Proper Trial Etiquette

7 DOG SHOW SINS (or WHAT NOT TO DO):

* Don't talk to anyone about-to or soon-to enter the ring. This is their time to relax and connect with their dog. They may be trying to watch the heel pattern one last time, they may be trying to visualize their dog nailing that sit signal. They may be trying to give their dog the last few treats in their hand and get them ready to work. You are not a part of that plan. Leave them alone.

* Don't talk to anyone who is exiting the ring. If they had a bad run, chances are they want to caught their breath and try to recover from it. If they had a great run, chances are they want to spend this moment celebrating with their partner (their dog) and not with you (as much as you may want to be a part of it). They want to give their dog a well deserved jackpot, to take them outside to play, to pet them and just spend some quiet time letting them know they appreciated the effort. Don't impose and make yourself part of that. Whatever analysis, praise, or criticism you have to share can wait.

* Don't gossip. The dog show world is a small one and chances are the person sitting behind you listening to your conversation knows who you are talking about or knows someone else who knows them. No better way to make enemies. Save gossip for private phone calls or better yet just keep it to yourself.

* Don't give out general criticism. Don't criticize a breed of dog. A type of training method. An organization. A training school. Again chances are that someone will over hear you and get their feelings hurt. And likely you will lose a friend before you ever made one.

* Don't openly criticize a trial, trial venue, bathrooms, parking, prizes, lunch food, or any other aspect of the trial. Again chances are you will be overheard by the people who organized and are running the trial. Putting on a trial takes A LOT of work and effort. It is also often totally thankless work. The secretary of an AKC obedience trial, for example, can't even show a dog in that trial. So this person is giving up their weekend (not even counting the weeks of preparation and work they have done) away from friends and family and their own dogs to organize this trial for YOU. Try to appreciate that. All the members of the trial committee work hard and try their best, and yes sometimes people do things wrong, sometimes things don't go as smoothly as they should, sometimes people are new and learning as they go. This goes for stewards and judges also. If you dislike a judge it is your choice not to show under them again, it is as simple as that. No amount of screaming or complaining you can do will change them or whatever happened. And remember stewards are often people who are new to obedience, maybe taking their first novice class with their novice A dog. Likely they were talked into giving up their weekend to steward for this trial because their teacher claimed they would "learn a lot". Make sure they learn that obedience is fun, and obedience competitors are a gracious and fun group of people, that can LIVE-THRU little mistakes. Always appreciate their effort and make sure you say THANK YOU to as many people involved in organizing the trial as you can find before you leave. It means a lot.

* Don't ever offer training advice. Say either "congratulations" or "good luck" or pick out one nice aspect of the performance "you had a wonderful front after the recall" or one nice aspect of the dog preparation "he is really watching you today". Never offer ANYTHING other unless you are specifically asked. It doesn't matter if you know the dog and handler well, if you have had the same problem, if you see some really obvious quick fix, if you are hot shot handler, or even if the team in question are students of yours. Never offer advice unless you are asked.

* Try to be considerate of others in your surroundings. When you are standing around talking with your friends or watching someone in the ring try to be aware of the person who is trying to get past you to get to their crate, or the group of Open Handlers who need to pass to return to their dogs. When you are warming up your dog with some heeling, try to watch for dogs rushing to line up for sits and downs, or dogs leaving or entering rings. As you are laughing or talking loudly, putting up crates, opening soda cans ("click"), eating, opening bags, playing with toys, try to be aware of the dog in the ring. Save your really "load" activities for the in-between-dogs-judge-is-writing-in-his-book times. This goes for stewards too. Stewards should be as quiet as possible and aware of what is happening in the ring. So that they can do a timely, and professional job that will enhance and not detract from the performance of the team working.

Now an admission: I am guilty of EACH AND EVERY ONE of the "Dog Show Sins" listed above, often on more than one memorable occasion. And at every dog show that I have been to I see EACH AND EVERY ONE of these things happen over and over again. Next time you show keep in mind the "Dog Show Sins" and make an effort to be one less person who partakes in them.