So what happens to the dogs and people who don't pay for space.  I would hate to have to bring crates to every show, and if only showing one dog wouldn't bring one.  so would I be making a nuisance of myself taking up ring space with my canine?

At the moment in my won group some of the very large hound breeds lol around the ringsides on blankets, and take up a huge amount of space, all bar one breed are very dog friendly so it isn't a real issue other than avoiding stepping on paws and tails, but there is at leat one breed that is rather more territorial.

> Lucydogs is right, on toy day the benches are empty

At the Bath show I couldn't get to my bench for the people next to it and the glare I got when i went near was horendous.  So i had no choice but to find the grooming.  Managed to get by my ring but was full of another breed.  However due to it being a nice day, the stuards shortened the rings and made grooming area's which was good.

At paignton last year, they were chucking people out of the benching and saying they had to go into the grooming area so no point of benching there.

The benching you get for smaller breeds is a lot smaller that what you get for a lab ect.  i was amazed they can lay across them with plenty of room.  our beching if you used it properly can just fit in a small cage that would be difficult to groom on, it needs to be bigger.  You only just have elbow room.

I think the benching area needs an overhaul.  i don't think it should got rid of as at least you are guaranteed somewhere to groom somewhere near the ring.  I do think that the beches could be put by the respective rings, most are as everyone said miles away.

They sit or stand ringside as normal.  Many abroad also use x-pens instead of crates and again pay for the space allocation.  It seems that we in the UK have this "I have a right to" attitude and I don't see the amount of dogs lolling half in the ring abroad as I do here!  They keep them a respectable distance from the ropes.

Just how much the societies pay for benching would be of interest.  It surely must take up a fair wack of the total entry fee.  And it would benefit all of use if they were able to reduce this by say £10 - £12 per entry and then recoup some back from those who want to pay out maybe £3 for a 2yd x 2yd square, or £5 for a 4yd x 2yd.  There is alot of wasted space with benching, if I enter 4 or 5 dogs then I must be taking up an area of around 15 yds x 2yds.  Where as I could make do with a 4 yd x 2 yd space for crates.

I love benches and so do my dogs. 

I hate the rudeness of exhibitors with crates who are often set up around OTHER BREEDS RINGS... yep you all claim to be so perfect ;-) but at some shows it is ridiculous.  At EofE OES were along the ends of 5 different rings.  At Windsor one year we had to get the Show Officials to move the Bearded Collie people so we could actually get to the edges of our ring.  At NWPB the newfie crates were all around the end of our ring.

Basic logistics says you cannot fit and entry of 100 dogs around a ring

Then don't even get me started on the ignorance of people with so much luggage all piled onto trolleys that cannot be pushed on grass etc, who either totally ignore what their own dog is doing or just crash and clip other poor dogs.

These are usually the people who have brought everything bar the kitchen sink, but never think to get their passes out before setting off for the entrance.....

> think the benching area needs an overhaul.  i don't think it should got rid of as at least you are guaranteed somewhere to groom somewhere near the ring.  I do think that the beches could be put by the respective rings, most are as everyone said miles away.

At the shows that use the Clearspan marquees with the part covered rings the benches re generally near the ring.

I thought the set up at Southern counties with all the benching in the middle, rings all around the outside and then the trade stands around the perimeter was excellent.  Made t easy to change dogs between classes withotu having to have them all ringside, and trying to find soemeon with a free hand to hold them for you as I ahd at Windsor, even though the rings were part overed.

>>So what happens to the dogs and people who don't pay for space.
>They sit or stand ringside as normal.

In the rain?

No, benching's great. Every dog is officially allocated the same amount of space; there's a semi-private area for each dog (no eyeballing from either side or behind), space to store your belongings underneath, a space for the exhibitor to sit (as long as your dog budges up a bit!) and it can be the most peaceful area of the showground so the dog can have a bit of peace! Unbenched shows are a pain.

Although I have never used the benches as they were intended for (my boy hates the bench and refuses to go anywhere near it) I would be lost with out them....Where else am I going to leave my husband for a snooze???? lol :)

In the rain?

