As it says on the tin! :)

Two weeks today it all kicks off and it looks like for the third year running I will NOT be able to visit. Sigh.
But last year's internet coverage was so good I was welded to my chair for 4 days solid, so all is not lost!

2weeks?   

I won't be going... due to begin Whelping on Gundog day lol...

Kay 2 weeks today ..

next Thursday is the 3rd of March
and the Thursday following the 10th...

Scarey or what...  good luck with puppies...

Will be there on 10th but I am already stressing over the clash of breed vs ykc handling... so am thinking its not going to be a stressfree day!  do I let my daughter have her day or see what happens in the breed *sigh* .....

Oooh Rachel I edited when I realised it was already nearly end Feb  frantically hoping no-one would notice .. and I still think I have 3 weeks before whelping... lord help me :-P

.... oh dear perhaps we could pretend it is 3 weeks for your sanity then ha ha !!! 

Was only talking to Mr H today and he was like what its 2 weeks ..... so its all going to come too quickly now!

Well, I was torn, as I can only afford to go on one day.  Mmmmmm,,

It has to be Toy and Utility on Sunday, or Working & Pastoral on Friday. 

Decisions, decisions.....   But, same as last year, the Pastorals win the toss. 

I actually haven't been since it was held in London *blush*
But I've hoped to go for the last 6 years...
Until 3 yrs ago I didn't have anyone to look after my dog for the day.
The next year I planned and planned and got let down by money at the last minute.
Last year I had a lift and pass arranged, but that fell through.
This year - I can't complain - my Crufts fund has gone on welcoming a rescue dog into my life :)
I guess I'll get there when the time's right! Who knows, I could be there next year with my rescue girl.

What I want to know is what preprations it everybody making, shampoo (which one)and when to bath(the dog) pack up food or buy, what to wear, what time to get up, ohhh so much to think about!

I am going on the Friday. along with craigles along with quite a few others :) think we have been named the cheering squad for marrianneb as she got Bob there last year with us there lol :)
lea :)

> I actually haven't been since it was held in London *blush*

Don't *blush*, I've never been to Crufts or any other show! Will I get kicked off CD for admitting this, but if I was to go it would have to be Hound day.

we are going on gundog day--realised last week how close it was and started to panic! I was there last year as a spectator only and my enjoyment was only marred by being dogless. This year I have the little one in, but am discovering what cold feet really means...:)

I am going to watch on terrier day, didn't bother entering as I don't have what I think the judge will go for.
Anyone with a labrador bitch or pugs will have my husband stewarding, tall, slim, dark and with a haunted look in his eyes :)

Anyone who is going for the first time, remember there are people pointing cameras everywhere. A friend and I ended up on youtube looking like we were thoroughly unhappy with some aspect of what we were watching, I think we were just innocently chatting, but it didn't look that way!!!!

Good Luck to all, here's hoping there's no silly demos and everyone is allowed to enjoy themselves. I have some serious shopping to do :)

2 weeks

Oh my... A night of babysitting(what have I agreed to??), a day of dog sitting and then I can go and visit the doggies at the NEC...

What I want to know is what preprations it everybody making, shampoo (which one)and when to bath(the dog) pack up food or buy, what to wear, what time to get up, ohhh so much to think about!

Depends on the breed and their coat. :) My dogs will be bathed in the next couple of days or so, not later than that. Definitely take your own food, much cheaper and easier!

think we have been named the cheering squad for marrianneb as she got Bob there last year with us there lol :-)

You're my lucky mascots. :)

Not going this year as I have to work, but will be doing D/D on the Saturday

I'm going to be there Thursday Friday Saturday supporting my friend who has qualified for the 2 HTM finals and is representing Scotland in the International competition on the Saturday.

Haven't been since 2001

Nope, haven't entered this year, husband is judging in Norfolk the week after and we just can't do the journey twice in a week.  A few years ago wouldn't have thought twice about Aberdeenshire to Norfolk and back again, Aberdeenshire to NEC and back again but just too old to do it !!!!

Im not there:-(
But then I have a litter to look forward too in 9 days...far more exciting lol
Will have to wait till next year :-) Will hopefully be there with my girly puppy that I get to keep from this litter...fingers crossed :-)
Amy

I try to go most years just to watch and spend , but this year will be the first time in 11 years I will be showing ( utility day ) so hoping I can keep the nerves at bay ! I actually have 2 entered but my young girl won't be going as her mother decided she loved her so much she got a bit carried away cleaning her ears and ended up taking the fur off the one almost completely ( bless her ! ) so it will be just me and my boy . :-)

I'll be there with Merlot I hope. I will travel up on the Thursday and stay in a hotel the night before...can't be doing with driving for 3 hours first!. I wash my girls on the day before, and give them a good blast, then just a quick flick on the show day. There are loads of food stalls around if you don't want to bother with a picnic. You need to be there by 8am really Teressa..plenty of time then to panic and go and bye anything you have forgotten!!! The traffic can get very hectic around 8-9am. Nice smart trousers and jacket...I have mine already! Card clip, show lead, benching chain if you are going to use the bench, grooming stuff, towels (If case it's wet.) Dog food and water, bowls, Blanket for Stan the Man to relax on! .....anyone care to add to the list?
Aileen

I will be there on Sunday (toys) my girl will have her bath late on Saturday and then I pray that she has no mishaps between then and arriving in the ring!!!! She's ALL white!!!

