Having done a few Open shows where my boy has won 4 x BOBP AND 1 x Gundog Group 2, I thought I would seeing how he does at the Champ shows.

I have noticed on the Schedules alot if not all of the Champ shows are benched, do I need to take along anything different in the way of leads etc?

Apart from gaining cc's at Champ shows, are their any other differences between Champ shows and Open?

General Ch shows are benched . Breed shows are usually not benched so a crate would be a sensible item . For benched shows we still take the crate as they fit in the benches then you will not require a benching chain although some people just use thier normal leads to fasten the dog in.
Other than that same as open accept your ring number for bench ch shows will be above your bench which will be in your catalogue and on your ticket, breed ch shows are similar to open where you get your number when you enter the ring, you dont get tickets for breed ch shows , where as general ch show tickets  are sent in the post or if entered on line sometime available to down load and print out yourself.

Well done on your open shows onwards and upwards....

What breed do you have??

Thank you very much Starryeyes for the info on Champ shows.

When I take my boy showing I always take his crete with me, He is only 9 mths old and he is quite happy to chill out in there when he is not in the ring.

Would his crete fit at benched shows it is 42.5inch in length, 28 inch wide and 30.50 inch deep. As you can proberly tell he is not a toy breed lol!! He is a German Shorthaired pointer and stands at 24inch at the mo.

The benches are different sizes depending on the breed of dog, I have beardie girls so we use a smaller size  crate for shows . You could always set up at the end of a bench row if it wont fit in the bench as long as you get thier early enough as they are quite popular. Hopefully someone with GSP will be able to give you more info...

Hi Donna

I am not 100% but that cage size sound a bit big for our benches. It the length and width that are critical, I take a soft cage from time to time and it is 31 x 21 x 26. This is comfortable on all the benches, sometimes just a fit but at others a bit of extra room at the sides. 

Congrats on the wins .. hope to see you ringside soon :)

K

Thanks guys for the info.

I think my measurements for the crete are pretty exact (having measured it this afternoon), I might invest in a soft crete, it has got to be more portable than my metal one lol!

I used to use a soft crate,until one day at an open show a dog just like my Kira sat by my feet - then I realised it was my Kira.She had made a small hole through the back and made her escape.I have now ditched all the soft crates and only use the metal ones.

Soft crates should only be used with dogs that have no propensity to try and escape or who do not feel comfortable being left anywhere, and I would only use them where I can still see the dogs, or being supervised by someone.

If there were always somewhere to tie dogs up I wouldn't' bother with them at all, but as a past exhibitor, or showing more than one dog crates become a must, but carrying the metal ones any distance is why the light ones are so good.

I'm a small dog person so use small metal crates at shows but does anyone with large breeds still use the mesh bench fronts anymore?  It must be a worry at crufts etc when the public start poking their fingers in if you can't/don't use crates?

I use these when at a benched show - it fixes to the bench and has a roof and a front, the front has a door in it. I prefer Lola being in it - she (and I) feel more secure with all the dogs passing by etc.

I will be using the bench front/top, at Crufts, for my young girl, (large breed) as she is very new to benching etc and can be a bit nervous in strange situations, we have been working very hard with her and I don't want anything to upset her.
I have used them for a number of years now, they just give me that extra peice of mind.