Training Your Saint Bernard - (cont.)

Housebreaking a puppy is another very important part of training.  It is pretty predictable when a puppy is going to need a potty break; so be proactive and take them outdoors.  Once a puppy has eaten, take them outdoors and be sure to praise them each and every time they do their business outdoors.  If you have some playtime with your puppy, afterward take them outdoors.  When they wake up from a nap, first thing in the morning and last thing at night; take them outdoors.  Repetition will teach them to go outdoors to relieve themselves.  Continual praise when they go outdoors is so very important as well.  If people are not consistent with housebreaking, their solution is simply to keep the dog outdoors.

Training Your Saint Bernard - continues

Training a puppy to walk on a leash without pulling requires a lot of time and patience.  I think it is something people give up on very early.  The way people deal with this problem is they stop walking their dogs, especially once they become large.  I think another way people deal with this is using dog parks; dogs are off leash in this environment, so the owner is not being dragged down the sidewalk and their dog is getting exercise.   There are many things you can use for leash training, head harnesses, chest harnesses, choke collars, choke collars with prongs, shorter leashes to name a few.  Techniques to use while walking, change directions, stop and don’t move till your puppy returns to your side and stops pulling, sharp yank on the leash when they are pulling to catch their attention.  It is not a onetime thing; success is achieved only with repetition and consistency.

Training Your Saint Bernard

Until you have had a very unruly and difficult Saint Bernard; you probably have not given much thought to training.  We fall in love with the adorable Saint Bernard puppy and end up making some very big mistakes during that first year.  Early and continual training is necessary.  It is part of being a responsible pet owner.  Enrolling in a puppy class can be beneficial to your puppy and you.  If pet ownership is new to you these classes point you in the right direction.  Of course, you actually have to go to these classes and practice at home what you learn during class time.

Some people send their puppies to boot camp.  Their puppy may get trained at camp but will they be trained for their owner?  Training requires that the owner be actively involved with the process.  There are no shortcuts with training.  It is very easy to become frustrated with the training process, success is not immediate.  Training is time consuming; we should all try to be responsible pet owners and training our puppies and dogs is fundamental.

Three Types Of Dog Shows - continues

The third type of dog show are the Specialty Shows; these shows are for a specific AKC recognized breed.  The Specialty Shows are held by individual breed clubs.  The national breed club, state breed clubs, or an area breed club (ex. northwest) host specialty shows.  In some states where there are more than one club for a specific breed, a cluster of specialty shows may be offered.  Sometimes specialty shows are held in conjunction with an all breed show;  in hard economic times many specialty clubs do this as it saves the club money.

At the specialty shows more dogs for a specific breed are entered than at most all breed events. Exhibitors like the specialty shows because the competition usually allows for major points to be awarded to the winners.   At many of the all breed shows there are not enough dogs entered for a specific breed; so only minor points are  awarded.  

Three Type Of Dog Shows - cont.

Group dog shows are for the AKC recognized breeds that are part of one of the seven groups.  For example at a Working Group Dog Show the following breeds would compete: Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Bernese Mountain Dog, Black Russian Terrier, Boxer, Bullmastiff, Cane Corso, Doberman Pinscher, Dogue de Bordeaux, German Pinscher, Giant Schnauzer, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Komondor, Kuvasz, Leonberger, Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Newfoundland, Portuguese Water Dog, Rottweiler, Saint Bernard, Samoyed, Siberian Husky, Standard Schnauzer, and Tibetan Mastiff.

There would be competitions for each of the separate breeds that are part of a group first.  The Best of Breed winners for each breed would be eligible to then compete in the group placement for first through fourth place.

(more later)

Three Types Of Dog Shows

The picture that comes to mind for most people when we think of a dog show are the all breed dog shows.  There are actually three types of dog shows, the all breed shows, the group shows, and the specialty shows.

The all breed dog shows are conformation shows consisting of breeds of dogs recognized by the American Kennel Club; in some cases additional breeds are allowed to compete and this would be noted in the premium list.  The seven groups (Working, Sporting, Terrier, Herding, Hound, Toy, and Non-Sporting) are part of the all breed shows.  The first place winners from the seven groups compete for the coveted Best In Show.

The show begins with an individual competition for each breed that is entered for the show.   Then all of the Best of Breed winners are eligible to compete in their group competition.  First through fourth place awards are handed out;  a group placement win is highly valued.  The Best In Show competition is for the very top dogs, consisting of the first place winners from the seven groups.

(more later)

Saint Bernard Specialty Show in Texas

The North Texas St. Bernard Club will host a Specialty Show today, Friday, October 14, 2011. The show will be held at Arbors I, II, III, Flea Market Road, Canton, Texas. This show is being held in conjunction with all breed shows hosted by Tyler Texas Kennel Club. The all breed shows will be held on Saturday, October 15th, and Sunday, October 16, 2011. Brandykegs wishes all the exhibitors good luck!

Working Group

The Working Group of dog consists of dogs that were bred to do a job; in other words work.  Some of the tasks the dogs were bred to do are pulling carts, guarding property, and search and rescue work.  The Saint Bernard is part of the Working Group.

Other breeds that are part of the Working Group are:

• Akita
• Alaskan Malamute
• Anatolian Shepherd Dog
• Bernese Mountain Dog
• Black Russian Terrier
• Boxer
• Bull Mastiff
• Cane Corso
• Doberman Pinscher
• Dogue de Bordeaux
• German Pinscher
• Giant Schnauzer
• Great Dane
• Great Pyrennees
• Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
• Komondor
• Kuvasz
• Leonberger
• Mastiff
• Neapolitan Mastiff
• Newfoundland
• Portuguese Water Dog
• Rottweiler
• Samoyed
• Siberian Husky
• Standard Schnauzer
• Tibetan Mastiff

Types Of Conformation Shows

There are three types of conformation dog shows:

1. All-breed Shows - these shows offer competition events for the registered and different varieties of AKC recognized breeds.
2. Specialty Shows - these shows are for a specific breed or variety of a specific breed.  
3. Group Shows - these shows are for the dogs that are part of specific group.  There are seven Dog Groups:  Working, Herding, Hound, Sporting, Terrier, Toy, and Non-Sporting.  

A Little Background Info On AKC

The American Kennel Club (AKC) was started back in 1884.  From the beginning AKC was established to promote exhibiting, breeding, study, and advancement of the pure bred dog.  In the United States today it is the largest not for profit dog registry.

AKC consists of many member clubs and affiliated clubs.  These clubs do more than just put on a dog show.  They are active parts of their communities with involvement in:

• public education at schools
• fairs
• shelters
• libraries
• hospitals
• rescue leagues
• scouting and 4-H
• training classes
• health clinics (just to name a few)

AKC is responsible for the maintenance and approval for all the sanctioned and licensed events put on each year.