My boy had a dental and a small mole removed on Monday; he's had his follow up appointment and the vet says everything is healing very nicely. He has an inch square shaved under his chin with 2 small stitches which won't come out for another week. The vet says it would be fine for him to go to the show we are entered in on Saturday, as long as he's not socialising / playing with the other dogs, so there's no risk of infection entering the wound. But (a) will other people think I'm cruel as he will probably still be wearing his cone except in the ring, which he doesn't mind wearing in the slightest, and (b) what will the judge think of a veteran dog with 2 small stitches under his chin?

Personally, I wouldn't take him.   I appreciate that you have already paid entry fees etc - but you say he is a veteran and I would not wish to take the chance that he might run the risk of infection.   And to have a cone on in the ring would mean that the judge would be unable to see his profile properly, nor would s/he be able to judge his gait properly - the cone would distract from the movement, imo.

Although you say he's happy with the cone on, he might not be so happy with it on when he is out of his home environment.

If the vet says that playing with other dogs means infection could enter the wound, could that then not also happen from the judge who after all will have opened many mouths?

I'd probably not, just incase the judge checking the bite hurt him by mistake and it could make him a bit weary for the future.

But, you know your boy best, so whichever you choose, good luck.

Dawn

He wouldn't be wearing the cone in the ring of course, but if he's still trying to scratch his itches he'd have to wear it the rest of the time, just as he does at home. He doesn't mind it in the slightest, he barges around everywhere and is totally unfazed at banging into things. He also hates it when I take Ellie and leave him at home! Well, he's totally filthy at the moment so I will bath him carefully, avoiding the bit below his chin, which doesn't need washing anyway so no danger of getting water or shampoo near it, and decide tomorrow night!

Like someone said , you know your boy best , I have a dog here who has a sore place on his side , he was on antibiotics and its healing nicely , just waiting for the hair to grow back. I took him to Birmingham last week and he got a 4th out of a very big class . I wasnt really expecting anything , in face I had only gone to watch. The judge had overlooked his hair missing so I was  pleased. The judge was very understanding and had said I had made the right decision to show him. Every dog and every situaation is different though , good luck in what you decide .