Walk On Loose Lead Please Handler!

[Lablover]

Could someone please explain why some judges ask for dogs to be exhibited (is it called stride tested???, sorry not a show person), while walking on a loose lead not trotting/stridding out?

[ellz]

Because they want to see what the dog does by themselves without any assistance from the handler and because the walk is the best gait at which to see it.

A dog (and a horse) can often trot (gait) or even run and disguise soundness faults. And a dog which is strung up on a tight lead will often not show faults or unsoundness as well.

[nynka]

Hi,

I agree with all said above. My understanding when a judge says, "walk on a loose lead", is that they want to see the dog gait at a trot, naturally on a loose lead.

They do not want to see the dog being strung up, which will alter its movement (often done intentionally by a handler). A trot is the gait that most judges use to assess movement, so I believe most want to see a trot on a loose lead. Not many will want to see a true walk, it does happen but is most unusual.

[Bisart Dobes]

Our breed seems to get this alot actually - generally with judges who do know what they are doing and know our standard .

A dog that is extremely over angled in rear will track outside its front legs at a walk because they have to have somewhere to put their feet - this can be seen at a trot but if the judge wants to make the point to all watching putting the class on a walk certainly does that.

An over angled dog looks flashy and showy and if shown well this fault can be almost hidden on the move - some judges love the over exaggerated look and award it but it isn't correct in our breed.

[angelsun]

shepherds get this a lot and I"m a big fan of it. This breed often can move and track correctly at speed, but has issues walking (hocks touching, crossing over, being noticably weak and wobbly) Judges often will ask us to walk out and back to see if indeed the dog is sound in movement.

Many dogs in the breed simply can't do it, as they aren't taught to walk in the ring, but race around. Our young dogs of course don't do this as well, but our older (about a year) are taught to 'heel' and walk on a loose lead, and not trot.

What annoys me is when a judge asks for the dogs to go around, on a loose lead and not race, and so we do, only to be ignored and the racing, strung up dog that's out of control is awarded. Why bother to ask us to show a certain way, when no one else does it, and award to the most out of control exhibit? (in my opinion)

[whippets]

Weak, wobbly, loose hocks is very noticeable at a walk.

[pebbles]

I have always shown my dogs, regardless of breed, on a loose lead, hate to see dogs strung up. When I was judging a breed show I asked for them to do another triangle on a loose lead, shock, horror from some exhibitors and some movement just fell apart.

[Lowenhart]

I've seen dogs raced around on tight leads looking awful. But slowed down, and given a loose lead they actually hold themselves quite well.

A fast trot is not correct for a large number of breeds, though it is considered flashy and appealing to some.

I'm one of those people in the middle of the ring who tends to say "Slow down, slow down!", normally because the dogs are bunching up and playing as they are going way too fast.

If I think a dog is being held out of it's natural shape by a tight lead, I ask the exhibitor to loosen it. People don't realise how badly they can throw a dogs movement off by tight leads and constant checking. I think the constant checking is my bugbear as the dog doesn't fall into any sort of rhythm and constantly being put off balance by the tugs on the lead.

[SparkyTansy]

The German judge at the recent Weimaraner national asked us to do just this... walking out and back and then around, all at a walk with a loose lead. Ari sniffed the ground almost the whole way around!

[Kelza]

Sometimes if a lead is too tight it can make a dog throw its front, a loose lead gives the dog freedom to move naturally. As some have said above a loose lead can also show up a lot of faults... very interesting to watch some handlers

[Pockets]

shepherds get this a lot and I"m a big fan of it. This breed often can move and track correctly at speed, but has issues walking (hocks touching, crossing over, being noticably weak and wobbly) Judges often will ask us to walk out and back to see if indeed the dog is sound in movement.

Many dogs in the breed simply can't do it, as they aren't taught to walk in the ring, but race around. Our young dogs of course don't do this as well, but our older (about a year) are taught to 'heel' and walk on a loose lead, and not trot.

What annoys me is when a judge asks for the dogs to go around, on a loose lead and not race, and so we do, only to be ignored and the racing, strung up dog that's out of control is awarded. Why bother to ask us to show a certain way, when no one else does it, and award to the most out of control exhibit? (in my opinion)

Angelsun - perhaps regardless the other dog is still better whether or not it's behaving :D

All shows I have gone to all the judges ask for an up and back

[biker girl]

The German judge at the recent Weimaraner national asked us to do just this... walking out and back and then around, all at a walk with a loose lead. Ari sniffed the ground almost the whole way around!

