Watching inter regional obedience on Thursday (very proud to have bred Northern Ireland's class B dog Goldmali Cherish), trying to catch a quick look at the Papillon and Cavalier judging, shopping. Doing DD Friday with Malinois -do come and say hello anyone who is there. Showing just 2 Malinois Saturday (well two and a half really counting the dog I co-own, plus there will be just one other Goldmali entered this year) but the special bit is that it is Ripley's tenth Crufts!

I'm going to crufts to shop and watch my breed and am so excited as i have only ever dreamed of going, all thanks to a good friend who is taking me. Would love to have a cuddle with all dogs if you let me, and if i can find anything can't wait am so excited, just hope i don't get lost.

Good luck to everyone that is showing, i'm going on sunday, if i don't find any of you there lol

nessa

">Would love to have a cuddle with all dogs if you let me,

Years ago I saw my first PBGV at Cruft's.  I was soooo excited that I sounded it!  The dog had me on the floor, tongue in my ear, washing me with tail wagging.  The owner was mortified.  I was over the moon.  I hope you enjoy your first visit. 

I don't see how you could do anything else!  :-)  Have a great day.

> I'm going to crufts to shop and watch my breed and am so excited as i have only ever dreamed of going, all thanks to a good friend who is taking me. Would love to have a cuddle with all dogs if you let me, and if i can find anything can't wait am so excited, just hope i don't get lost.

oh you'll have so much fun! and most of the owners and dogs are happy to have a cuddle if you do not ask at an inopportune moment lol so plenty, plenty cuddles to be had

> i'll take that offer up :-)>

Tangle and Dori will be at your disposal lol

Not going this year, first time in 10years!

Will be htere terrier day with miss deedee strutting her stuff.
Will have hubby with me though so I suspect my spending will be curbed this year :(

I will be there Sunday, too(terriers), does anyone have a spare pass? My friends hubby has deemed to grace us with his presence. could meet up to collect it. We are in the North East Thanks

I'm going on Saturday, just to watch and shop :-)

Im going on Saturday to watch the Malinois and shop :)

We'll be on DD on Saturday morning - BGV stand then showing on Sunday.

I am going on Saturday with 2 of mine - if I can get the OH to handle them as my hand is still dodgy,and if Oggie scrubs up well - 2 baths in a week so far - who would have a white(ish) dog.

Manning the Discover Dogs stand on Thursday and showing my puppy dog on the Saturday - my bitch was entered in Limit but is in season and nearly at the " come and get me boys " stage so she's staying safely at home ! - what IS it about the Crufts word that makes the boys drop their coats or the girls come into season ?

Yvone

I'll be there Friday with a VB and a PGB and cheering the rest of my breeding on.

Diane

Yes - I hate the watching I get more nervous than Jess ;)

Good luck to Tasha - and thankfully this year I'm more relaxed about the handling start time - last year I made it with minutes to spare - a mad dash from one hall to the other!!! going to be a long day though as Gordons start at 8.30!

OOO am going this year , can not wait am not showing my boy am just going to cheer friends on and do lots of retail therapy hahaha.
Anyone know if they have anyone selling ornaments ? am wanting a nice ornament of my breed and i have seen them on the internet but i dont really like ordering ormaments incase they break in transit :) x

> what IS it about the Crufts word that makes the boys drop their coats or the girls come into season ?

Wish I knew - my bitch is looking fabulous at the moment but started her season on Saturday... grrr!!!

> Anyone know if they have anyone selling ornaments ?

Yes, lots of people and it's so much more satisfying to see them in real life and see the size.  There are usually one or two people selling quite large bronzes too...

thanks , also might sound a bit crazy but are they eating places 2 , am bringing my 8 year old daughter so didnt know wether to make sandwiches and take a picnic or just get something there ? x

Yes there are places to eat but they're not cheap. We often use Subway in the piazza.

Take food and drink with you, it's very expensive at the NEC and you will probably have to queue!  and I would suggest going outside to eat rather than trying to find somewhere inside, plus get some fresh air as well.

I[m going on Friday, don't know whether I'm going to show my girl though may just decide on the day.

The dog had me on the floor, tongue in my ear, washing me with tail wagging

JeanSW, are you quite sure it wasn't a welshie :-)? This is Bean's wake up call every day. I've found the best way to escape an industrial wash is to tell him "rolly over puppy!" and then two of them start writhing about like mad rolling all over the bed.

> thanks , also might sound a bit crazy but are they eating places 2 , am bringing my 8 year old daughter so didnt know wether to make sandwiches and take a picnic or just get something there ? x

Loads and loads but they are expensive, as you'd expect in somewhere like the NEC. There are sort of cafes about the place that do hot food and there are carts that do different things (muffins, ice cream, coffee and such).

>and then two of them start writhing about like mad rolling all over the bed.

Oh how normal your household sounds.  :-)  :-)  :-)

Oh how normal your household sounds

That's what you get when the lunatic runs the asylum :-)

>didnt know wether to make sandwiches and take a picnic or just get something there ? x

Last year I offered to treat someone to a bacon baguette and a coffee.  Got the same for myself.  It cost £15.

>I'm going to crufts to shop

nessa
If it's your first time, you have no idea how long you will be on your feet going round all those delightful dog stands.  You can actually max out your credit cards with ease.  :-)

One year I could have cried with my feet screaming out at me, and I bought slippers to wear home!  No joke - make sure you are wearing the most comfortable shoes that you have got.

