I cant be bothered entering crufts...my girl has her SBN from a RCC and would have qualified anyway having been placed at shows last year but ..I just havent got the enthusiasm I had before...might just go and watch...is it just me or do others feel like this????

I agree, my enthusiasm isnt what it was ... in fact last year we only did Crufts and a couple of open shows, I found it was becoming very teidious.  My summers are usually full of agility shows, then I have canix and bikejoring Sept - May :)

I can't wait I'm taking 3 this year don't mind how I'll do (even though it would be nice to get placed) I just love the whole who har.

taking 3 ...I would be beside myself...LOL

Hehe they love their show days and lap up every minute of it.

I just havent got the enthusiasm I had before...might just go and watch...is it just me or do others feel like this????

I have entered but not really looking forward to it. Whatever we do it will be downhill from last year -you can't really top CC and BOB  and making up a Champion so anything less will be worse than last time and it just won't be the same and kind of be an anti climax. (Well not unless you expect to do it again and do well in the group).

On the other hand a bitch I've bred will be in the Northern Ireland team for the inter regional obedience and that I VERY much look forward to seeing!

I have taken three before, but this year am wondering if I should save myself £10 and only enter one and pay for OH's pass, rather than enter two.

I wouldn't pay for his pass, if we have extra people we always find an exhibitor with a spare dog to walk in with.

no enthusiam but entered lol. every year i say its my last one!

I haven't had the enthusiasm for quite a few years now.  It's not the judges or anything, just the whole day is just sooooo long & tedious.  The cost involved these days doesn't help, what with entries & then the car park on top.  The walk from the carpark with trolleys etc. The public pushing past you & if you deign to have a dog with you, they think you're mad!  You're not allowed to leave when you've finished your judging & then there's the bun fight back to the carpark & we won't even get started on the roads out of the NEC!

My don't I sound a miserable sod?!  I love my dogs & to me, they're the best thing since sliced bread, but for Crufts, leaving home at 4am, crated for much of the day because it's too crowded (unlike most other shows where you can get them out somewhere for a good wander/run) & then who knows what time we'll get home, I do feel a little unkind, they never make a fuss & they love the showing bit though.

All my dogs are qualified & I'm sitting here with the schedule.  I have one bitch I would love to take as I've spent a year "sorting her out", she was well worth the effort, she's stunning ;-) - tempted, a little, who wouldn't be?  It's CRUFTS!!!! :-D

> I wouldn't pay for his pass, if we have extra people we always find an exhibitor with a spare dog to walk in with.

Do you think people would mind?  What happened to the old days when the first dog got you two passes for shows, few people go to shows alone (I used to technically but had to have a lift with someone).

It is one reason I don't do some shows as now there is hubby and me, and I don't want to change everything (affix all the dogs) into joint names.

I have 6 entered and quite looking forward to it, although it is like a military campaign with handlers and helpers.

I don't think most people would mind at all, Barbara. It's what I do if I go to a show without a dog and the show charges for admission. No one has ever said no :) So obviously I'm quite happy if people ask me if I have more than one dog - not that I do very often nowadays.

Oh Ok we'll wing it.

Volunteer for Discover Dogs and then you'll have a pass that can be used every day :)

Won't be able to as will have pups at home so can only really spare one day this year, can't expect Friend to dog sit too many days.

It's not the judges or anything, just the whole day is just sooooo long & tedious.  The cost involved these days doesn't help, what with entries & then the car park on top.  The walk from the carpark with trolleys etc. The public pushing past you & if you deign to have a dog with you, they think you're mad!  You're not allowed to leave when you've finished your judging & then there's the bun fight back to the carpark & we won't even get started on the roads out of the NEC!

Yeah...why DO we do it!??!! lol Every year I get wound up about Crufts but then hate the fight to get there.  And all year we spend time money and effort trying to qualify!

