Happy Paws Dog Training

I’m hosting 2 Fit dog pack walks this weekend, if your interested

Saturday - Arrow Trailhead 13807 S 1300W@ 8 am

Sunday - Orson Smith Park in Draper @ 8 am

Belle’s ribbons for her first Q in JWW

We had a blast at the UKC show this weekend. AKC/ UKC GCH Moonbaby’s Plain Brown Wrapper BCAT “Janie” came home with 5 Altered herding Group 1, 4 Reserve Altered Best in Show and 1 Best Altered in Show. (Janie hasn’t stepped foot in a show ring in 2 1/2 years) and My girl AKC Major Pointed Moonbaby’s Tales as Old as Time BCAT “Belle” is now a UKC champion she also was awarded 2 Herding Group 3. Thank you to all the judges and the Canyonlands Canine Association club for the great show.

This is so true about dog shows

My vet gave this to me over thirty years ago. I wish I knew who to give credit to, but I think those of us that have been in this for awhile have experienced all the stages. Admitting to, and getting past the Age of Rage is the big one.

This is a long read but well worth it

THE SEVEN STAGES OF A EXHIBITOR/BREEDER

Look around you at the next show. Can you pick out the novices and the Instant Experts or the Enlightened Exhibitors? They're all part of the dog show mosaic. Thousands of newcomers join the sport each year and statistics tell us that most will leave it again in three to five years. The Age of Disillusionment gets a lot of them. Others stay with the sport for the rest of their lives. Unlike the Ages of Man, dog show exhibitors can skip ages, jump backward or stay happily entrenched in one age for eons. Its all a game, you set your own goals and any number can play. You can probably place your fellow exhibitors in one of the categories below. But where do you fit in.

1- The Age of Innocence
We all start out as novices. That's life. You've got to start somewhere so the beginning is as good a place as any to begin. Of course, novices come in all sizes and ages. There's a bunch of competent kids running around the rings now that teethed on Nylabones and took napes in the empty Varikennel while mom and Rover were running laps around the show ring. By the time they learned to talk, the dog lingo was part of their vocabulary and, if asked to identify a purple and white ribbon, they'd readily tell you "It's another darn reserve. All show juniors quickly learn how to count to 15, and that three; four, or five constitutes a major. Usually they've had some sort of adult guidance and assistance and they've made their novice mistakes at an age when people are expected to make mistakes as a part of growing up. The main problem with those who experience their novice-hoods as kids is that they get to be competent very quickly and embarrass adult novices. A lot of novices take up dog showing as adults and that can be a bit more traumatic. If you look around at a dog show, you can often sport an adult novice. It’s probably been that young lady over there in three-inch spike heels and about to take her German Shepherd into the ring, obviously for the first and possibly the last time. Or it could be that woman at ringside whose dog just shook and is now enveloped in a white cloud. Someone probably suggested that she should chalk up the dog but forgot to tell her that the stuff's supposed to be brushed out too. And she is showing under a judge in a navy suit.
A novice exhibitor is one who:
- Regards all judges as wise, knowing, and steeped in the deepest secrets of canine lore
- Saves and pins up all ribbons, even fourth place ones
-Thinks his or her dog is absolutely perfect
- Usually asks, "What did I win? On leaving the ring.
- Always has at least one good win (its a little like giving a snap to the fishing line when the fish bites, to set the hook)

2- The Age of Enlightenment
Unless the novice has been cursed with an over abundance of ego, there finally dawns a day when that person realizes how much he or she doesn't know about dogs and the sport of showing. The novice who sets out to learn is entering the Age of Enlightenment. Its one of the nicest ages of all and, unlike other ages (like childhood) you can return to the age of enlightenment again and again.
The enlightened exhibitor is one who:
- Signs up for a ring-handling course.
- Buys all the books about his breed and reads them - twice
- Gets the latest copy of Dog Show Rules and does his best to understand it
- Begins to do a little research on judge and their background (for helpful information, not blackmail)
- Starts to realize that his dog has some good points and bad ones
- Uses fourth place ribbons as bookmarks

3- The Age of Instant Expertise
Someone who one said "A little learning can be a dangerous thing" was probably talking about the exhibitor who, having learned a little, now thinks he knows it all.
The Instant Expert is one who:
- Immediately points out your handling errors and everyone else's
- Has read only one book and uses that as the basis for all discussions (Why clutter up the mind with divergent opinions?)
- Thinks his dog is absolutely perfect
- Thinks your dog is all-wrong and is happy (delighted, even) to point out the faults
- Doesn't admit to ever having owned a fourth place ribbon.