A friend of mine was over in Adelaide for the Wei national & laughed at how walking on a loose leash sorted out the "men from the boys".....so to speak.

Personally I always/will show my sheppies on loose leashes too, I always smile to myself when I hear the group 5 judge clearly say "loose leashes" for the sheppies. :D

[TeamSnag]

Yep i walk my guys on a loose lead too..

[grace]

Many years ago when I used to show we were often asked to walk the dogs on a loose lead. I found a lot of the exhibitors wouldn't take any notice of what the judge said and still had a tight lead and ran flat out. Could never understand why they wouldn't do as the judge asked.

[angelsun]

shepherds get this a lot and I"m a big fan of it. This breed often can move and track correctly at speed, but has issues walking (hocks touching, crossing over, being noticably weak and wobbly) Judges often will ask us to walk out and back to see if indeed the dog is sound in movement.

Many dogs in the breed simply can't do it, as they aren't taught to walk in the ring, but race around. Our young dogs of course don't do this as well, but our older (about a year) are taught to 'heel' and walk on a loose lead, and not trot.

What annoys me is when a judge asks for the dogs to go around, on a loose lead and not race, and so we do, only to be ignored and the racing, strung up dog that's out of control is awarded. Why bother to ask us to show a certain way, when no one else does it, and award to the most out of control exhibit? (in my opinion)

Angelsun - perhaps regardless the other dog is still better whether or not it's behaving

All shows I have gone to all the judges ask for an up and back

Perhaps if you consider touching hocks and a roached back better..then you are correct.

[angelsun]

The German judge at the recent Weimaraner national asked us to do just this... walking out and back and then around, all at a walk with a loose lead. Ari sniffed the ground almost the whole way around!

A friend of mine was over in Adelaide for the Wei national & laughed at how walking on a loose leash sorted out the "men from the boys".....so to speak. :rolleyes:

Personally I always/will show my sheppies on loose leashes too, I always smile to myself when I hear the group 5 judge clearly say "loose leashes" for the sheppies.

Yes, me too...and my thought says "let the fun/circus, begin!" I've seen your girls showing on a loose lead and it's nice to see a dog both under control and correctly gaiting as well.

[biker girl]

The German judge at the recent Weimaraner national asked us to do just this... walking out and back and then around, all at a walk with a loose lead. Ari sniffed the ground almost the whole way around!

A friend of mine was over in Adelaide for the Wei national & laughed at how walking on a loose leash sorted out the "men from the boys".....so to speak.

Personally I always/will show my sheppies on loose leashes too, I always smile to myself when I hear the group 5 judge clearly say "loose leashes" for the sheppies.

Yes, me too...and my thought says "let the fun/circus, begin!" I've seen your girls showing on a loose lead and it's nice to see a dog both under control and correctly gaiting as well.

Why "thank you" Angelsun, personally I always have prefered to see sheppies striding it out on a loose lead regardless of allbreeds or specialist

[nynka]

What the judge asked for at the Wei national is a very uncommon and detailed particular request - that's why it caused such a stir and lots of talk. We are also talking about a specialists ring/show.

In an all breeds show "a loose lead" is just that. Some judges will only ask for a loose lead, not also ask for a "walk". I have often heard, "take your dog on a loose lead". For instance a GSD running ahead of the handler can still do so on a loose lead. Besides, once the dog is ahead of the handler, it would throw its gait off terribly if it wasn't on a loose lead.

Edited May 29, 2010 by nynka

[Pockets]

Nynka - a GSD pulling a head of a handler without a lose lead wouldn't throw off the dogs gait, at specialty shows the dogs must pull into the lead both at a walk and a gait

[angelsun]

For instance a GSD running ahead of the handler can still do so on a loose lead.

Absolutely right....I do it every weekend. No, it's not the same loose lead as I show my pinscher as I can basically lay that on her back as she moves, showing that I am not manipulating her gait or appearance, but it is not tight, or even taut....the dogs are under control, gaiting correctly and not racing.