Good grief, Veteran Dog 8.30 judging, ridiculous! I think they should let the breeds who are in the ring that early go home sooner.

That's the worst thing about Crufts - it's a horribly long day, and then chaos when everyone tries to leave. Staggered exit passes would be so much better.

are you in a big numbers breed  dont know what time we start havent had passes yet

My breeds Veteran bitch starts at 08:30 but they have to, as there is 230 of the girls to get through.

Seems very wrong to keep Veterans on a bench from about 7.30a.m. to 4.30p.m. that is 9 to 10 hours far too long for any dog IMO and one of the reasons I have not been (with dogs) in years.  Bet the vet will be busy issuing release tickets to stressed oldies.

We have had an 08:30 start for bitches for at least 5 years now.

Think I'd much prefer that to the year we were in the ring at 9 pm. After that a lot of us complained and the next year they gave us an extra ring.

Don't see why veterans would get extra stressed -surely far more likely of pups! After all the veterans will be used to Crufts, for a puppy it will be the first time.

> Don't see why veterans would get extra stressed

I agree

Chose the veteran because I had seen it happen, the vet called and the owners were given an early exit slip - it could distress any dog and I think it is too long particularly for one that usually spends most of their time out of doors.

It's not necessarily a longer day than any other show. With any normal show, if you are on first thing so arrive early, win BOB and wait for the group you do potentially have an 8-5 day at the show or even longer. I think it should be up to owners to not enter Crufts if their dogs can't cope.  At cat shows you are never allowed to leave before 5 pm, judging always start at 10 but you have to be there at least an hour earlier for vetting in etc, and cats are confined to a 2' x 2' pen. I think it's us humans that suffer the most by having to hang around all day. :)

Very few, if any of the other shows, are the dogs restricted to the benches all day with strangers leaning in and touching them, true you stay with them but you have to go to the Toilet on occasion and that takes an age as well. Some dogs may not mind but the two of mine whom I have taken to Crufts were not happy, strange they did not mind as pups but were not happy when older. So I no longer take them, mind you I am having (with luck) a new pup soon and may try again at least you can go out to let them pee if you can cope with the filth.

Again it comes down to common sense -or lack of. I would NEVER leave any dog of mine unattended at a bench at any show, even for a toilet visit. If I was on my own I'd ask somebody close to my bench to watch the dog.

get a discover dogs pass and you can leave when you like LOL

8.30 start is the usual for my breed although this year have been told its 9.00am but wonder if that is correct ...even so I have not entered going to watch instead so ..can arrive/leave whenever I like!!

we also have an 8.30 start and yes I have a male vet, he is used to crufts but it will be a long day, and not a very nice day as we are 1 of the 15 not normal breeds, what do the KC think they are playing at, not normal is so unkind, my male is the only 1 of our breed todate to be awarded a gp placing at crufts, so whats wrong, ie we are not a boarder terrier with no health problems ect, but all breeds even human have problem it winds me up as I feel we have been put on early to get us out of the way so the public cannot see very correct healthy examples of my wonderful breed.

Im taking a veteran.

Her favourite two things in life are:

1) Sleeping for long periods on a cosy comfy bed
2) Being the centre of attention           both spell Crufts.

>cosy comfy bed

A bench is never that. However well padded you make it, it's cramped, it's noisy, and there are so many disturbing scents in the air that it's never completely 'homely', even for a seasoned showdog.

My veteran is certainly comfier on a bench than in her bed at home, because at home she can never have a blanket or anything soft as her children and grandchildren eat them! And she'd much rather have attention than quiet.

Mine just love the attention at shows, also taking a veteran, had to decide which of the three veterans to take, and am taking the youngest, couldn't justify/afford two, and only have one pair of hands, so one would have had to go in Open.

> A bench is never that. However well padded you make it, it's cramped, it's noisy, and there are so many disturbing scents in the air that it's never completely 'homely', even for a seasoned showdog.

My dogs never go on a bench. She has her own feather filled duvet in her trolley.

We're on after Staffy bitches and Malinois so god knows what time we'll be finished !!- I think it's totally ridiculous expecting exhibitors to either  start at 8.30 or hang about  until late afternoon before exhibiting - how about cutting out some of the 'Circus acts' and giving us more rings so that we can all be judged at a reasonable time !

