A lot of the training for home will stand your dog in good stead when it comes to giving him a course of instructions in show procedure.He will have become used to obedience by now and will understand command and, more important, he will not mind being handled. In the show ring, a dog is usually put to a lot of indignities>A judge will go over him from muzzle to tail, pressing here, prodding there and shifting him about all the time.

Unless a dog is used to this sort of thing it can distract him, make him uneasy, and spiol his show chances.It is inportant that a dog be trained to stand still and suffer all these things. The expert judge has little time for the exhibit which, because he will not stand still,cannot be assessed. For this reason try always to get friends and breed enthusiasts to treat your dog as a judge might.This means starting at his nose ans running the hands right over his body, feeling the contour of his ribs,the depth of his chest, the quality of his bone,

The entirety of his private parts (if a male), the positioning of the teeth, and a host of other intrusions upon hisform.Get strangers to do this, too, and it will not be long before the dog will accept such handling from anyone without demur. The puppy must learn to stand firm on all four feet,look natural, comfortable, and poised. It is not easy to train a young resless dog to his and a good deal of tolerance and patience will be needed. Initial work on the young Staffordshire Bull Terrier should start when he is about five months old; he should be taken before his evening meal to a quiet place.

His handler having a liberal supply of titbits available. Keep him on a thin comfortable coller and lead and make sure that he has no distractions while training. Place one hand under his chest and between his forelegs, the other under his tail and between his hindlegs. Lift slightly off the ground, replacing  him gently with the command *stand*. On no account should the front or back limbs be spread out as you do this; all legs beingallowed to come down straight and naturally from the body to the ground.When standing, front legs should stand parallel with the hindlegs.The average pupil will remain at least momentarily where you have put him.

Try to maintian his position as long as possible; by this time you will have straightened up and be holding the lead in your left hand. Keep his attention upon you with the titbit in the right hand.The command *stand* can be repeated at intervals as long as he stands in position, but do not extend this for too long, otherwise the pupil will become bored.When he shows promise,give him the titbit and praise him,then start again.Do not continue the early lessons for more than ten miutes at a time. As the days go by the time can be increased to halfan hour.Some dogs are natural showmen, others will require some patience on your part.It is important that the dog is trained to stand firm and look intelligent.

A lot stand well, but look`dumb`, or unhappy.Such outlook militates against good general appearance and will lose points.It can be avoided if the lessons are made interesting, of short duration,and given with kindness and understanding.Deportment is the next thing he must learn.This entails clean,positive,typical movement in the ring.No judge will tolerate a scrambler,and good movement is not a strong point in the breed,even today.An exhibit's best effect upon the judge is made usually when it moves at his own natural speed.A dog that pulls on the lead throws out its shoulders and elevates its rear;one that drags,obscures its front and rear actions and seldom given a second glance

The ideal gait is an effortless one,the hind limbs propelling the body,the fore limbs guiding it,the whole proceeding in a relaxed,lithe and athletic fashion,the limbs working in parallel to each other,and the head held erect,the outlook intelligent.It is important that he exercised up and down a typical ring distance of,say,thirty feef.This will get him used to an about-turn action when he retraces his steps to the judge.So many exhibitors mar the good style of this manoeuvre that it is worth cultivating an effective turn,not only to add polish but to gain what might be a deciding point from the judge.Get the dog used to smart about-turn on a quietly uttered word of command.

You can say turn the author trained his champion dogs to turn deftly when he clicked his fingers.So long as the dog knows what you want (and does it) you can use any method.When you feel that the dog looks good standing and is movingbriskly and soundly,take him from the quiet surroundings of his training and try him out where there is bustly and noise.Of course,the best place to find dog-show atmosghre is a dog show and one can usually find a smal all-breeds show in the locality.Join the society and enter your dog at its next members èvent.Do not go with an idea of winning,although if you get a prize it is raher nice.Just enter with the intention of getting your Staffordshire Bull Terrier used to show routine the exercise might prove useful to you,too.Here he will have to go through all the course of his lessons and learnhow to behave with a variety of breeds around him.Later,you can enter him at a show where only Staffordshire Bull Terriers are entered,by which time he shouldbe reasonably proficient and will not disgrace you.

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