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Topic Dog Boards / Showing / Dog show trolley and affixes?
- By PiperPapillon [gb] Date 30.07.13 15:44 UTC
Two questions rolled into 1 post;

1) I am thinking of getting a trolley for dog shows as at the minute I struggle to lug everything. I have two Papillons but if my sister shows we also have a LC Chihuahua. This means we lug a crate or two, two/three chairs, dogs and often an ice box and maybe a tent/gazebo when its cold or raining. Obviously, this makes it difficult and means I only show when I can get someone to come and help me carry everything! I looked at a dogshowtrolley crate at leeds CS which was one on top of the other and this would meet our needs perfectly - could fit 4 small dogs or I could leave belongings in one of the areas and dogs in the other. Could also shove a cooler on top and I see people with chairs on the handle - I could easily go to a show on my own then.
My worry is in a few years I'll 'move up' and have more dogs needing a bigger trolley, but at the minute a 4 berth would be too big (both for space in the car and if I only have 2 dogs). I don't want to get the smaller one and have to replace it in a year or two, but I don't want to get the big one and find it too big to be practical - what would people recommend?

2) I have decided I want an affix but have no idea how to choose one. I really like some peoples, but obviously it is taken and I can't use something similar! I don't want something limited to just Pap's as I want to keep it forever and at some points I would like other breeds. How do people choose their affixes? I want it to mean something to me/my dogs!
- By Brainless [gb] Date 30.07.13 16:07 UTC
To your first question I'd say WHY would you need to take so much stuff.

A lightweight crate can be easily carried that four dogs would fit into.  A camnping chair with a strap goes over a shoulder and the rest of your needs can go in a back pack.
- By Jaspersmum [gb] Date 30.07.13 16:22 UTC
Most shows are inside anyway so not a problem.  We have a Dogshow trolley.  It was very expensive but they do occasionally come up secondhand (though you need to be quick if you see one).  Ours has a hole through the top for a parasol and during one recent outdoor show, we used a fishing brolly (the type that has a "veil" around it.) to shelter us from the sun but equally good in the rain!)  The good thing with this being it is light and small to store for the odd occasion it might be used but easily put up by one person too.

I would say that if you did invest in a good trolley, there is always a market for the second hand ones so you could sell and upgrade, I'm pretty sure the company will part ex too.

Chairs and bags go on top or on the handles maybe with a bungee if the going is too uneven. Dogs on the inside.  I find it easier than carrying crates and trying to walk the dogs but it's what works best for you.  We bought loads of different combos in the first couple of years till we found what worked for us in each shows circs, ie if it's a Champ show that's benched, we'd probably take crates on a trolley table.

With regards to Affixs, ours is a combo of our surname and the other interest we had at the  time (showings taken over since) but our first choice was a combo of the dogs names.  We got down to about our 5 th choice before finding one acceptable. 
- By PiperPapillon [gb] Date 30.07.13 20:05 UTC
Brainless; we need chairs to sit on as we cannot stand up all day. I have toy dogs so we need a crate to put them in (one dog in particular will not accept the fact I have to show the other dogs and kicks up a fuss if she sees me in the ring with my other dog). We went to a show a few weeks ago that was absolutely BOILING so we needed lots of cool drinks for ourselves and the dogs and also put wet towels and cooling coats in the ice box. Finally, from september to about may english weather is appalling and many of the open shows we go to are outside so we need some sort of cover to keep us dry - we are planning on getting a tent or some sort of shelter that will allow us to watch the judging but stay dry and keep us out of the wind.
Lugging this much stuff is hard work, so we need some form of transportation.

Jaspersmum; we are the opposite and mostly attend outdoor shows, so theres usually a fair distance to cart everything to, and theres no protection from the cold and wet weather! We have very little storage space in the house (new build with an incredibly poor thought out design) and have no secure garage or shed however he trolleys we have been looking at fold very small so would fit under the stairs when we don't use them. They take up much less space than two crates and a trolley base.

I looked at wheels that screw onto the bottom of the crate, but at £25 for each crate, I might as well buy a base which fits two small crates or could have a crate, ice box, chairs, etc. I've seen people use them but not sure the pro's/cons compared to a proper trolley with the cages built in?
This is what I would be looking at if we don't get a trolley, it will fit 2 small 24x18inch crates - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Doghealth`s-Cage-Trolley-Removable-Wheels/dp/B008X76JW0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375214573&sr=8-1&keywords=dog+show+trolley
- By PiperPapillon [gb] Date 30.07.13 20:10 UTC
Forgot to add; part of the reason of wanting wheels or a trolley is because my dogs are white and low to the ground so at outdoor shows where the weather isn't great or during any time other than the few days of summer we get, my dogs end up filthy and wet, and do not look their best. I'm not a serious show person, but when I spend time bathing, drying and preparing them for a show I don't want to turn up and walk them through a boggy field to end up mucky.
- By Goldmali Date 30.07.13 20:29 UTC
To your first question I'd say WHY would you need to take so much stuff.

Because they are Papillons. :) It is SOOOO much easier to show 4 big Malinois than 4 small Papillons, believe me!! The Malis need much less equipment. For a start you can't groom a dog on top of a fabric crate.
- By Goldmali Date 30.07.13 20:32 UTC Upvotes 1
PiperPapillon one little tip: make sure whatever trolley you get can fit through your doorways at home. I bought a second hand trolley only to find it does not fit through my doors, so has to be collapsed to be taken outside -and there are some shows, notably breed shows in smaller venues, that have just normal sized doors and then you can't get the trolley in. I ended up using mine just for the dogs to sleep in at home so am now looking again.
- By rjs [gb] Date 31.07.13 06:42 UTC
My dad shows Shelties and grooms them on top of a soft crate! He made a table top from a thin sheet of ply wood, put an edge round the underneath and it fits on top of his soft crates. :)
- By Rhodach [gb] Date 31.07.13 11:43 UTC
When I got my show trolley I was worried about the weight as I suffer from arthritis so they made me one that the lid comes off so it and the dividers travel in the boot and the framework of the trolley stand up behind the front seats, I only have a Panda so not a huge car.

Good Luck finding the right one for you
Topic Dog Boards / Showing / Dog show trolley and affixes?

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