You can take the word “non-professional” out of this question, because there are certainly things that ANY exhibitor should do in the group ring – or during any level of competition. Of course, there are things that a professional may do better than most owner-handlers, but all can benefit from some of these suggestions.

Number one – and most importantly – pay attention. Make sure your dog is ready when the judge turns to examine her. Pay attention to what pattern the judge is using to move the dogs. It is extremely frustrating – and annoying – to a judge when he has had every dog move in the same pattern and the twenty-third dog is moved in a completely different direction or the handler asks, “which way should I move?” By the way, this also holds true during the day in the breed ring. You would be amazed at how many times this happens after a judge has had dogs move in the same pattern for five hours, and then is asked, “Which way?”

Aligned with the handler paying attention, is keeping the dog’s attention. The hardest thing I had to do when I showed in groups was to keep my dog alert, interested, and enjoying being shown (and I wasn’t always successful). Find a toy or a procedure that your dog gets excited about, and use it to keep her attention – but do this without infringing on another dog’s territory. It seems that many people today think that the way to keep a dog interested is to continually keep baiting/feeding her. You need to find a way that is better than this so that when you use the bait it becomes something special. Besides, consider how the judge sees the dog’s bite after you have been shoving liver or chicken into her mouth for the past fifteen minutes. By the way, learn how to show the bite without having your head in the way of the judge’s sight. You should know how your dog’s bite looks.

The average group judging takes thirty minutes or so, and you can use this general time period when you practice. You have to make showingin the ring a fun thing for your dog.

Keep showing your dog. I don’t mean to keep your dog set up for the thirty minutes you are in the ring, but make sure if the judge looks back down the line, your dog is looking good. Relaxing your dog does not mean to let it look like Lee Marvin’s horse in Cat Ballou. Of course, this all depends on the breed. Some handlers find that with larger dogs; they keep the dog relaxed – yet alert – by allowing her to lie down. That is acceptable and certainly better than the Cat Ballou thing. You may be showing to Judge X this afternoon, but Judge Y who is sitting in the judge’s area ringside, is judging your group tomorrow. Put the right image in Judge Y’s mind.

A smile never hurts. You should be enjoying this, and it is okay to show it. Let the judge see that you are proud to be showing your dog. Always remember – in addition to evaluating breed quality – this is supposed to be fun!

Many of our readers have reached out to express how much they have enjoyed reading these insightful and thought provoking answers to dog show questions by AKC Judge Mr. Sid Marx.  On behalf of all our readers, Thank You!

For those of you who would like to hear more from Sid Marx, check out one of his many articles from his column The Judge Marx The Spot in Dog News Magazine or online at:  https://www.dognews.com/sid-marx-0