No, benching's great. Every dog is officially allocated the same amount of space; there's a semi-private area for each dog (no eyeballing from either side or behind), space to store your belongings underneath, a space for the exhibitor to sit (as long as your dog budges up a bit!) and it can be the most peaceful area of the showground so the dog can have a bit of peace! Unbenched shows are a pain.

No the tents formerly used for benching would still be utilized for designated grooming areas, and as far less space per dog is needed then there could be better show ground layout and in/out rings. 

Benching is a pain - obviously you have not been benched with elkhounds, basenjis, and the like who attempt climb over the top of the benching and eyeball your dog from a height!  Gave me a hell of a shock let alone my dogs.  And then there are the imbeciles who wander along the benching with a dog on a flexi lead poking it's head or even trying to clamber into your own dog's bench.

>No the tents formerly used for benching would still be utilized for designated grooming areas

That doesn't mean you can settle down there with your dog and your belongings for the duration!

>far less space per dog is needed

Each dog will still occupy the same space on the showground whether it's on its bench or with its owner. The owner's belongings will actually take up more space away from the bench than on/under it.

>obviously you have not been benched with elkhounds, basenjis, and the like who attempt climb over the top of the benching and eyeball your dog from a height!

No, I don't own elkhounds or basenjis so wouldn't have been benched with them; I've only been benched with dalmatians who generally settle down quietly. If a dog's in a crate on its bench then obviously this can't happen, and if it can look over the bench partition then its chain is too long. That's an owner problem, not a bench problem.

How about cutting doen on hospitality for judges-OK if coming from several hunred miles away.

I stewarded at a show-30 miles from home-judge I stewarded for came from same area-brought partner stayed in hotel near to venue-no cost for the overnight stay for both of them-plus food included all for free-on average in the ring judging the dogs 4 hours-not bad payment for a few hours work.

I daresay with judges it is there expertise that the dog owners are paying for.

Hospiltality at a Championship Show that I know off around £10000.

My choice to work as a steward and I enjoy. We get from £5 to £20 depending on society plus a free meal-not all of us take this meal as we do not have the time if we steward for several breeds and our on our own.

All above is just an observation.

Still think if there is the space to do so, exhibitors should be offered a choice. 

Agreed the privacy bit etc and TBH my husband disagrees with me and thinks the status quo should be kept....

At East of Eng our breed experienced the same as others did - mass invasion of another breed around our ring... didn't bother me as we took ourselves off to a quite spot on the grass about 2 rings away.. I had the advantage of a companion with me which obviously made it possible to do that.

I can absolutely see the advantages to benching and have found them a godsend at times but I also think they don't help atmosphere where maybe a free for all would - at least you could sit next to your friends :-)

>At NWPB the newfie crates were all around the end of our ring.

I almost choked when I read this!

Trying to imagine WHY anyone would need a crate for a Newfoundland 

I have a crate for my Bedlingtons, but it's mainly to avoid having to use extra space for a grooming table, a couple of rubber mats on top and I have a useful table that isn't in the way and stores stuff while I'm off showing my dog :)  The trolley used at Ch Shows is a little folding one that goes right under the bench and 'disappears' until needed.

Couldn't believe how prices are going up this year.  I have entered only one Ch Show so far this year as both my bitches have a knack of being in season at the wrong time and I'm sick of throwing money away ;)

Each dog will still occupy the same space on the showground whether it's on its bench or with its owner. The owner's belongings will actually take up more space away from the bench than on/under it.

Actually no as I stated before.  My benching always is 34 inches wide, I usually have 4 or 5, plus the allowance for the floor space would be the same as an aisle between designated floor space.  If it was crates only my crates are 26 - 28 inches wide, my belongings sit on top of the crates so I would require less space than benching.  And the toys and other little fluffies even less.  We had an entry of 157 at WDS and it was a tidy set up with self regulating crate space that made the ringside far less crowded than a UK show where we have an average of 50.

Having organised shows abroad and had to designate crate space it really is far less Sq footage than benching per dog on average.

>And the toys and other little fluffies even less.

The 'toys and little fluffies' generally require so much impedimenta that they take up more room than a big dog!