Yvonne

> how about cutting out some of the 'Circus acts' and giving us more rings so that we can all be judged at a reasonable time !
>
>

Good point!

We have the opposite we are a late start 10am however a full coated breed so need to be their early for grooming, so although we don't get in the ring most of us will be in the benches by 7.30 to be able to get parked, last day so you know its going to be busy, walk down to the venue ( praying its not raining) get set up before the crowds of public descend , first in ring with Veteran dog and then Junior bitch and only 80ish total to go over. So done by back of dinner then hang around till after 4 to get out.  It actually took me longer to get out of the car park last year than it does to drive home. I just cannot see or understand why we need the 4pm exit for all dogs why the Kennel club cannot stagger it through the day. or at least once your breed is finished you can go.  The public have DD to go see the breeds they want to see, if someone is truly interested in a breed they would come and watch some of the judging.

I am possibly not going to be popular with this statement but Head down here goes,  The Kennel Club cannot expect us to be responsible for watching the general public and their Kids for them, they have taken their money its up to the KC to make sure they get to DD and see the dogs they want.  I object to Mrs/Mrs Joe Public, thinking my dogs (who are shown by a very young JH so temperament is great) is there to be prodded and poked by her darling little boy, and then gets upset when you ask them to stop. Mrs/Mrs Joe Public think they have paid to see and touch the dogs. 

It is time the KC stopped thinking about everyone else and got back to what is important and that is the dogs why can we not have public free benches, that way at least we stand a chance of keeping the dogs more settled.  Crufts isn't just another dog Show it is a dog show with a circus attached.

Thats my rant over.

Karin

> Crufts isn't just another dog Show it is a dog show with a circus attached.
>
>

I agree, but the KC will never listen to the exibitor aways the paying public

Peanuts

Perhaps the paying public would like to get up at 3am & not get home 'til gone midnight!

I'm handling in Veteran Dog (yes, 8.30 judging) & Good Citizen's Bitch (who knows what O'clock) classes this year.  I had thought about staying at home & putting my feet up but I don't like to let the owner down.

> Perhaps the paying public would like to get up at 3am & not get home 'til gone midnight!
>
>

This is what we told a group of spectators last year. We got ringside seats & they stood in the ring in front of us blocking the view!

Am very tempted now just going to watch/shop. My girl is in season so won't be going & I don't suppose my Veteran is too bothered about staying at home. I'd really rather not be hanging around on the dreaded 4pm Friday escape.

> I'd really rather not be hanging around on the dreaded 4pm Friday escape.

Me either, but managed to get a lift now with an exhibitor, at least it won't be me driving..

> My girl is in season :-)

What made last year seem even longer than usual was the horrendous heat in hall 5, at 7.00am it was already like a greenhouse and by midday positively tropical.  And worse still the afternoon session had agility or something going on in the big ring with music and shreiking from 2.00pm to when we left, it was deafening.  I did not venture over there to see what it was but the sound system was way too loud.  We did complain about the heat and noise to both the KC officials who said it was the NEC staff controlling the levels, and so onto the NEC staff and they said it was the KC controlling everything!  It made me think twice about entering this year and I did in the end only because our judge is reputedly honest, but for 2013/14/15 we have the most corrupt judges possible so I will be missing those years definately.

For quite a few years the Yankee benching was by one of the sets of doors so the temperature round the ring was hot and the benches freezing.  2 years ago they moved us so we had a more even temperature.  The Pug ring was very chilly last year, aircon on full, great for the dogs of course, but lots of spectators were shivering.

Very few, if any of the other shows, are the dogs restricted to the benches all day

So what do you all do when you want to go shopping? Cos I take my dog with me and always have, when we return to the bench the dogs are so tired they fall asleep.

One of the worst things about Crufts for me is we always have a door near us which would be great if they let us out to toilet the dogs and let the heat out , but no we have to walk to the other end if the hall, so our end is so hot the dogs start to suffer , but they insist, that we are not allowed to open the door, would it hurt to post someone at the door so no-one could sneak in!!

Peanuts

I think Crufts ceased to be a 'dog' show many years ago and is now a money-making exercise.  Personally, I couldn't care less whether I qualify a dog and would much rather attend as a spectator with a friend who has qualified with her breed.  There are many years when I have had a dog qualified and I've not bothered to enter.  Too expensive, too long a day and too much hassle getting out of the venue at the end of an extremely long day :-(