matts anywhere in the coat, and the coat should be trimmed to present the picture of a square, cobby dog. Look at pictures of top Bouviers and when you groom, think of those images. Because of a Bouvier's coat, you can always give the impression of depth by leaving the coat longer in some areas and shaping it carefully, (Chest area for example).

All Breeds Judges might not know our breed well, but they still can see excellent movement (structure) and they will still have a general picture of Bouvs. in their mind (presentation).

So show a Bouvier who is very well groomed, and is trained to gait and stack and has a playful temperament (animation).

Remember, no dog should growl or shy away from a judge, or bite a judge at a show. A Bouvier might be an excellent guard dog but once it enters the show ring and enters a public place, it should be well behaved and not be a threat to the judge or other dogs in the ring.

I let my Bouvs. set up naturally when they first walk into the ring, and I used a thin leash and a fine choker chain. I believe in training the dog to "stand". A dog which is trained and is sound structurally will set itself up properly and will create a good first impression with the judge.

Jovi went Reserve Working Group Winner with UK judge Robin Searle, 2004

The judge is going to want to see the dog move, and judges may ask handlers to move in a straight line, up and down, in a triangle, or go around the ring. Each dog has a speed at which is looks and moves best. Remember that the judge is looking at the dog's movement. It makes sense to practice gaiting in the above. A triangle lets the judge see the dog moving away from him, then running straight where he can see the top line and then coming towards him where he can see the front of the dog and whether the dog is straight (does not toe in nor out).

I always talk to my dogs to encourage them. It looks good to see a happy dog in the ring as opposed to a dog which is pulling at the leash and is unhappy to be gaiting.

After the gait, you are required to stack the dog for the judge. Here I usually walk the dog into a natural pose and slightly stretch the hind legs and spread them a bit wide as it presents an excellent topline.

Jovi (large pic.) 2004

I either bait or talk to the dog so that it looks up and arches its neck. I have always found Bouviers very easy to animate, and Jovi whom I currently show, wags the stub of her tail when I talk to her. Some judges love animation and will actually squeak toys or shake keys to see the dog's reaction. Because Jovi is so easy to animate, I am very careful with her and bait, and toys. She loves toys and bait but if she gets too enthusiastic, she does not stay in a stacked position.

It takes practice, practice, practice and also luck.

When ten or more dogs are in the ring for the group judging, and the judge is picking the best of the group, the handler has little room for error. Over here, the Bouvier is usually the first in the ring and the first to stack. When the judge moves to the breeds behind the Bouvier, I rest the dog but stack again as soon as I see the judge reach the last dog in the line as then he is coming back to look at the dogs again.