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HOW TO EXHIBIT YOUR BULLMASTIFF

The first thing a puppy needs to learn is to walk on a lead. If you have children or your friends have children, give them the puppy and let them lead the puppy around. Children have a great way in training puppies, the puppies think its a game and learn with little resistance. This will also help you stay sane, as training a puppy can be frustrating. If however you can't utilise any ones children, then you'll have to give it a try. Remember, it has to be fun. The puppy only wants to play at this stage, so make it into a game. Use any means at your disposal to encourage your puppy to come to you or walk with you on lead, such as food, a squeaky toy, whatever works for you. Do this a couple of times a day, for short periods and eventually your puppy will come when you want it to.

Once the puppy has learnt the basics, it's time to show it how to stand so that the judge can see the puppy's outline and structure. This too must be treated as a game. Don't be too strict, remember, it is only a puppy, if you push too hard at an early age your puppy won't enjoy itself, and therefore won't look its best in the show ring.

Firstly, kneel on the ground next to your puppy, let the lead fall. Put your right hand under the puppy's chin and your left hand under its chest between its front legs. Gently lift the front legs slightly off the ground, placing them back down so that they are straight and the puppy is up on their toes. With your left hand, place the puppies' left back leg back until the hock runs parallel to the puppies tail. Do the same with the right back leg, separating them so that they are slightly wider apart than the front legs. If the puppy moves a lot, we find placing your left hand under the puppies belly and rubbing it gently while holding its head / chin in your right hand helps steady the puppy, this exercise is what exhibitors call STACKING your dog. Always remember the puppy just wants to have fun, and the judges realise this and have a great tolerance for naughty puppies up until around nine months of age, at which time your puppy should start to act more dignified in the show ring as the judges will start to expect it to at this age. Food is also a great way to get your puppy to stay put while you place their feet / legs in the correct place. Just hold the food in front of their mouth with your right hand and let them nibble on it, then move their legs to the correct position and then say stay, hold only for a second then give the puppy a huge pat and let them have the food. Eventually, you'll get the puppy to understand that if you hold food in front of them and say stay they'll automatically position themselves correctly and anxiously await their treat.

When moving your puppy for the judge, place the knot of the check chain under its' chin and hold the lead loosely. Only tighten the lead if you want the puppy to quicken up, but just jerk the lead, don't pull or drag the puppy or it will fight you all the way and the judge won't be able to see its correct movement.

As your puppy matures, you can adjust the way you stack and hold your dog to what ever you and your dog are comfortable with, and in a way that will show off your dog to its best advantage. Watch other exhibitors with their Bullmastiffs and get a few tips from the way they exhibit, but always do what's best for you and your dog.

If you require any further information or advice on showing your Bullmastiff or any other questions relating to training you can always call us, it’s breeders or The Bullmastiff Club of NSW Inc. Secretary on (02) 4684 2087 who may be able to assist with known trainers of show dogs.