Just before the ring: the final touches that count

A few minutes before you go in, the aim is simple: check the presentation, then make yourself available for your dog. The preparation work is already done. There are just a few details to check and a partner to support.

One last check, from muzzle to paws

Take a quick look at the areas that may have got dirty while you waited: the mouth after a treat, the feet after an outing, the feathering after crossing a damp floor.

Clean just the spot if necessary, dry gently and put the coat back in place with the moves that suit your breed. Avoid big improvised touch-ups: before going in, it is better to have time to look at the result.

Beginner: three tips to go in calmly

1. Check three things: your number, your lead and your dog. Get your exhibitor number ready as the organiser instructs, check the lead and make sure your dog is ready to follow you. Keep your hands as free as possible: put the brush away before the call.
2. Make the finish short and targeted. Remove a visible bit of dirt or put a small patch of hair back in place. Use only moves your dog knows. If an important touch-up is missing, avoid rushing into a trim at the ringside.
3. Reconnect with your partner. Say his name, offer a familiar move or a few relaxed steps. Reward as you usually do. Above all, aim to win back his attention, without repeating requests until he gets annoyed.

Intermediate: three tips to manage the wait

1. Keep an ear out for your class being called. Stay within earshot of the announcements and check with the ring staff if you’re unsure. Once you’re called, follow their instructions for going in and taking your place. A delay can quickly turn a relaxed preparation into a dash with your bag wide open!
2. Adapt the final touches to the coat. A short coat may need only a quick cleanliness check; a long coat, a few targeted passes; a corded coat, a suitable tidy-up. Reproduce the preparation expected for your breed, without trying to give every coat the same look.
3. Keep a little bubble of calm. While you wait, leave enough space between your dog and his neighbours. Avoid forced greetings and endless repetitions of the show stack. The FCI regulations put health and wellbeing first. [1]

Advanced: three tips to refine without overdoing it

1. Look at the whole before the detail. Step back slightly and look at your dog standing, then moving a few steps if there is room. Check that the coat lets his outline be appreciated. In the American Cocker Spaniel, the standard asks, among other things, that the feathering not hide the lines or the movement. [2]
2. Check that the finish complies. The products used must follow the applicable rules. At an FCI international show with CACIB, substances that alter the structure, colour or shape of the coat, skin or nose are forbidden. The last touch before going in is still subject to this rule. [1]
3. Finish the preparation before you settle in to wait. If you use a table, bring your dog down safely once the grooming is finished. The FCI regulations forbid keeping him tied on it beyond the time needed for his preparation. Then head to the ring with only the essential kit. [1]

When you’re called: look at your dog

Put the tools away, check the way in and move forward at a suitable pace. A stray lock no longer deserves all your attention: watch your dog instead, guide him and follow the judge’s instructions.

Your preparation has brought you this far. Now it’s time for the presentation!

Sources

• FCI: Dog Show Regulations (PDF, in French)
• FCI: American Cocker Spaniel standard no. 167 (PDF, in French)