Photo: Nick King
That’s a lot of well-behaved,perfectly-groomedpooches.While watching these show dogs prance and poseon the first full day of 2020, you may get to thinking if your own pup could hold their own in the show ring.
Jason Taylor, the National Pro Sales Director at Royal Canin and Assistant Show Chairman for the AKC National Championship, has a few tips for any dog owner looking to get their canine a little more “show ready,” even if the dog never plans on competing.
For Taylor, who also shows and raises Afghan Hounds with his wife in his free time, it is important that the everyday dog owner knows that many show dogs are bred for that purpose and only have careers that are a year or two long before retiring and focusing on a life of relaxation.
“For the most part, especially these top dogs in the country, they are bred to be that,” Taylor tells PEOPLE, adding that most show dogs are chosen at 8 weeks old.
Nick King
Cater You Dog’s Diet to Their Needs:Dogs have different nutritional needs throughout there life which can be based on breed, age, activity level and much more. Royal Canin makes a variety of dog food, including food for dogs of different ages and breeds, so that each canine’s individual needs can be met. To find the food that does that most for your dog’s health — this is include the health of their coat, mind, joints and more — Taylor recommends talking to your veterinarian.
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Make Training Fun:“It needs to feel like a game for them,” Taylor says of training. “Use lots of praise, clapping and kissing when you train, even when your dog tries and fails.”
“Try to ignore the stuff they don’t do the way you want them to. Ignore it for now, it will all more itself out,” he adds. Overall, dog training is simple, not easy, and depends on the trainer staying patient and consistent for the dog to truly thrive.
Train Them Young:All dogs, even show dogs, go through a “naughty” puppy stage, assures Taylor, but don’t let that wild toddler-esque behavior stop you from starting socialization and behavior training at an early age.
“The magnificence you see in a champion show dog really starts at puppy hood. We need to feed them, groom them, train them to become that. That’s true for any dog,” according to Taylor.
source: people.com