4- The Age of Hope and Glory
It’s called The Age of Hope and Glory because it's a time of Glory for some and Hope for others. More than anything, it’s a transitional stage because of its very nature. Those who've been fortunate with their first dog have had a taste of glory, but glory is fleeting. Now what? Buy another dog and get back into the game? Breed a better dog to show? Go all out for bigger and better wins? Or quit while they're ahead of the game? Those doing the hoping are looking at the same questions, but from the other side of the door. What now? Put the dog out with a handler? Buy a better dog? Give it all up and take up knitting? Switch breeds? Breed a better dog? Beware that last question. It’s like trying to remove a burr or a bit of sticky tape. You'll get stuck every time. The rational is that Suzy is a nice dog but doesn't win because she is a bit small and has a poor rear. If you breed her to a larger male with a superb rear, you're bound to have a perfect pup to show. Only the pup you keep turned out to be short in body, but if you breed her to a long bodied male you will get that perfect dog. Only this one turns out to be weak in the front. Six generations later, you are still at it. Unintentionally, you've become a breeder as well as exhibitor.
Hope and Glory exhibitors are people who:
- Get very analytical about their own dogs and others in the breed. Often studying them from ringside with a critical eye (and a closed mouth) and copious notes
- Plan advertising to coincide with certain shows
- Can quote at least three generations back on their dog's pedigree.
- Have switched dog food brands at least four times and tried no less than six brands of dog shampoo (on the dog of course, exhibitors usually buy whatever’s on special for their own tresses

5- The Age of Disillusionment
This is the age that makes or breaks the exhibitor (or breeder/exhibitor) Its the time when the Hopers count up the time and money they've invested and wonder if they'll ever have a big winner. And the Glorifiers mope about hollow victories and gripe that no one even remembers the name of their big winner two years after his retirement. Breeder’s brood about inherited problems, genetic defects, promising dogs that never quite turned out or that incredibly gorgeous dog who despised shows.
A Disillusioned Exhibitor is one who:
- Ask herself "Why am I doing this" And can't come up with an answer.
- Believes all judges are incompetent, illiterate, political, crooked or all of the above
- Thinks the only way to get the breed to conform to the standard is to rewrite the standard to conform to the breed
- Is convinced there’s no way out to the jungle of trouble found in the breed, so why try?
- Decides to skip the national specialty and paint the basement floor instead.

6- The Age of Rage
Remember that famous football coach's line, "Winning isn't everything, Its the only thing” Some exhibitors get so hooked on winning that they enter the Age of Rage. It becomes their driving force. They WILL win by fair means or foul. Like a drug, a victory only increases the demand for more wins. When they lose, they storm out of the ring or stay and berate the judge. When they win, they look upon the victory as their just and logical due. Frankly, they're sick and suffering from an advanced case of win-alcoholic disease. The pity of it is that they don't even enjoy the sport, nor their dog and they make it less pleasant (if not downright unpleasant) for those about them.
A Raging Exhibitors is one who:
- Has to be the fist into the ring, even if it means body checking that dear, silver haired, 80 year old into the ropes
- Thinks his dog is absolutely perfect and the rest are trash, or worse
- Believes that the only judges who know the standard are the ones who put up his dog and say so loudly
- Throws fourths place ribbons on the floor and stomps on them. Also seconds, and reserves. Advance cases even stomp on Best Opposite S*x Ribbons.