True and are'nt they the reason we are all griping about them taking up everyone else's ringside space as well as their own!!!  This is when the show officials would need to do something they are supposed to and enforce designated areas, and they exhibitors themselves get with modern times and use the crates that have a table set up on top.  Mind you again in the US most grooming spaces at the big shows have electrical hookup, and often seperate designated areas for bathing and drying dogs off as well as the floor space you have rented. 

I wonder if a poll was taken how many would rather have a drop in entry fee of say £10 per dog with the option to rent grooming space for crates, or keep benching and the inflated entry fees.

I'm glad I'm' not the only one that loves the benches so each dog has its own private space (except for sharing it with me).

The taking up your ring by breeds not being judged, so you can't get in really riles me, especially if it is a hot day and they have taken up all the shade our breed needs.

I can't see why most grooming can't be done at home, so at the show just a quick comb though is needed, and lugging everything bar the kitchen sink seems such hard work.  How is it that a dog can grow lots of coat that needs re-trimming just overnight?

I once got a lift to a show with two of my dogs.  The kind people had a Mercedes Estate and were showing one Miniature Pincher.

My dogs sat in the well between the seats, and their dog and all ti's paraphernalia took up the whole boot are. 

At the show they unloaded  heavy trolley, put the wheals on it, the dogs crate , and then put the dog inside, and proceeded to puff and sweat their way into Richmond show.

How much easier for them to put dog under one arm, or dog forbid let the poor mite walk, and have a washbag with a chamois to rub over him before going in the ring, along with a show lead.

> Benching is a pain - obviously you have not been benched with elkhounds, basenjis, and the like who attempt climb over the top of the benching and eyeball your dog from a height! 

Well I am benched with Elkhounds, and fail to see how a properly attached dog could Reach over a bench side (they are under 22 icnhes at teh wither at most), as the benching chain needs to be short enough for the dog not to be able to get off the bench.

reach only problems we have had is with Danco benches that have such flimsy sides that the bench has been known to collapse and one poor pup frightened so that it tried to escape with the bench side clanking after it.

> I wonder if a poll was taken how many would rather have a drop in entry fee of say £10 per dog with the option to rent grooming space for crates, or keep benching and the inflated entry fees.

Dog World had an on-line Poll and the majority voted to keep benching, about 2/3rds I think.

Found it:

If it meant a reduction in entry fees, should benches be abolished?
Yes
  250
No
  95

true I entered later but that was because i was trying to judge a bitches fantom.....however i was fully happy to accepty the higher tunnel travelling costs as i have no desire to subject my hounds to many hours on the deck of a ferry and would rather take the slightly longer distance route and use the tunnel. There was only a rosete for the BOB and cacib in our breed......although we did get 2 complimentary sacks of eukanuba which my hounds dont eat! Fortunately in my breed a uk title is still held in regard world wide :)

Sorry if I read that wrong doesn't that read 250 voted to abolish benches if it meant a reduction in entry fees???

Oh my word how did I get that so wrong. 

I think they or Our Dogs must have had a Poll before the other way around, but having added the reduction in entry fees got the oppostie response.

Teach me to read things properly ;)

Didn't like to correct you but needed to check I wasn't going mad! :-)

It is amazing how different a result can be when a question is asked differently.

Take the Dover Dunkerque ferry route, cheap, 2 hr ferry crossing.  After getting stuck in the tunnel once for nearly 1 hour I would never subject animals to that again no air circulating, no lights, nothing.  And if you book ahead it can be as little as £30 RT on Norfolk Line.  Dunkerque, quick easy access to the autoroute and into mainland Europe.

I've just entered it after much deliberation, only 1 dog though...
Looked at the rest fo the shows this year and they are generally up north which I won't be attending, even if the judge is right.

If benches were removed, surely there would be an increased risk of dogs shut up in cars!!!

Might be ok at shows where the cars are parked near the rings (such as Borders Union).

>If benches were removed, surely there would be an increased risk of dogs shut up in cars!!!<br />

Not if the dog was being shown it would be far to far to go to change dogs and the practice could soon be stopped at the gate - if it is a NFC dog it would be the same as now except they could be entered NFC for a good deal less than now.