Getting ready for the show includes also the owner's preparing himself to the show day (it is not enough the dog is finished). The handler's (which very often is the owner of the dog) should get ready for the show and especially should have a right attitude before entering the show. The handler has no reason to strain or be afraid, the handler should also concentrate to the most important: on the performance of the dog and on showing the dog to the judge in the best way, so the result would correspond to you expectations (and correspond to what your dog really is like). The judge will not judge you as a handler, just the dog which is shown. Also people around the show ring are watching your dog, not you (of course sometimes there is people who do not understand they are in a dog show.... they think they are watching some beauty competition of human beings).
The handler should not arouse attention with his/her clothing. The dais should be given to the dog. The clothing should be suitable with the breed of your dog and neutral. The gaudy and figured clothes are not the best choise: clothes of one subdued colour are the best ones. When saying you should choose suitable clothes with the breed of your dog, it means if you own a big working dog, maybe you should not dress yourself with heel shoes. Normally you do not use gloves, hats or coats in the ring. But if there is a bad weather and the show is outside, you may use some coat which will not arouse attention (so you will not get sick... of course it is not meant to torture any living creature in dog shows). Also a short skirt is not the best clothing, because then people standing behind you might see something "personal" when you squat to show your dog to the judge. Also any fluttering clothes are not recommend (like long coats or skirts, scarfs etc.).
You should also pay attention to choosing the shoes: with bigger dogs you have to run in the ring, so you have to choose shoes with which you can run (but not any jogging shoes or boots!). And do not also choose shoes which make much noise, so your dog (or any other dog) will not be disturbed of it.
The colour of clothing and shoes might also have some kind of effect. If the dog is black, it maybe is not best choice to take black trousers, because this causes dog's outline is not so clear next to your clothes and also judge might see wrong (human eye is so strange). Human looks wider if using clothes with horizontal lines, and this might cause also the dog is looking to human eye a bit longer. With vertical lines in clothes you get opposite effect (human looks thinner and longer, dog looks shorter and higher). So with clothes you may affect how dog looks too. Women (but also men who use make-up) should also pay attention to make-up style, parfume amount and hair style (all should be seemly selected).
You should respect judge's decision and evaluation what ever is the result, because when you enter your dog to show, you have already accepted this judge will give his/her opinion about your dog and will choose the most beautiful from the exhibited dogs from his/her opinion. Very often you meet dog owners criticizing the judge after the ring in public. This maybe is not very smart even if so comon, so maybe you should try not to. Also it is very seemly to congratulate the winner (winner is not your enemy, only competititor). Also you should not act like tyrant or "owner of the Europe" if your dog happens to win sometime, better is to win decently. At show place do not use bad or hurting words and also speak with calm tone. And when you talk to your dog in the ring, do not repeat yourself all the time very loud (that sounds stupid). So main point: act like adult and remember to stay playful.
Judge is evaluating the dog from facts how it is showing and acting on that moment (does not help anything to think how the dog usually is if acting differently in the ring). The basic meaning of shows and these evaluations is to help breeders to choose the most typical individuals for breeding. Besides of evaluation breeder of course also uses the knowledge and experience he/she has before to plan future breeding program.
Handling the dog is just like any other showing or being on the stage. Do not be nervous, because this might cause only negative things to your dog's performance (especially if you are person from who is easily seen if being nervous, well dog usually senses very easily owner's tension so it is hard to cheat them). Try to stay calm even if you were very disappointed to judge's decision and your dog was not successful. So maybe should train the "pepsodent-smile" at home before leaving which will not disappear from your face what ever happens. So do not keep angry or insulted face in show rings. Well, this is same thing as winning decently and respecting the judge.
You handle dog with show leash which is inconspicuous and fits with dog's style. Usually you may buy leashes also from show places, but also from pet shops. People use different leashes with different dogs, so you should maybe ask from your dog's breeder what kind of leash would be the best to choose. Usually show leash includes the band and the collar, so there is no need to buy separate collar. When you are choosing the show leash, make sure it is good size for the dog (so that dog cannot run away in the ring).
Pin the number label for example to left side of breast or sleeve (or other place from which the ring secretaries see it easily). You may pin it with safety pin or with clip meant for this (they sell these in many shows). One option is "number pocket" to your arm, which means you do not have to do any holes to your clothes. If the number label is too big to put to this pocket, you can cut from it a bit before the show. In the ring the handler should always have the right number seen, because this avoids the faults (of course sometimes happens mistakes when same person is handling many dogs).
Depending on breed you handle the dog in move differently. One way is to with "hanging style" when the collar is up behind dog's ears and handler keeps the leash up. Second way is to keep leash more down and third way is to let dog run freely in leash. When using this hanging style you should be careful: do not keep leash too tight, because this might cause caughing and faults to moves (for example if front legs are in the air because leash too tight). English springer spaniels are often handled with "hanging style", but in some cases it is better to show them more freely (they move more happy). The end of the leash should be collected to your hand when handling a dog, do not let it hang freely. So handle the dog so that the dog performs nicely, all tricks do not work with all dogs. When moving you may encourage and motivate the dog with for example some little piece of delicious food (titbit) or with some toy (keep those in your hand so that dog knows), but you must take care you do not disturb other dogs and handlers with these equipment (so do not for example squeak the toy or throw the titbits).
Before you start moving in the ring, settle the show leash on dog right (so do not start moving with big hurry, you have time to do it right). When you move with the dog, keep good posture with yourself too (do not move stooped). Also does not look nice if you flail with your arms around, this makes people to pay attention more to you, not to dog as was meant. Also dog should get moving well and with good posture, which you very often do easily with titbits or other things which the dog is interested in. So you are allowed to use this kind of equipment in the ring, but that is not allowed to be disturbing for other dogs, handlers and judge. You should move with good speed, so that dog looks good when moving (not too fast, not too slow). Also you should run the speed other handlers and dogs are running in the ring so that would not happen any crashes. You are always exhibiting the dog to the judge, so move in the ring so that judge can all the time see easily dog's movement. Follow judge's directions in the ring (he/she will show where and how wants the dog to be moved).
Standing style is also depended from the breed. Some breeds are even not "standed" which means they are freely standing (limbs the dogs place themselves and handler is not keeping the tail, ears or neck with the hands). Stand the dog side to judge and keep good distance to the dog. Distance to judge should be some meters so that judge sees the whole dog easily. If the dog is very small one, you should also go down on your knees or haunches. Front paws should be next to each other from good distance from each other. Back paws should be placed a bit behind the hip part (not under the dog). You should train standing the dog and ask help from the breeder or go to train to special show trainings arranged often by different clubs.
Right after you come to ring you should start handling the dog and put it to show position. If there is lots of dogs in the same class, you do not have to keep the dog all the time in show position, but must be ready to do it. So when the judge is evaluating other dog, you can let the dog be "free" (no need to stand in show position). You also are allowed to go outside the ring when judge is evaluating other dogs especially if many dogs in same class, but in other cases it is not needed. When your dog is in turn in this quality evaluation, you should try to handle it like it fits as good as possible to breed standard.
During the quality evaluation judge not only watches the dog from some distance, but also comes and touches the dog to check for example the following things:
All parts in this guide where is given advices how to act in the ring, do not concern only the official judge, it concerns also the trainee judges, but anyway you should focus all energy to show the dog to official judge.