I know this has been done before but i need to have a little moan, i persoanlly hate bitches in season at any show, but bitches in the junior handeling i think it so wrong, we were at city of birmingham on saturday and a young girl took a bitch in season into the junior handeling ring, now as my daughter and few other kids i know handel stud dogs i think this is so unfair.

I have just found out that this person is likley changing her dog and breed and group and will be putting her in season bitch into the junior handeling ring at richmond, there are other dogs she could use, thats the child also handels at other times.

Am i alone in thinking this way?

No I agree with you. It's bad enough in the breed ring let alone with the JH. If a stud dog was with a young JH say around 6-7 years old I don't think that they would be able to hold them back very well (If a strong breed) if they get the scent, do you?

I was at Wales the other week and my bitch was having a sniff round meeting the other dogs as they do and came away with a face full of blood. I was not happy and had to run back to the bench and clean her up before going in the ring.

I am keeping fingers, toes and everything else crossed that Lollipop does not come into season before Richmond - she is very close, I think, is being a little skittish and seems a tiny bit swollen but no colour and none of the other dogs are sniffing her yet!  It will be a very long way to go with only Pipsqueak, who is going for Nephew's JH.  Of course, if she does come in, she will be staying at home.  It is unfair in any classes, but especially JH with youngsters on the end of the lead.  Luckily for Max Pipsqueak is not interested in girls, and has not and will not be used at stud, but you do want ot see a level palying field for all the kids.   Most bitches can be a bit moody or skittish when in season so it seems a strange thing for the childs parents to send a the bitch inot the ring like this, sort of self defeating?

That is not fair in the slightest to take an in season bitch into a JH ring. What is wrong with people?? Is the handler someone who is well known in the ring or someone just starting out where the parents don't know any better? If they are new and don't know any better then a quiet word may help, as the last thing they are going to want is their bitch to be mated in a JH ring with a different breed, which is likely to happen if a large dog is being handled by a young child.
I have difficulty with my boy at the best of times but with an in season bitch i can't get him to do anything, so can't imagine how a JH would cope.

no these are not people that are new they are quiet well known and have been showing for a little while now, i spoke to the mother last night and told her i though it was unfair, only to be told everyone does it and jh is about being able to control and handel the dog and there will be loads of other bitches at the show that are in season, that it had been going on for years in th jh ring especially at richmond. The mother also thinks its ok to take a in season bitch to a champ show because there is only other bitches in the ring, so giving no though about the poor dogs benched along with hers.

Should the Show committeet take responsility for not allowing them to attend.
It does seem a silly thing to do.....

Hope its not gundog day at Richmond!!!

Trouble is there actually a rule against it ??? I don't like it and hope they aren't in the ring with one of my dogs :(

Very inconsiderate particularly for the JH - although bet its done to try and nobble the others - wouldn't surprise me with some of the mums you know!

no its on terrier/working/pastrol day she is meant to be using a terrier and they are talking about changing over to working

Can you change the dog at Richmond?  Perhaps if same day?  On your handling entry you add the breed of dog that's all?

as far as i know you can change dog but not group because at richmond all the junior handlers are split into their groups ie terrier 6-11, terrier 12-16. pastoral 6-11, pastoral 12-16. working 6-11, working 12-16 they are all different classes with different judges doing different groups

yes I think that's what I meant :) :)