I thought the idea of a Removal Pass was to ensure the security of our dogs at Championship Shows, I realise that Southern Counties adopt the same policy as Stafford whereby they don't need to check the admission passes on entering the showground but on Saturday I was able to leave the showground via the main entrance/exit at 12.30pm having just completed my class without anyone in attendance on the exit or anywhere near the exit to hand in the removal pass. I realise that this was quite early but even so, there should have been security in attendance on the gate. This worries me that anyone could have stolen my dog and taken her from the "secure" showground without being challenged. I still have the removal pass!! - and thank god - my dog!!

This is one Championship Show I will never attend again due to this.

I have flagged this up with them directly as there was no security upon me entering it exiting the ground, I was not late nor early on arrival or leaving.
I posted a PM on their fb page, they have replied and I think they would welcome feedback as they asked me if anyone else had mentioned this. I said not personally to me but others were coming and going at the same time as me so would of experienced the same!

My passes were checked.

This happened to us 2(maybe 3) years ago

I would never rely on a removal pass to keep my dog safe, they can be stolen also, ok maybe not the right pass for the dog, but who ever checks the breed.

I actually like the more relaxed shows, then if you had to take an oldie along for the day, or a youngster for socialisation you can. Never leave your dog unattended is good advice everywhere. I used to go to every champ show, mostly alone and often with 2 or more dogs. Of course I got to know fellow exhibitors and asked them to keep an eye on dogs while I was in the ring or the loo, I wouldn't rely on someone checking removal passes :-)

I have no idea if its part of the KC rules and regs for ch shows?

But we as exhibitors are paying for security, it isn't cheap so if it isn't effective then it needs to be scrapped and then put as a saving, if its mandatory then they need a effin good shake up and need to do a good job of it, security is not as and when you feel like it at something like this, it's whole time people are about!!

Sorry but if they are there and we are paying for them then I expect a second to none service!

I am my own security, I don't need passes.
They are watched the entire time I'm at a show.
I'm in the ring, they are watched, shopping ditto....

Happens at loads of shows. Even when they DO check the passes, that doesn't make it secure. If I had passes for 2 dogs and have 2 dogs in the van, they have NO way of knowing if it is the RIGHT two dogs, do they? I could have left a dog at home and stolen another at the show. Or I could easily have fitted a Chihuahua into my equipment bag.

Like others, I see security at shows for my dogs as MY responsibility. I would NEVER leave any of my dogs alone for even a split second!

Agree with Toolz I am my own security guard of my dogs and quite a few shows now do not check when you are leaving and as has been said at which show have you ever seen them check that it's the correct breed?

I make sure my dog/s are secure too, I do think we should all be responsible for our own dogs to which I thn ask why do we need security, no point havin it if not needed or not actually been worked to its correct measures

No I agree -there is no point to it at all. The ONLY way it would work would be if microchips were checked, and that would take forever.

I am also my own dog's security but this will be built into the cost of our entrance fee to these shows and we all know how the costs are creeping up, if they say they are doing something then they should make sure it is done correctly not half cocked or reduce the entrance fees to reflect the reduced cost of not having people in flourescent jackets not manning the exits as they are paid to do.

The KC don't even enforce or get it right at their own show Crufts.  Last year a person from Spain walked into Crufts with a small plastic dog crate containing a chi and handed the dog and crate over to someone in our breed who took it out and used a removal pass from one of their own entries.  Neither the person who brought the Chi in nor the one who took it out had breeds even close to something that small and not on the way in or out did any of the staff notice.  Ditto this year someone from abroad brought in a large breed hound on toy day handed it over to someone who was not even exhibiting that day who left with said dog in the afternoon using a toy breed pass and again the door staff did not notice the pass was for a breed under 10" high and the dog leaving was over 28" easily!  Security - what security?

There are lots of ways out of Crufts and providing you are wearing a ring number, which could just be picked up off any bench you are allowed outside.
Once out there are plenty of ways to leave the complex other than the main exits if you know where they are.
I think at most Championship shows, the security only ever check the number of dogs you have in the car, not the breed. It would be very easy to conceal a toy dog in the foot well of a car and not be noticed.
I think apart from controlling parking we would be better off without the security and cheaper entries, if you are a 2nd or 3rd breed in the ring, by the time you have finished the security staff have left anyway.

> reduce the entrance fees to reflect the reduced cost of not having people in flourescent jackets not manning the exits as they are paid to do.

Well we pay about 0.08p per entry for the security persnnel :-)  If you think 4 people working a 10 hour shift at minimum wage, over 3 days, divided by say 9000 entries, that's what you would save if they're not there. You don't pay much for the service at all, so you can't really expect it to be effective. Yes, shows could scrap them altogether but some may think they 'look the part'.

If you show 3 dogs at say 15 champ shows a year you'll pay less than four pence a year for security guards.

Private security firms don't charge minimum wage and they don't pay their staff that either, round here all security officers are very well paid! That's why I made the comment about their wages as a saving to us, do they just employ normally staff for the gates or do they have them patrolling around the whole site?
I can't see how only a few security staff could even be effective...

Int the normal course of events I would not expect the security staff to do much. But what I would expect is that if someone reported that their dog had been taken, then I would expect the security staff to immediately clamp down on who left with a dog.  It might seem an uneccessary expense most of the time but it is nice to know they are there if needed. Much like our police force really.

> But what I would expect is that if someone reported that their dog had been taken, then I would expect the security staff to immediately clamp down on who left with a dog.

Stable door and bolted comes to mind here.
We tried to leave Bournemouth last year AFTER a chi bitch was stolen. Security was tight and cars were being searched....all too late of course.