I have entered my girl to an open show.
It is the first open show I have been with  my own dog, I started with Champ shows as there weren't any open shows around when I got her over :).

Now I know they will not send anything out to me and the judging starts at 9.30.

However we have dalmatians in the ring before us so Leos will not start straight away.
I have no idea what kind of numbers dalmatians pull at shows?
Is there anywhere where I can see the numbers to get idea of when we should make our way to the show ground? It is only 20 minutes or so from our house so not far to travel. I don't know if the show secretary would give out numbers and I don't really want to bother them anyway if there is somewhere where the numbers can be seen...

If it is not a hot day I don't mind being there early but if it is very hot, I don't want my girl out in the heat for hours before she goes in the ring...

No you can't get entry figures for open shows unfortunately, and it can vary so much from show to show.However look at the number of classes for the breed before you. If it's just 3 classes or less, chances are they aren't expecting a big entry. Four or more and there's usually bigger entries.

Be there in plenty of time.. even if the entries are quite large, there is no guarantee that all, or even any of them will turn up..

I used to go to a show which is around a 2 hour drive.. and every time I waited around 2 hours before my classes.. one year.. I waited, and began my journey an hour later, so we would only have 1 hour to hang around.. I got there in time to see my breed being judge BOB.. 2 dogs had turned up for the classes in front of us :-(

I've got to shows just in the nick of time as the breed before us no one turned up at one show, another show they changed the group order about and instead of us being something like 3rd we were 1st.

I didn't realize they could change the order of judging so its a good thing I asked here!
it is only 3 classes for both sexes(so 6 in total) so I assume it will not be that many dogs then.

For some reason I thought the show was on Sunday but it is on Saturday so I have nearly missed it already :), not a good start...
Luckily I decided to wash the dog today instead of tomorrow as she is well floaty now, hopefully her coat will settle a little before Saturday.

CKCS's used to have massive classes.   I went to a show a year ago, thinking well there are a number of them before us so don't have to rush too much.  Got there about 15 minutes after the start time and my breed had already been in as there was absolutely no Cav's entered!  So with the breed that's before you they don't get big entries so I'd be there for the start.

The one thing i would say, is please do not ring the secretary for entry details, having recently taken over this post im amazed how many people do !!  The week up to the show i can receive up 20/30 calls aday.  Many just to see how many dogs before etc etc.  I know its great to know but please bare a thought for those who take your call.  The judging order is printed in the schdule

We are now going to set up a website, so when entries have come in the i can put how many entries in each breed, then no call will be taken !!  It may some grumpy, but when you have your own dogs to care for, and work,  it does push the boat sometimes, especially at 11 at night !!!

dollster, it's not grumpy at all.  the secrtary of the show I'm on the committe for get unidated with calls and frankly gets fed up.  I don't blame her when she's trying to look after her own dgs and family, plus getting everything ready for the show.  We do answer the queries that come on e-mail though.  We like them ones :)

Sometimes some exhibitors just don't understand what goes into running a show prior to the event and during!

I answer the ones by email, i have a standard one the show manager has with all the details, no problems

I agree with others, if your breed is second or even third in the ring, I'd get there as judging starts, I have made the same mistake before,but now I always haul myself out of bed and hit the road so I can get there and have time to stick my girl on the grooming table and let her have a sniff around before we have to go in, as otherwise we have had to dash into the ring all flustered and without being prepared.

Good luck to you both!

I love schedules which say, not before a certain time, a lot more help.

Don't worry people.
The exact reason why I was asking here was that I did think of the poor secretaries and getting hundreds of calls!
I think we will just get there for the start time of the ring and do our best keeping my girl cool.

Good luck Noora, let me know how she gets on!

That's why I love when show societies do post up the entries on their websites or if
they did have a secretary's email & that they didn't mind it being used that's cool too.
Perhaps it might be a good idea for those show societies that are in the 'new age' of technology
to post a website address or email address in their schedule for this info? Might save the phone harrassment??
Know of some that already do this and it's really helpful :)

Although me - I normally get to a show for when it opens as that way I have some time to get me and my dogs sorted...
I hate getting to a show late or flustered as it's not as enjoyable.
Plus if you are indoors in a ring and use caging there's often no space left for your caging if you get there too late ;)

With a short nosed breed I am always grateful when they classify the Boxers on first in the ring especially in the really hot summer months.
Get there early, sheet the car over with the reflective blankets and keep it as cool as poss for the dogs, sorted :)

I too have seen people miss classes as they've arrived in what they thought was plenty of time for the number of entries before them
only for the absentees to be so high to thwart their well laid plans.

Good luck for your show and hope you have a successful day :)

I now need the blushing smiley....
As we missed our class!

