Things You'll Need:
- Brushes
- Toys
- Training table
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Step 1
Groom your show dog every day. Some show dogs require, as part of their grooming routine, a certain cut for the hair. The dog should be trimmed as needed. If the rules for your particular dog require short hair between the toes, the hair will need to be trimmed as needed. Cut the dog's toenails as needed as well.
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Step 2
Work on training every day. The dog should know how to sit and stand (the command is "stand," the action is called "stacking"). The dog should also know how to do a "long stay," which is when the dog stays where you tell it to until it is called. Training also involves smaller show dogs getting up on a table. If your dog is small, it should be accustomed to being put on a table.
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Step 3
Teach the dog socialization skills. Show dogs need to be comfortable with strangers handling them. The judges will run their hands all over the dog, lift the dog's feet and lift the dog's lips to check for tooth alignment, clean teeth and broken teeth. You can teach socialization skills by bringing the dog into public and exposing it to many different people, smells and sounds.
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Step 4
Take the show dog to "school." A show dog should, at the very least, have basic obedience classes and should also, at some point, pass the CGC (canine good citizen) test. Refer to Step 2---the techniques learned in obedience and CGC classes can help you with training. The obedience classes and the CGC not only benefit the dog, they benefit the owner/handler of the dog.
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Step 5
Perform other basic care for the dog, such as feeding and playing during the day. Most show dogs are fed a premium dog food, as dog food in large part determines the quality of a dog's coat. Cheap dog food with junk ingredients (such as corn) does not provide enough nutrients. Another diet good for show dogs is a raw diet. A raw diet will help keep a show dog's coat smooth and shiny and help keep its teeth from yellowing.
