Hi all,

I've booked two dogs into a benched show.  I'd like to be able to put them in the same crate rather than take two crates - am I allowed to move the partitions?

TIA :-)

DEFINITELY AGAINST THE RULES

If your dogs are next to you each other who is to know or care if you put it back? I move the partitions when they are too far apart for my benching front, otherwise is have large caps each side! Also see many people doing this and don't see what the issue is if you are taking anyone else's space

No, don't do it, because it can weaken the structure of the benching and possibly cause an accident.

I think someone had done it to me at my last show - one of my bench spaces was literally 10ins wide!! but it didn't matter because there were free spaces close to my friends... I removed my numbers to my new space, but if we're talking rules here, I had gone out of alphabetical order - is this against the rules too?

I know your breed & you should be able to cage the 2 together. Only once in all my years of showing has the cage I take to shows not fit on the bench & I cage 2 of mine together.

It is against the 'rules' of the benching company to remove the sides & there is always labels stuck to the metal sides stating that they should not be removed & fairly new, the benches shouldnt be sat on....

When I went to Crufts with a friend she had been allocated 3 bench spaces but the third one was the other side of a gangway, she took the centre partition of the 2 out and put her 2 crates and 3 dogs on there, seemed sensible to me and she wasn't the only one rearranging their spaces.

Yes seems sensible & I know lots do remove partitions but doesnt mean it not against what the benching companies want..they do advise strongly against it.
One has to remember the dogs next to & on the other side of the bench, especially if it maybe their first time or so being benched!!!

When you arrive at the show, usually the benching contractors are around to sort out any issues, imsure if you asked nicely they would be able to move the partitiion safely so you can fit your dogs together,

It may seems sensible.. but as one owner whose dog was affected when another exhibitor
decided to take it upon themselves to 'rearrange' the benching dividers and the benching top fell in
on my dog. I wasn't happy especially as my dog wasn't happy on benching after that (understandly so) she had
to be benched in a cage to feel safe

I would say you should ask the contractors before moving any structure as you could cause the same
as above or weaken the benching stability for others.
The other question to ask would also be that of liability if you had moved benching dividers without permissions
and benches fell in and injured a dog or person who would legally be liable if the injured parties wanted to persue
for compensation, as today we live in a where there's blame there's a claim culture now...

Thanks for the replies all!

One of my considerations is trying to avoid having to cart multiple crates and dogs from the car to the bench.  I've entered 4 dogs into another show - eek! I hadn't thought of the practicalities of 4 crates, 4 dogs & bags etc. from car to bench.  I do have a trolley but my muscles are puny!

I do have a trolley but my muscles are puny!

They won't be for long, Saffronsmith :-)