I have one with a stud book no and have qualified the other 2 but I too seem to have lost my enthusiasm for showing full stop.  It's odd too as last year we had the biggest success we've ever had getting my best girl onto 2 CCs early on in the year, but now I just think those were the 2 judges that thought well enough of her to give her the CC and BOB too, and now all the other judges are just going to go for the usual type...the big flashy, fluffy winners that always win.  It feels like 'so near and yet so far'  Next year, sorry THIS year should be a write off for her as we are planning our first litter, so we could also do with saving the pennies too.  Plus we are currently going through an awful time with our old boy who isn't going to be with us for too much longer.  All this put together makes me just totally deflated and lacking in motivation to get out there showing at all, let alone Crufts...but no doubt we'll still go with all 3 girlies and a protesting husband!

I think we should start a thread for spare passes for Crufts :-D   -  or a Pass Swap Shop lol

I always have a spare helper pass for shows, as 1 dog is in my name & the other is in joint. It's just me & mum going so I have spare pass for Working/Pastoral Day Friday 11th

I gave my extra helper pass to a member of the GP waiting in the que for LKA. She was so made up :)

I'm also taking three this year on the last day, but I must be mad as it will be a nightmare as two toys are in hall 2 Ithink it is and the other utility is in hall 5!! I can see a lot of running and hopes that the classes do not clash!! I have my breeder on standby in case I do not make it for the utility class.

Gemma can I buy the pass off you?

Im not keen on crufts, im only showing one this year and with one bench that means im going to be crushed :(

>Do you think people would mind? 

no, fellow exhibitors tend to look out for each other at Crufts.  We often go down for a shopping day and bundle in the dog doors behind people with dogs and just shuffle our way in ... no passes required ;)  last year walking in a couple of women asked if we had any spare passes or if they could walk in with one of our dogs (we had 5 between two of us) they were down for a shopping day and said they bugrudge paying the public prices .... afterall to us its only a dog show !

I dont know yet if ive got someone going with me this year or not, but if not im happy to post you my helpers pass. (my boy is in partnership)

No Starryeyes, we're not entering either.  Everyone's qualified, but husband is judging in Norfolk a week later and we just can't do the journey twice in less than a week (we're north Aberdeenshire).  20 years ago, 10 even but not now.  Hate the NEC and object to being "locked in".  Plenty of other Ch. shows during the year. Sorry to everyone who thinks Crufts is wonderful but I don't.  It's all about the public, rant rant.

Sue you can have it for FREEEEEEEE :-D

Email me your postal add & if they come in good time I will post it out to you, if not we can arrange to meet on the day.
toxicboxer@hotmail.co.uk

If you hear of someone with a spare Thursday pass.............put in a good word for me ;-)

Oh that would be nice.

> If you hear of someone with a spare Thursday pass.............put in a good word for me 

the additional helpers passes are valid for any day.

(sorry Sue, looks like ive just done you out of a free pass !!)

Don't pay for the pass walk in with the rest of the entrants, nobody really bothers it's the dogs that they are really interested in.  Maybe yu should get the dogs in joint names as I never pay anyting more for my mum and sure that I get an extra pass.

I haven't got anything qualified now I've lost my boy, and like I was saying on the other post, the DD people are too clique-y to want my dogs. :-P So me and a friend have splashed out on BIS tickets and we'll be going Sunday to catch some of the Cav judging, do some shopping, watch some obedience, then head to the big ring!

> We often go down for a shopping day and bundle in the dog doors behind people with dogs and just shuffle our way in ... no passes required ;-)

Hmm, now that Gemma is probably going to keep her pass I may just have to do this too ;-), thing is I may have to think about driving unless I can grab a lift with another exhibitor as i'm not showing this year :-(

I am going too and will have a spare pass for working day.
I have been humming and haaaing but took the bull by the horns and entered today, booked my hotel too so all set.
Aileen

Ooh Aileen any chance I can come in with you and Merlot then? :-)

You can by all means Sue...if we can meet up somewhere? will speak before then.
I am staying in a hotel 15 mins from NEC and will be planning on arriving at about 9.30 10 am on the Friday.
Aileen