Clean Run - September 2014 - 65

Ringside
Manners
Matter
By Julia Kamysz Lane

Ringside Etiquette
· Be an advocate for your dog. No one has the right
to inﬂict emotional or physical punishment on your
dog, or anyone else's for that matter.
· Be proactive. Clearly and politely communicate what
you need.
· If your dog is reactive (for example, lunges and barks
at other dogs due to anxiety or fear), do not crate
him in the main crating area. Find an isolated corner.
Or, if weather permits, crate your dog in the car.
· Respect the space of other handlers and their dogs.
Do not allow your dog to rush up to another dog's
crate or to meet a dog on leash unless you have the
owner's permission.
· Reserve vocal criticism of a handler, her dog, or
the judge for when these parties are no longer
within earshot. Everyone is entitled to their opinion,
but that doesn't excuse rude behavior and poor
sportsmanship.
· Wait at least 10 minutes before offering advice to a
friend who has just ﬁnished running in the ring. The
focus should be on her dog, not an instant play-by-play
of everything that went wrong. Of course, if all went
right, a hearty congratulations is always welcome.
· If your dog needs space while in line, politely ask
the handler behind you to stay back a few feet.
Conversely, be prepared to keep your dog focused
on you with tricks, obedience skills, or rally moves.

September 14

| Clean Run

As an instructor, one of the biggest thrills is helping a student
get ready for their first show. You share in their excitement
and batten down each worry with proof of their preparation.
Forget the almighty Q, you say, just have fun and Qs will come.
During the weekend, I might receive a phone call or text message seeking guidance or recognition for a job well done, be
it a Q or sticking those contacts. Often, the story unfolds on
Facebook and fellow students and friends share in the challenges or achievements. When I didn't hear anything from one
student making her debut in a new venue, I prompted her with
an email Sunday night.Well? How did it go? Her response made
my stomach turn.
After waiting most of the day to show her dog in Novice and
calm the butterﬂies in her stomach, she eagerly joined the other green handlers at the judge's brieﬁng. Her dog, a Pug, was
no doubt feeling a mixture of excitement and anxiety, too, and
began barking after her. Halfway through the judge's brieﬁng,
she saw a club member kick her dog's crate and yell at her to
knock it off.
The shock of what she witnessed and her uncertainty about
protocol for leaving a judge's brieﬁng froze her in place. I had
prepared her for many scenarios, but they related more to
how to remember the course and when to measure her dog-
nothing like this. She didn't know anyone at the show and didn't
know to whom she could turn for help.
I was outraged. It reminded me of a long ago incident when I
was a student in class. After running one dog, I returned to the
crating area and was confronted by a fellow student. Your dog
growled at me, she said. What did you do to him, I asked, and
went to check on my Catahoula, Desoto. He was a registered
Therapy Dog and had the best temperament of any dog I've
ever had. She explained that he was whining loudly while I was
running my other dog. So she stood in front of his crate, hands
on hips, and stared him down. When that didn't quiet him, she
yelled at him to shut up and hit the side of the crate.
65

Clean Run - September 2014

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