I'll be there on the Friday with rent-a-mob and manning my breeds Discover Dogs stand with them on the Saturday. I keep thinking am I going to regret going 2 days in a row!

No, not this year, the screen will be my way this year, probably for the duraation.

Karen

Card clip, show lead, benching chain if you are going to use the bench, grooming stuff, towels (If case it's wet.) Dog food and water, bowls, Blanket for Stan the Man to relax on! .....anyone care to add to the list?

A chair -vital!

I am hoping to go on the thursday but it depends on the dogs really - I may have a dogflap but I would at least want to have someone standing by to pop in halfway through the day and give them things to chew.

But fingers crossed!  Never been before so I am really hoping I can.

Im going with several dogs and showing in two rings.
All bathing done the night before, as late as possible, then an early start.

Hoping to go, but depends on when my bitch whelps!!

As a key member of the Goldmali cheer squad, I'll be there too on Working and Pastoral day :-D

In fact, this time 2 weeks (and if last year is anything to go by) I'll probably be wandering around the NEC, utterly lost, while Lea is on th phone trying to direct me to our meeting point...

Will be showing for the 1st time at crufts.....will bath the boy week before in hibiscrub and just a wash and brush up the day before.

Better not forget the chair it will be a very very long day........As far as the shopping goes its been a bit dissapointing the last few years and you don't get half the freebies and really good special offers of years gone by.

Won't be going. Hate it. Well, really hate the crowds ;-) I've got 2 dogs I could have taken but as it is a looong journey from N.E. Scotland I'll give it a miss. Last time I went I had to get permission to leave early because of the snow. It was horrendous.

Good luck to all going though.

We are going for Saturday - entered in one class so it will be a long day doing not much if my bank balance is not to take a huge hit :-)

I'm going to wash Dog on Wed! Got the clothes, got all the gear,Going to  leave here about 5 in the morning..do you all exersize the dogs as per normal in the run up or do you up it or slow down in the weeks before, worried my boy will do something daft running around like a looney with his mate Jasper the (Gazelle) Lurcher!

im going on the friday to watch, i go with my friend (but as she cant drive i have to take us and try not to fall asleep on the way home) one year we go on her fav day (toy and ulity) and the next its my day (pastorial and working). Ive got the day all planed out allready, arive just befor doors open, buy tickets, watch agerlity, healwork to music and flyball in the morning while munching prepacked food. watch the Vallhunds and wander around the stalls while my friend buys everything in sight then struggle to fit it all in my car.

Were manning the Discover dogs on Thursday,then going to support my veteran rottie on Friday then showing in Sunday.
Dont like to rub it in (well ok yes I do lol) I will leave about 7 and get there for 7.30.(sorry couldnt resist)

Marianne - if I do manage to get there, you do realise I'm going to try to find you and cuddle any mali that wants a cuddle (post-show, of course), yes? :-P

Marianne - if I do manage to get there, you do realise I'm going to try to find you and cuddle any mali that wants a cuddle (post-show, of course), yes? :-p

Ripley says bring it on and don't forget some treats! She loves everyone but none more so than people with FOOD!

I'll be there on the Friday, watching the GSDs and doing plenty of shopping.  Am driving myself and my friend from our Breed club and meeting more of our members there.

Will be wearing very comfy shoes as protection against 'Crufts foot'!

I will be there on Thursday and Sunday. Will be my first time showing at Crufts, really looking forward to it :-)
Paula xx

We've got three huskies entered on Working Day. A male and a female in Open and a male in Veteran (it's hard to believe that he'll be 8 this month).

> anyone care to add to the list?
>

Valium? (to cope with the stress) Red Bull? (to keep awake on the journey home)  :)   Wet wipes, safety pins in case something gives way.

Only going on the Friday, can't face a seperate trip to shop this year so will have to miss some of the judging to have a wander.

Outfit yet to be decided on but must be comfy round the waist! We always take a shopping trolley. Use it to carry the food and drink to keep us going during the day and then is useful for the stuff we buy and saves our backs.

Sue Emily is no trouble - just think yourself lucky its not Jessica!!!! ;)

and Chas, Maxy and Bentley boos well they certainely aren't any bother!

Just need to sort accommodation to stay over on the Wednesday now ;) 

I'll be there with my 3 on thursday :)  Just a quick trim of the feet is all that's needed to get them ready, they don't need a bath, tollers are teflon coated lol
and then I'll be visiting on saturday to do a bit of shopping :)

We will be there on the Thursday, haven't had the courage to think about the time to leave, just know that it's an early start to get there from West Wales.  Myself and my daughter will be returning on the Sat and Sun (staying in a hotel Sat night) and have tickets with friends for BIS, I think Sunday is going to be a long day.

Same as Toller, Tilly will just have a quick tidy up but I will bath the Munsters on Wed evening. 

Would love to be there - especially as I missed last year - but unfortunately as I still do not know what my pension will be - I just cannot afford to come!

I'll be there on Thursday as well - Zoe will be having her 'bath' tomorrow when she goes swimming :-D

i am going with 2 of mine on the friday, can't wait i get really excited love the shopping!

Ooh, Jean, you going Pastoral day? I'm hoping to go that day ... would love to meet you to say hello. Beware, I'll be in touch ...

> you don't get half the freebies and really good special offers of years gone by.

It still doesn't stop me spending hundreds on the dogs!!!  LOL  :-)  :-)  :-)

Recieved our train tickets today,expensive but worth it,going on gun dog day,have to see our Annie's relatives,usually about eight of them that are in show.

Sheila