View Full Version : Teaching Smile..
SummerRiot
06-02-2006, 09:11 AM
I'd like to teach Riot to "smile".. but I'm not quite sure how to get him to do it voluntarily.. I've got him so he scrunches up his lips a LITTLE bit so you can see a wrinkle on the top of his nose but is teeth aren't showing..
I'd LOVE to be able to teach Riot "smile" for the show ring lmao!! I just think that I'd be cute - although I'm sure not fully accepted haha!!
Has anyone successfully taught their dog this before?
doberkim
06-02-2006, 11:07 AM
I wouldn't teach him that for the show ring -
first, it's a nice quick way to be excused.
Second, since Riot has an iffy temperament and is afraid of the judge, has snapped and kids, etc - I wouldn't do anything that makes him look any scarier than he is.
JMHO. I definitely would NOT use it in the show ring.
Roxy's CD
06-02-2006, 12:56 PM
Ok, this is how I taught Roxy, but first you gotta know that Roxy shows her teeth a lot anyways..lol, she's got the whole adolescent teenager, your not in charge of me thing going on, but here goes:
1. You have to choose the signal you want for smile, I use my pointer finger and my middle finger together in a hooked shape. (you'll understand why in a second)
2. How I started with her, was by rubbing with my two fingers, the bridge of her nose. If the lip curls at all, good boy treat... It didn't take very long, but as I said she's finicky about her face being touched and she was already "smiling" a lot on her terms.lol
Bailey+Ralph
06-02-2006, 01:12 PM
LOL.................I think i might try and teach Bailey this one.
Roxy's CD
06-02-2006, 02:01 PM
These are Roxy's smiles..
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/roxy_hades/roxyavatarbest.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/roxy_hades/roxysmile.jpg
~Tucker&Me~
06-02-2006, 05:12 PM
LOL!
That's a cute idea!
~Tucker
Wow I didn't even think about giving Casey a cue to smile on command, she just does it naturally but now I think I'll try and give her a cue for it. Summer I have no idea how to teach it as Casey just does it but Roxy's advice seems great.
RetrieverLove
06-02-2006, 09:04 PM
I've always been curious about how to go about teaching this. I think I may give it a try.
Melissa_W
06-02-2006, 09:40 PM
These are Roxy's smiles..
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/roxy_hades/roxyavatarbest.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/roxy_hades/roxysmile.jpg
haha, that's cute! She looks kinda ticked off though! ;)
PoodleMommy
06-02-2006, 09:44 PM
I agree with Melissa, Roxy does not look happy at all :)
Elissa
Roxy's CD
06-02-2006, 10:20 PM
lol... She definitely has a way about her. She was napping on the couch when I bugged her to get the pics, she definitely knows how to out do herself though.
SummerRiot
06-03-2006, 07:26 PM
doberkim - not sure if you have been reading his updated posts but hes passed his aggression stage now.
He did amazing at his conformation show and Im not trying to train him to do that to "look more aggresive".. I dont understand why you would say that? Do you think that he looks scarey for some reason?!
I'd LOVE to be able to teach Riot "smile" for the show ring lmao!!
Also.. I never stated for conformation lol
doberkim
06-03-2006, 07:54 PM
doberkim - not sure if you have been reading his updated posts but hes passed his aggression stage now.
He did amazing at his conformation show and Im not trying to train him to do that to "look more aggresive".. I dont understand why you would say that? Do you think that he looks scarey for some reason?!
Also.. I never stated for conformation lol
what other ring would you be using it for, you said the show ring? im sure hes doing better, but there is no reason to use it in the ring, you can and will be excused, i have friends with dobes that naturally smiled that have been excused from rings for it. im not sure a dog gets "over" aggression - he has snapped at people in the past and that should never be forgotten. he wasnt thrilled with the judge from what i saw in the ring, and the last thing a judge wants to see is a dog "smiling" at them while they are trying to do their exam. the fact remains, a dog showing their teeth in that manner DOES look aggressive. and it will most likely get you excused from any ring,.
SummerRiot
06-03-2006, 08:51 PM
That really does suck that your friends got excused from the ring because of that.
and yes, Riots not thrilled with getting his testicles grabbed - but again, hes come along way and has kept climbing up.
i'm not sure if you are familiar with the Belgian breed, but all go through a "fear/aggresion" period.
I highly doubt that he'll be like he was when he was 6months old ever again with all of the training and such he has had on him now :)
Thank you for your advice though :)