Following the advise here I was aiming to get there for when it started but got lost and arrived 15 minutes late.
They had moved the dalmatians to a different ring and there were loads, they were still in the ring when I left 1.5 hours later so HAD they been before us like the schedule said, I would have been there well on time!
I got to the ring side when our class had just been placed so had I come in 2 minutes earlier we would have made it!
Never mind, we have another open show next weekend so I shall do my best to actually get to the ring and be judged!
I shall aim to be there 15 minutes BEFORE the start of the show next week even if we have other breeds before us :)...

Oh that is a shame Noora and pretty unusual -normally if the state breeds first in the ring they stick to it. Better luck next time!

With a short nosed breed I am always grateful when they classify the Boxers on first in the ring especially in the really hot summer months.

Have to tell you that's everyone else's nightmare -being in a ring AFTER Boxers is terrible because the ring will be so full of left over food that's been thrown about.........at one show we even had the JUDGE spend ages helping to pick up food as none of our breed would get their heads up. :(

> I love schedules which say, not before a certain time, a lot more help.

Ditto. :-) Not that I have had a dog I can show for a few years now :-( , but.....

> Have to tell you that's everyone else's nightmare -being in a ring AFTER Boxers is terrible because the ring will be so full of left over food that's been thrown about.........at one show we even had the JUDGE spend ages helping to pick up food as none of our breed would get their heads up

I think the only thing that is worse than going into a ring after boxers is being in an open show in a ring next to Boxers - tell me - why is is necessary to fling food all over the place to get your dog's attention ?????

Please dont tar every Boxer exhibitor with the same brush - not all throw bait around and I'm one Boxer exhibitor that DOESN'T!!!! 

So you won't have nightmares after I've been in the ring.........:)

A CONSIDERATE BOXER EXHIBITOR -AND PROUD OF IT!!

Kirstine

Kirstine,

Can i ask why some do this though, always thought it odd when you can hold the bait either in front of the dog or away from them.. Most Boxers i have watched when they get bait thrown don't even go and eat it afterwards, nor do they look to.. Hence this is why Marianne and others who go in the ring afterwards have problems..

Oh Noora,... Bless.

Its a pain when they move things around like they did for you today. I always aim to get to any open show at least 1/2hr before any judging starts, this way you have time to walk and settle your dog just in case they move the classes about..

Because they want to show the perfect 'show pose' silohette with the dog up on it's toes, arched nech
and as the judge goes to the front of the dog it's expression..

I'm perfectly aware of the problems of bait left on the floors....been showing for a couple of decades now.
I've also seen it used in other breed rings and even seen it used to put a dog off as it was completing it's final move
at an open show in a Border Collie ring...only the dog was very well schooled and ignored it and was focused completely
on it's handler. The handler was really annoyed but had the last laugh as if I remember correctly she beat the 'nobbler' :)

I have 'hoovers' too so you obviously haven't seen mine in action when there's bait on the floor left by others...
Only I have worked hard to try and get them to ignore it. It just depends what sort of day they are having if they ignore it.
Mine are trained to 'bait' but I don't feel the need to throw it, rather keep it for my own dogs (especially those that haven't been shown that day) thanks.

If you are so up in arms why don't you go to the show secretaries and ask for them to stop the exhibitors throwing bait??
Oh and whilst your at it tell people to stop sqeaking toys, using clickers, double handling, making weird noises to put dogs off, collapsing cages loudly ringside,
walking through rings whilst dogs being judged, allowing their sprogs to be unattended or scream/cry ringside, spectators to not eat at ringside.

At the end of the day it's up to EVERYONE that attends a show to show CONSIDERATION for ALL that are showing dogs or in attendance.
Sadly not everyone that attends dog shows are CONSIDERATE or POLITE and this is across ALL breeds not just my own breed.
Sad fact of life

Last show i went to somebody in my breed kept throwing bait instead of holding it, the judge walked over to the bait picked it up gave it to the exhibitor along with a flea in their ear too.

Actually been hit whilst in the other ring by flying liver cake thrown by a Boxer breeder.  As nearly all other breeds are able to be shown without the need of chucking bait, why can't Boxers?  My other pet hate is the little mats that some carry around for their dogs to stand on.  Surely if it's slipping everywhere and can't stand on the same flooring as the rest of us theirs something wrong with it's conformation somewhere?

>theirs something wrong with it's conformation somewhere?

Quite possibly over-extended.

Boxacrazy,

I wasn't having a go(it seemed that your last post was directed at me) and i agree on many levels about double handling and other measures and tactics some people use.
I don't have a major problem with it was just wondering why they did it thats all. Can't recall ever being in a ring after the Boxer's but i know this would put my boy off as does in season bitches too..

I've only just got into showing so i'm sure i'll come across many other bits and pieces people do as time goes on.
I've had people run up the back of me when they knew it was my first champ show - i stopped dead in the ring and turned around, looked and said nothing before continuing..

Heyho we keep going as we enjoy this hobby.. :-)