7 - The Age of Acceptance
Long-term exhibitors often enter The Age of Acceptance. So the world's not perfect, but then, what is? They enjoy the sport and the fun of competing. They love winning but they know they'll lose sometime and can appreciate seeing the victory go to a worth-while dog, even if its not one of theirs. They congratulate their friends (and others as well) and rejoice with them over triumphs. They like the camaraderie and the pleasant feeling of having friends all over the continent, and maybe even the world. They relish being able to sit around and hash over the status of the breed and points of the standard. The dog show world is a pleasant place for them although they realize that, like the bigger world we know, there are good and bad. They're willing to work to make it better.
An exhibitor in the Age of Acceptance is one who"
- Is gracious in victory or defeat
- Have friends in many breeds
- Know that there’s no such thing as a perfect dog but keeps trying anyway
- Appreciates that judges may rate certain qualities of greater or lesser importance and that without those differences of opinions, judging would be rather boring
- Is vitally interested in and truly loves dogs

Nirvana, Xanadu, or Whatever
It’s not an age but a state of grace. Your dogs have won well-deserved honors for generations after generation. It maters little who shows your dogs, they win on their quality. People respect your judgment and often ask your opinion. Your name is synonymous with your breed. You're quoted with reverence. Your home is overflowing with trophies and rosettes. You have friends all over the world. You have become a legend. What more could you ask? Why, you even think back, if you can remember that far, with a touch of nostalgia, to that first tattered fourth place ribbon you won.

Today was an amazing day at the Bonneville Basin show. My boy Mtn Breeze Streak of Lightning BCAT "Flash" was Winners Dog and Best of Winners picking up a 4 point major to finish his AKC championship, thank you judge John Cole.
Thank you April Bruce for these pictures

congratulations to Benza and his mom Jill. While at the St George dog show Benza was awarded Winners dog and best of Winners. I'm very proud of this team.

Today in St George AKC Major Pointed Mtn Breeze Streak of Lightning BCAT "Flash" was WD/ BOW and AKC Major Pointed Mtn Breeze Racing for Midnight "Ella" was WB thank you judge Mrs Susan Godek for these wins.

On Friday at the Cheyenne dog show Benza was Winners Dog at the Boxer specialty. Huge Congratulations to his mom Jill.

I'm so proud of this team. I'm looking forward to watching them at the upcoming Utah shows.

Picture to follow

This video is great to help introduce the clicker

An Introduction to Clicker Training From Virginia Broitman and Sherri Lippman's The How of Bow Wow, this clear overview of clicker training gives you the basics in just one minute! From the Cli...

I am so proud of these two ladies and their pups, they have worked really hard this summer and it shows. This past weekend they were at the Reno Dog show. Breanna and Greenfields Pearl of Iao Tzu "Kida", Katelyn and Nordicsol Sugarok Legolas Puffskein CGC TKI "Lego".

I wasn't there but saw video Kida showed her heart out for Breanna. Lego also showed his heart out for Katelyn. He picked up his majors now only needs one point to finish his AKC championship.

I look forward to watching both of these teams continue to blossom and grow.

Do to the rain all classes for tonight have been cancelled. I will see you all next week.

I love this, it's so true ❤️

I still have availability in this class. This class was postponed by a week due to weather. It starts tomorrow Aug 25

I'm filling my next Life Skills class (Basic Obedience) begins Aug 18 @ 7:30 pm 4 weeks for $100
PM me to register

I love this ❤️

Ella and I had fun on our trip to the San Antonio dog show, we are excited to get back to teaching classes next week.

I love this

Just a friendly reminder for those taking classes in July to send your payment if you haven't already

My daughter and I had a Blast at the UKC dog show with our pups Ella and Belle

July and August classes will be on Wednesdays

Classes are group classes 4 weeks for $100

July class will begin July 7

Comformation will be at 6:00 pm

Life Skills will be at 7:30 pm

“Not all pets are show dogs, but I can assure you, all show dogs are pets”
-Pat Trotter Westminster Judge 2021

Post a picture of your pup

I took these photos a few weeks ago during Conformation class and forgot to post them🤦

Yesterday at the Plum Creek Dog Show under judge Dr Carmen Battaglia, Moonbaby's Tales as Old as Time "Belle" earn her first AKC points. We had an absolute blast at this show with our friends Melissa, Allyson, and Vivian thank you for the fun and wonderful weekend, also Congratulations ladies on all your successes this weekend. Big thank you to Katelyn for all of your help with holding and showing dogs