My puppy is entered in the Blackpool show and it will be the first benched show we have done. Have been trying to find the rules and regs for the UK but can only find American KC rules and there, you have to stay all day, even though your dog has been beaten!! Is it the same here? Seems a long time for a pup to be kept in one place if it can be taken home.

You can leave whenever you like. The only show in UK this doesn't apply to is Crufts, which keeps you there until 4pm.

Most shows have in the schedule that you are to arrive by and not leave by/until 12.00pm.

Your dog is supposed to be on the bench except when being judged or exercised or groomed.

This basically means you can take your dog for a wee walk or sit ringside when your breed is being judged.

The show rules will be in the front of the societies schedule.

Now the weather doesn't look too promising (does it ever these days?!) but when we enter Blackpool we sit ringside until it is our turn, go in the ring, then walk around the trade stands with the dogs, leave the show and take the dogs for a run on the beach and play in the water. :)

Oh, what a relief. Of course, I hope she does well but its our first champ show and just doing it for the experience really. Have folks in Blackpool so will go visit them now I know I can escape!! Like the idea of sitting ringside too. Only a medium breed so that would be fine. thank-you. Huge sigh of relief!!!

> Your dog is supposed to be on the bench except when being judged or exercised or groomed.
>
> This basically means you can take your dog for a wee walk or sit ringside when your breed is being judged.
>
>

Just to say...this is not how I have read that particular ruling...I have read it when your dog is being judged. Otherwise for breeds like mine, who have large entries, it would mean they dont actually have to be on the bench at all between the hours of 9 to 4(depending on judging start times).
I do get your drift, as those who have much smaller entries usually make up most of the entry..ie only a handful of exhibitors make most of the entry, therefore have 2 or more dogs entered.

and of course if your benching is not near your ring unless you are ringside ready with your dog you won't know when you are in, so I think it does mean when the breed is being judged, not just your exhibit, else they would have to announce each class in plenty of time.

When our entries were not so pathetically small as they are at present (used to expect judging to take at least two hours, now if the judge was brisk you could be finished in not much over half an hour some shows), I would take my bitches to the ring when Open dog was in.

Of course those exhibitor friendly shows that have the benching close to the ring you can just get each dog as required and still be within sight or earshot of your dog while watching ringside.  With the price of fuel I would rather do one show with two dogs than two shows with one.

It s all very odd really as there is so much conflicting information about. The rules USED to say the dog had to be on the bench pretty much all the time. However that was changed as long ago as 2006. Below is a quote from a press release about it, from 2005 -basically the wording was changed from MUST to SHOULD. However this is NOT in the present rule book -all it says about benching there is details about the benches themselves. And in the Blackpool schedule it says dogs may not be removed from their bench for longer than 15 minutes blah blah blah. Looking at the Darlington schedule as just another example, it shows the old wording of "dogs MUST be present on their benches". Seems to me shows make their own rules up?? HOWEVER, we all know that most benches at shows are EMPTY and people do not get told to put their dogs on there.

These concerns for safety and security of dogs have been addressed with an amendment to Regulation F(1)17.a. to be effective from 01 January 2006.  This will allow exhibitors to take their dogs off their benches so that they may keep their dogs with them whilst they move around the show.  In light of this, the Regulation has been changed to give show organisers the authority to require exhibitors to return their dogs to their benches if, for example, a safety issue arises.

The Regulation has been changed as follows:-

FROM:

17.  Exhibition of Dogs.
a.  Championship, Open and Limited Shows (Benched):-
(1)  Dogs must be present on their benches at all times except
(a)  When being judged.
(b)  When being prepared for exhibition and/or being exercised for a period not exceeding 30 minutes.
(2)  Dogs may be removed from their benches by order of the Veterinary Surgeon, Veterinary Practitioner or Show Management.
TO:

17.  Exhibition of Dogs.
a.  Championship, Open and Limited Shows (Benched):-
(1)  Dogs should be present on their benches at all times except
(a)  When being judged.
(b)  When being prepared for exhibition and/or being exercised.
(2)  In certain circumstances dogs must be present on their benches at all times if required by show management.
(3)  Dogs may be removed from their benches by order of the Veterinary Surgeon, Veterinary Practitioner or Show Management.

Well I certainly don't drag my dog around the show for more than 30 minutes at a time, and only have them at the ringside when the breed is being judged.

Grooming is normally done at the bench, as it's bascially brush adn comb ands maybe a wet wipe or towel, we don't  bring the kitchen sink to shows.

We must be odd as in our breed and neighbouring breeds we all bench our dogs, it gives us a base, somewhere to sit, and free hands to eat our lunch etc, and ability to go to the loo dogless. 

After a couple of shows even puppies soon learn to settle on their bench happily and snooze.  This is vital if showing more than one dog.

One reason I avoid most open shows is having to take crates, chairs, and compete for floor space.  At least with championship shows we only need a bag and walk the dog in.

Yes, I had a quick scan through some champ schedules I have here & they all vary to what they state or not.

As I have been showing for 30+ years, I know that benches get used by some & not by others & as already been said(more or less) there isnt a 'bench police' making sure benches are used or not.

that is all very interesting and "new" to me. A bit confusing too but I think I understand !!!!!!!!! As long as I know I dont need to stay until the bitter end, then thats fine.

At least with championship shows we only need a bag and walk the dog in.

So what do you sit on, or do you stand up all day?!

Against the rules Goldmali we sit on our or someone else's bench.

Against the rules Goldmali we sit on our or someone else's bench.

But then you have to stand in front of the ring to watch the judging instead? I wouldn't come without chairs so always have a lot more stuff for champshows. :) Open shows tend to have chairs. I can't physically stand up for more than a few minutes myself, have to be on the move or sit down or my back goes.

Usually find there are enough chairs or benches round the ring for those who do not have a chair, I always used a Chairman because I can't carry items.

> So what do you sit on, or do you stand up all day?!

Sit on the bench with the dog or am in the ring or ringside, no time for sitting, but sometimes there are chairs.

I used to bring the pedigree folding chairs, over my shoulder, but found I never used them.