Hi everyone,

Well, I have been to one training class so far with my long-coat baby, which she found interesting to say the least. She startled a big ol' Beardie and an Old English Sheepdog when they tried to give a friendly 'hello' sniff!

She's twenty months old now, and very, very nervous. I feel like it's rather my fault, as I'm quite a nervous and non-sociable person, and I've turned her into the same.

Our trainer suggested that after a week of working everyday on it, Astrid would be able to respond to recall and sit commands. Currently, she can't seem to do either.
I managed to teach her a basic 'watch me' command from a training book for little dogs, and she is getting less scared of the clicker, but I don't seem to be getting anywhere with recall and sit.

Recall isn't such an issue, but I want to start showing her, so she could really do with learning the competition sit.
I have tried luring etc, but I'm worried she's going to learn the rocking sit, rather than the competition one.

How important is it that dogs in the ring know the competition sit, rather than just any old sit-down movement? (All our shows will be British KC ones...).

Also, I know every chi is different, but did anyone else have a nervous, older chi that they were able to start showing? How long did it take to show ready them?

I'm so scared that I've ruined my little one, and left it to late for her to properly socialise and shine in the ring as she deserves to.

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Meet Astrid!

Dont worry so much it often takes a lot of time, Zero is an extremely nervous chi and we take it one step at a time with him (it can also be in the breedline some times slightly further back and the nervous disposition could be inherited) but all I can say is keep going to training classes it will take time and effort on both you're behalfs also have you considered taking her to a chihuahua-meetup there is one run in london every month and she might cope better around dogs her own size and slowly start coming out of herself. Also possibly a mini agilty class might help I've heard it's great for nervous dogs as they forget they're in public and just have fun.

I'm in the same boat as you I was hoping to show my nervous little one but getting him to walk in public isnt an easy task he often refuses so all I can say is it will take lot of time and effort but will all be worth it eventually

Are you currently doing Obedience training or ringcraft?

good luck

Hi Nemochi,

Thanks for your reply

I looked up the London meet-up, and we'll definitely try and get along next month. It looks like great fun, and I'd certainly enjoy meeting the other chis even if Astrid didn't!

Astrid's not too bad about walking in public, etc, it's just that she can get slightly growly when close up with people. I know it's not vicious, and people in the know with dogs know it's not vicious, but others just think, "Arrrrgh, she growled, she's going to bite".

We're currently doing Basic Obedience (our trainer is a judge and breeder, and she said that she wouldn't take her dogs to any of the local Ringcraft classes, as she doesn't think they use very good methods).

We have entered a local-ish show on 12 July 2006, so that is our goal
I'm now having a 'wibble moment' that I've entered her for the wrong classes!
We've entered for several, as I want to see how she feels in the ring, and she's the kind of dog for whom 'multiple exposures' work, rather than just the odd event, I think. I also know that we're not going to do particularly well necessarily at our first show, and I think it's partly that which made me brave enough to enter her in several classes!!
We're entered for... (and PLEASE if anyone sees a reason why she can't compete in any of these classes, please let me know?! I'm having a major wibble now!)
Novice Bitch
Postgraduate Bitch (I realised after I should have gone for Undergrad, but is she still eligible for this class too?)
Limit Bitch
Open Bitch

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Meet Astrid!

Usually they only compete in one class of the appropriate age range or show experience, I'd personally just put her in the Novice Bitch class and see how she does too many classes would really stress her out if she isnt used to it.

Ring classes are great try and see if there are any match shows theyare wonderful practice for showing. Its best to go to an All breed class this way your dog becomes familiar with larger dogs JMO after all they will be at shows also.

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Janie

forgot to ask are you doing conformation?

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Janie

We're doing a basic Obedience course at the moment, as our trainer (who is also a judge) doesn't know of any good Ringcraft classes in our area. She said that some that she knows of don't use very good methods of teaching

I'm a bit at my wit's end with Astrid today - tonight was our third (only third, yeah, I know I probably expect too much of her!) class... she's getting less growly with the other dogs, and is brave enough to walk quite close to them, but she's still so growly and snappy with people...

I know it's a case of one step at a time, but I just feel rather frustrated and disenchanted when we come back from class, and everyone else's dogs are friendly to humans and other dogs, whilst Astrid is rather aggressive...

My trainer's going to have a think about whether she thinks that a behaviourist might be able to help.

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Meet Astrid!

She is adorable! it takes much patience stick with it don't give up

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Janie