The Winning Edge: Show Ring Secrets (Howell reference books) [Hardcover]

George Alston (Author)

Book Description

Series: Howell reference books | Publication Date: May 16, 1992

George Alston has been one of the country's preeminent professional handlers for over thirty years. Now, the secrets of his success are shared with every dog fancier.

The Winning Edge is the very first book to apply sports psychology to dog showing. Here, serious exhibitors, including the seasoned veteran, will have the opportunity to develop and polish the skills necessary to take a place in the winners' circle. With award-winning author Connie Vanacore, George Alston shows us all how to gain consistent success in the only sport in which amateurs compete directly with the professionals. Chapters focus on the advantages of being an amateur and underscore the necessity for the mental preparation and psychology that are essential to every exhibitor's success.

The authors cover every ingredient in the recipe for show ring success, with chapters on the perfect handler, the making of a show dog, psychocybernetics, where and how to focus when in the ring and learning from the competition.

The Winning Edge, an essential for every dog exhibitor's bookshelf, now makes George Alston's professional know-how available to everyone with the desire to win.
A Howell Dog Book of Distinction

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

George Alston, an expert dog handler for more than 30 years, teams with author Connie Vanacore on The Winning Edge: Show Ring Secrets. Combining sports psychology and dog showing, topics include psychocybernetics, the making of a show dog, learning from the competition, and etiquette and sportmanship. The Winning Edge: Show Ring Secrets is "an essential for every dog exhibitor's bookshelf."

From Library Journal

An experienced professional dog handler, Alston offers tips on showing in either conformation or obedience rings. His advice on canine health, training, etiquette, and ring preparation is sound, helpful, and very concise. While much of this information is covered in other books, Alston's handbook provides quick reference and some new ideas; his frank discussions of campaigning and the psychology of showing also help make this a unique and contemporary addition to collections needing a book on handling. Beginners looking for basic "secrets" on training, grooming, breeds, or special handling situations won't find them here. Instead they should turn to Mario Migliorini's more basic Secrets of Dog Show Handling (Prentice-Hall Pr., 1982. 2d ed.), which this complements. The Winning Edge has value as a specialized guide to showing and should be considered for patron audiences that include large numbers of dog show exhibitors.
- Carolyn Alexander, Technical Information Ctr., Ft. Hunter Liggett, Cal.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House; 1 edition (May 16, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876058349
• ISBN-13: 978-0876058343
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,859 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What are you waiting for?, February 9, 2000

By 

msdeb1107 (AL, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Winning Edge: Show Ring Secrets (Howell reference books) (Hardcover)

If you are serious about handling your own dogs - BUY IT NOW! I only wish I had read this book years ago. It is the supreme guide for those owner-handlers who aren't content to merely SHOW but who are ready to WIN! The weekend after I read it I used the skills learned to put the first point on a 9-mo-old puppy against professionals with Open dogs. It really made a big difference for me. The only thing better is going to one of his seminars - they are even better. Better yet - do both - and the results will amaze you.

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Superb guide by a real Pro & truly full of useful "secrets", July 5, 2003

By 

M. Mercedes (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Winning Edge: Show Ring Secrets (Howell reference books) (Hardcover)

Contrary to the comments a previous reviewer, I hope most will realize the value of this excellent and practical book and give it a try. The criticism of the "reader from Texas," is INANE and inappropriate. FIRST of all, the author never pretends to be a writer. He is, however, an accomplished Pro Handler with a track record of big show wins and real life experience to share about what to do (and not to do) in the show ring. SECOND, as for the comment about "how many times he belittled the owner-handler in this book," that too is utter nonsense. He is simply pointing out the kinds of behaviors that will NOT help you to win in the ring, and isn't that the ENTIRE POINT of reading this book??? Yes, showing dogs is a sport, but the reader is in La La Land if he does not realize that what "the judge likes," and "how to hide faults" are paramount to successfully showing and winning with your dog. The author does not pretend to be there to discuss "important aspects" of dogs. One presumes that the book will be bought and read to help the amateur handler understand how best to handle their dog in the ring. Ignore this reviewer and read this book! I found it to be extremely down-to-earth and full of little gems of wisdom and hints to remember and apply. I have bought a number of more "professionally written and less judgmental" books on showing and handling and they are too bland and so general as to be useless. They are NOT going to be the ones that I will refer back to and read again-- but this book will be read again and again. It's aptly named. It is indeed full of little secrets that are important to know in the show ring. It is an OUTSTANDING and entertaining reference in a gritty, no-nonsense way. I HIGHLY recommend it.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NOT FOR THE NOVICE OR BEGINNER!!!, May 2, 2004

By 

Jessica Young (Chatham, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Winning Edge: Show Ring Secrets (Howell reference books) (Hardcover)

This is a detailed book designed to guide you through your Speciality dogs' campaigning. This is not a book made to help class dogs win in the breed ring. This is written especially for Group 1's and Best In Show wins. I highly recommend reading this book before attending one of his seminars to be prepared what and what not to ask. This author has had mulitple BIS dogs in his resume' and has a unlimited wealth of knowledge in the sport. This book can teach you everything from installing fear into your competition, to getting the photographer to take the kind of picture YOU want. This is the best book on the market for the Advanced Owner-Handler or Professional Handler.