Can you enter NFC at an open show if your pup is under 6 months? I'd like to take her along for socialisation as the show is only in the county beside mine. I've never entered an open show though so I'm not sure of the procedures! New to this showing lark!

If it is an all breed show you can't -but you can at some group and breed shows. The schedule will say if you can enter pups 4-6 months NFC. Otherwise they have to be 6 months.

Having said that, there are plenty of open shows where nobody would ever know if you took an unentered dog -it comes down to how strict they are. Fore instance shows which have eye testing and similar can't really check whether all dogs within the show are entered. At others it would be obvious, it really depends on the show and the venue. Of course, strictly speaking any dog at any show should be entered either in the show or NFC, as per the rules.

Ahh I see, okay then. Thank you so much for the swift reply. xxx

It is surprising how many seasoned show people think you can, we had two ladies at our last show who got very upset with us because we said no - they don't seem to understand that it is more than we dare do even if we may want to. The fact is it is against the rules but we could say no to all NFC if we so wished so the use of complaining letters, e-mails and phone calls is really pointless.

Don't think it helped at all when the rules were changed and non-exhibitors were allowed to bring dogs in and that at some breed shows pups between 4 and 6 months are allowed. Do think if rules are changed like this it should be across the board and not restricted.

I think it was changed to 4 months for single breed and sub-group shows because it was felt that the bigger shows would be too much for a 4-6 month pup to cope with. Bit silly really as they're allowed at 4 months at agility shows which are far bigger and noisier than the average open show!

I took my puppy to two breed shows before he was 6 months old and everybody was very supportive and said sooner he gets used to the show atmosphere the better. I would like to add that he was much better behaved than some of the older 'professional' dogs, so it's not always the NFCs' that are the problem. I've seen many show dogs get a way with behaviour that my dogs would never get away with.

I don't think it's anything to do with behaviour of the pup but putting a pup through more than it can cope with, and also facilities of the venue.

When a society has dogs entered it knows what to expect volume wise, and can try to make appropriate use of facilities.

As a show society we do not care one way or the other but we are the ones that would risk being fined if we break KC rules knowingly, if we don't know then we are not at fault but you would be surprised how many people will complain that someone has a under-age pup at a show.

It's not quite the same though at agility shows, although there's quite an issue over it being four months, because the pups don't have to go into the show area itself and if it's outside there's a lot of space for them and they don't have to be frightened.  Vehicles are usually readily accessible and pups can be in and out rather than stressed.  There's also the issue that in showing exhibitors usually only take a few dogs, whereas agility folk usually take all their dogs and often their family as well so it's the best place for a pup. In summer there's usually a caravan and 'garden' too.

> There's also the issue that in showing exhibitors usually only take a few dogs, whereas agility folk usually take all their dogs

I would take all my dogs too if it didn't cost and arm and a leg to enter NFC (usually the non CC entry (aroudn £14) at championship shows in order to keep them with me. 

Otherwise it'sa a £5 or so each in unentered dogs tent where they are benched outside the show area, so better off at home.

The Car Park is usually not within checking distance outside the show area, so needs to be locked.

yes at agility shows NFC = free (unless organised by a breed show) and dogs are accessible to your vehicle and yourself so much easier

As others have said pups have to be six months to go into a venue holding an open show,however at the majority no one checks and I have on several occassions seen members of the public wander in with pet dogs unchallenged.

At kc agility shows pups have to be 16 weeks old,but this is often flouted,and all dogs have to be either on the kc breed register or on the activities register.The main difference between agility shows and breed shows is that any dog,whether pedigree or not can be put on the activities register for a one off payment of£12(it may be more now) and from then one enter any show venue for free, whereas at breed shows nfc dogs have to pay a substansial fee at each show they attend.

The kc would probably say that this is to pay for the extra benching,at champ shows,but in my breeds no one ever uses the benching,except for crufts of course and I think it very unfair that all my dogs can accompany my to agility shows but I have to leave some behind when showing as the cost makes it impossible to take the same well behaved dogs along too.

Must add that personally I would never take a pup to an open breed show under the age of six months for no reason other than I think it is very unfair to place the organisers in a posistion for which they could be fined and face disciplinary action and we need to cherish the open shows available as they are getting fewer all the time!

just to say that it is actually four months to officially go to an agility show rather than 16 weeks :-)

Yes,I know it is . I should have wrote 4 calendar months and not 16 wks but the point I was trying to make was that to enter nfc at agility means a one off payment for life and if on the kc breed register then no payment at all!

it's a common misconception that it's 16weeks, but it is 4 calendar months and it does make a difference.  Whilst NFC dogs have to be registered and have to be on the form, no body checks what dogs you have and as long as they're not around the rings a few days isn't a majorly concern ;-)  It's far more tricky to take NFC and pups to breed shows given the make up of them compared to agility shows.  One reason why I prefer agility, although with my new pup I may need to find someone to take him showing.....

I've seen pups of all ages attending open shows to look, learn and get used to the goings on, many even too young to be walking about on the ground(pre jabs) and carried in for a cuddle. No one says anything or appears to even care..

I distinctly recall seeing a DDB being carried about at many open shows held at Ardingly and Maidstone, all for socialisation and the pup got LOTS of attention :-)

http://www.dogshowprinting.co.uk/schedules/EELKSent0112.pdf

This is the one I'd like to take her too, it's fairly soon, she'll have had her jabs though. It's unbenched, but entries have closed; do you think if I called them up and asked it would be ok?

You will be asking them to break the rules and laying them open to being fined if he is still under-age. Don't ask, just go so they do not know so can't be held responsible and if you are asked to leave then do so. Would be better if you found a companion show or at least a show at a venue that is open to the public.

Thanks Nova, I think I'll just leave her home then and go along by myself instead. Companion shows are few and far between at the moment, and especially in my neck of the woods. xxx

This does cause a problem if you refuse you upset the exhibitor who then comes to the show and sees people with under age pups that have not been entered, the show society can't win really there is always hard feeling and ill feeling. Do wish when the KC made these sort of rules it was the same for all, same age at all shows, and the same rule for exhibitors as for visitors. At the moment exhibitors have to enter dogs either in classes or NFC if they wish to bring them to a show but if the show allows members of the GP in then an exhibitors friend can come with her under-age, un-registered, cross breed or mongrel pup of 8 weeks and to me that just is not fair.