my dog who has been rested since nov 2009 will be out again this weekend and 14 days later at Crufts thing is he gets over the top with excitement when he,s stacked and one or 2 legs will shake  once hes done a class and if fortunate to get called back in hes ok but now hes in open and we dont have a prev class i pratice before we go in and hes ok but when he in with all the other dogs in his 1st class hes just raring to go
Is there a calmer i can give him that will just relax him without taking his enthusiasm away?

How about taking him to ring craft so that the whole show thing isn't so exciting.

I have trouble; with my 10 year old champion bitch as she isn't shown as often now, and gets really OTT, she was always one to show me up anyway, but is worse than a puppy now.

I certainly wouldn't want to give him anything, getting to the show really early and walking him around calmly around the other rings and stacking him up might make him less excited.

Also surely it is much nicer to see a dog really keen to be in the ring, instead of the rows of cardboard cut outs.

i do all that walk him round a bit of pratice etc but still he,ll do it  and now i start thinking IS HE GOING TO SHAKE  which probably doesnt help either of us he goes round the rind like a trooper and as hes on his last run up its as if he knows and he always leaps up to me Oooh what a tado!!!

As soon as I get to the show ground (if the weather isn't peeing down!)I try and take the dogs for a 20 min walk around the show ground so hopefully they are alittle calmer by the time we put everything and the kitchen sink by the benches.Must admit that its been much easier during the last few shows as I have only taken 1 dog.I used to take up to 4 and that was a nightmare.

I've had a similar problem with my youngest bitch, but caused by RingCraft      She gets so excited that she almost turns herself inside-out wagging her tail  - which has bled from catching the tip on a wall at one show   And when she finally calms down she shakes all over with sheer excitement and exhuberance  

Thing is, you want them to enjoy it, as it should be fun for them too, but when they are that excited it stops being fun for us and them

I have found Calm Down herbal blend brilliant for her.   It doesn't 'dope' her, and she still has her lovely sparkle, bounce and attitude, but without the shaking and 'over the top' silliness     I'm hoping that with time she'll calm down, she's still very much like a pup, even at almost 2 years :D