>Anyone know if they have anyone selling ornaments ?

Fabulous choices - make sure that you see all the stands before making your choice.  Make a note of hall number and stand number.

One year I was going round in circles muttering "where was that bloody yorkie!"  

And the paintings!  Sigh!  Oh the paintings!  :-)

> Yes, lots of people and it's so much more satisfying to see them in real life and see the size.  There are usually one or two people selling quite large bronzes too...

If I can find a bronze that I like I am being bought it as a late birthday present. Brownie points for other half :)

You can actually max out your credit cards with ease

Thanks for the advice and as i would spend and spend i'm leaving my credit card at home, and take cash of what i am allowed to spend otherwise i would be bankrupt lol

love the slipper part may keep that in mind or just wear slippers for the day lol.

Take a rucksack/backpack for shopping, you can easily end up with 4 - 14 - 40 carrier bags which will cut your fingers off and pull your arms out of their sockets!!!

also wear lightweight layers.........when you take a layer off cause you are warm you still have to carry it round with you so bulky jackets are a no-no.

been there ..done both :-D

I will be there on friday with my GSP :)

yes going Saturday with my 11m old boy ...must start getting prepared ... bath day today .... to give time for coat to settle.. staying over on Friday  this year in Holiday inn ... so not such an early start!!

I will be there Saturday, first time showing for me too! Getting very nervous now. Good luck every one :) :)

Thursday and Friday so if you see a short fat woman in a black London Dog Forum Teeshirt that'll be me!

Thanks Rachel

Good luck to Jess as well. 

We will be watching the older age group as Tasha moves up into this next year, they all seem so polished! 

Just waved hubby off in the caravan, he's stewarding poms, schnauzers and daschunds, I'm going on the train tomorrow staying in the van overnight and then watching friends in the breeders stakes on Friday and getting my shopping done. Going in to Birmingham on train on Saturday as I have never been and then watching our breed on Sunday. We did qualify but I much prefer watching!! It's far too crowded for me to enjoy it!

Good Luck to all exhibiting.

Going on thursday...all on my todd so i shall be walking around those stands and rings thinking whos here ive sort of chatted to and wishing you all the very best of luck.x
brave brave people lol

just finished bathing my boy and trimmed his nails ready for tomorrow

.He wasn't impressed to be in the bath again as we had our breed club show on sat so he was bathed for that on Friday but as he is walked in the woods daily it was a must because as soon as he gets under those lights in the NEC he would have looked yellow compared to the others!

Bags are all packed and as soon as hubby gets home then we're off to spend the night at Solihull travelodge which I booked for £19 when they had their last sale on.Even with a 320 fee for the dog I thought this was a bargain as it's only 5 mins from the venue.

Good luck to all and  have a nice time

Typing error,should have said £19.Will never make a typist!

>> who's going

(enters with hand waving like a 5 year old who wants desperately to answer teacher's question) "Me, Me, Me"

Can't wait!!! I haven't been for about 12 years, I used to go regularly with my Dad, then he passed away and the Working Group always seemed to be on a weekday, so I didn't make the effort and just watched the rubbish highlights on TV.

But this year I have convinced the OH to come with me, so we will be there on Saturday, admiring all the gorgeous woofits, and I'm sure he'll be trying to convince me not to spend that amount of money on yet more Collars/Leads/Beds (delete as applicable). I'll just be happy to be in a place with that many dogs - although it must seem like a home away from home for some of the Champdogs regulars (naming no names) ;-)

Wishing a safe journey to all, and Good luck to those showing and of course shopping.

will be there on sunday with two greyhounds and one bored partner ;)

> Bags are all packed and as soon as hubby gets home then we're off to spend the night at Solihull travelodge which I booked for £19 when they had their last sale on.Even with a 320 fee for the dog I thought this was a bargain as it's only 5 mins from the venue.

speaking of bargains, OH and i are currently winging our way to Birmingham on the MegaTrain from Edinburgh for £6.50! cost us more to get to Edinburgh from Dundee! Now the MegaTrain is a shy and elusive creature who must be sought with patience and care, but to be honest compared to the £40 we are spending on the train home is worth the digging (especially as you can pay for it with your Clubcard vouchers!)

> Even with a 320 fee for the dog I thought this was a bargain

320 to take a dog into a hotel a bargain? lol

Despite qualifying 4 this time round, we decided not to go as Hound Day is on the Sunday this year and it's far too manic for my likeing. Can't wait to get the Hooligans out and qualified for next year as we'll have the peace, quiete and relative calm of Hound Day being on the Thursday.

Ah come along, we are in hall 5 where it is never as busy.

> will be there on sunday with two greyhounds and one bored partner ;-)

As long as the car is fixed in time, rember to look us up, so I can cheer you on in the ring.

Good luck to all that are showing hope you all do well,and the rest that are going spend spend spend ha ha ha.

>We`ll be there all 4 days, Thursday DD, Friday DD, Saturday showing and Sunday DD/shopping <img alt=":-)" Anyone who wants Komondor cuddles is more than welcome to visit us, we will be on DD stand P19

I am so up for this! I love how you call them 'dish mops' in your signiture. They look so cute. I am going on Sunday to watch the Afghans.. been going for years and its the only day I go on. I am determind to own one!

I usually watch the judging and then empty by bank account shopping lol :)