Just typical of a bitch... Rioja has today come into season thereby scuppering any chance of me going to Crufts...both girls are looing great but I cannot leave Rioja home alone and Ron is to busy to have time off so I will have to cancel the trip...Even my dog sitter is off to Crufts. :-(
Oh the joys of showing girlies...
Aileen

Oh what a shame. :( Bitches indeed. Last night my husband said he was sure one of my Papillon bitches had come into season and it was the ONE and only I have entered for Crufts, so of course bad news. Then when I checked it turned out he'd got it wrong, it was a different bitch who is in season. Phew. But as the other one is due, could so easily still happen.

Don't you just luv-em.   Was a time when it was possible to use a 'stop season' pill, which I have done, once, in the past with an important show, but not only has this product been taken off the market I think (side-effects) it's not really worth doing - it's 'only a show' after all.   Grrrrr.!

ps   Would it be possible to kennel her for 24 hours?

Oh it's a shame that you are the same day as me or I could have helped.  :(

Still take her,  I normally show males and I don't like to see bitches in heat at normal ch shows however I do make an exception for Crufts, if she is only at the beginning or at the tail end of it its not too much of a problem however if she is in full blown heat then I'd give it a miss, timing doesn't look good though.

Aargh, if she was on day 1/2 or 20/21 I'd probably still take her, but she'll be right in the middle, how annoying! Mine are due in April so I'm praying they don't come in early, could happen as the one that isn't going is due in a couple of weeks!

Still take her,  I normally show males and I don't like to see bitches in heat at normal ch shows however I do make an exception for Crufts,

Personally my rule would be the opposite. With Crufts being carpeted, the male dogs having to use the same ring for the 3 days following could get rather distracted. It's not as bad at outdoor shows. I once had a bitch come INTO season at Crufts. No sign of blood when we left in the morning, by 2 pm she was on her bench licking blood off herself and it was an utter nightmare to leave as every male dog there was seemed to make a beeline for us.  It's so crowded you just can't get out of the way and of course you can't leave as soon as you have been judged either.

What about using a crate? When ever I bring a bitch in season to a show I tend to keep her crated when not walking her or in the ring. I use a soft crate with a metal frame and a very strong cover that fits on the bench and then put a chair in front of it so the boys can't get to her at all. She's never left unattended and I've never had a single problem with that method.

How would a crate stop the scent travelling throughout the hall?

> I've never had a single problem with that method.

You might not have had a problem, but what about all the other exhibitors?

No I would never take a bitch in season to a show, not even Crufts, its just not fair on her or the boys. Its just another show.  We loose lots of show days with the girlies but such is life. I rather object to loosing the entry fee but that's the way it goes some days.
If I cannot find anyone I trust to sit with her then we will miss it. Roll on WELKS.....
Aileen

> No I would never take a bitch in season to a show, not even Crufts, its just not fair on her or the boys. Its just another show.

I know you would always do the right thing, Aileen :)

Rescue is at hand... maybe I will get to the ball yet !!

Yehh, sorted... My kind friend and neighbour who was going to come to Crufts with me will stay home and have Rioja with her. Her little JRT and Rio get on well and she is a bitch so no problems there. Ron is home overnight so she will be with Daddy ! She may well keep him awake if she misses her Mum as they usually sleep together but if all else fails she can sneak of to bed with her Dad !! Bonus is we have connecting gardens and a gate between so she can leave the gate open and they can have the run of 2 gardens. Fully fenced to 6 ft I may add...and viewable from her lounge and kitchen.. ;-)

Aileen

When I said I haven't had a problem, I meant that as far as I'm aware it did not create a problem for other exhibitors and people in that breed are generally pretty clear about it when something is causing a problem for them. To be honest though, with people having spent a good deal of money to bring their dogs to Crufts from all over the world, you can pretty much guarantee that there are going to be a few bitches in full season there. In some countries, you get bitches in full season at just about every show and people just deal with it. A dot of Vicks inside each nostril of the dog is generally quite helpful.

That's great news Aileen. :)

A dot of Vicks inside each nostril of the dog is generally quite helpful.

What about every other dog & wouldn't it irritate or burn the nasal lining?

Wouldn't have been the same without you!!! As for taking a bitch in season the poster has never had to hold a 50+ kilo male on a lead all day at Crufts!!! no where to go to get out of the way.

> with people having spent a good deal of money to bring their dogs to Crufts from all over the world, you can pretty much guarantee that there are going to be a few bitches in full season there.

So you think it's acceptable to make other people take such steps (remember that a dog's sense of smell is far more powerful than ours and a) having Vicks up the nose would be like someone shining dazzling lights into your eyes, or banging a drum loudly beside  your head, all day and b) wouldn't work because the bitch-smell would still come through) because other people are inconsiderate and unsporting?

We dodged It with my girl, she was due in from December but she was holding on, I figured she would wait for crufts like she with her last season and a breed show (she came in the night before!). I wont take her to a show if she is in, she wont want the extra attention and I don't want to throw any dogs off there game. But luckily she couldn't resist coming in on a walk and has just finished.

Glad you have found cover and can still enjoy it yourself.

> because other people are inconsiderate and unsporting?

It has never bothered me having bitches in season at shows and  I really don't think you can blame them if some overseas exhibitors do bring their bitches in season. After all they will have spent a lot of money booking flights, hotels etc. The ones I know look on a trip to Crufts as the experience of a lifetime so why should they not bring their bitch if she comes into season. It is  not breaking any rules. I certainly wouldn't call it inconsiderate and unsporting!

The ones I know look on a trip to Crufts as the experience of a lifetime so why should they not bring their bitch if she comes into season.

The great majority of exhibitors would know if there was a risk of their bitch coming into season at the wrong time, not all bitches are unpredictable. As such surely you would not risk entering because of all the outlay. Different if you live here, then you don't risk losing as much. I have a bitch entered who is due in season but if she comes in, she stays at home and I've only lost her entry fee. My other two bitches are safe -one has just finished her season, the other is spayed.

> The great majority of exhibitors would know if there was a risk of their bitch coming into season at the wrong time, not all bitches are unpredictable. As such surely you would not risk entering because of all the outlay.

but would you expect a foreign exhibitor to not come if their bitch did start unexpectedly? Although a lot of bitches stick to a regular time I have 2 at the moment who can vary from 7 to 10 months, It does make it hard to plan shows.

>maybe I will get to the ball yet !!

LOL  :-)
Thanks for cheering me up with a laugh.  This is the first Crufts I've missed in 25 years.  :-(

but would you expect a foreign exhibitor to not come if their bitch did start unexpectedly?

Depends on. If they had any decency, then no they would not come. If they couldn't care less but had a mainly white breed, especially a longcoated one, then they'd have no choice!! Such a bitch in season is not a pretty sight and certainly could not go into a show ring. But if they had no decency and had a dark coloured breed, then sure they'd turn up. Doesn't mean I'd consider it the right thing to do. It's the risk you take when showing entire bitches. Some shows you WILL miss. Or should!

I suppose it's as well to consider that taking bitches in season to shows, might be acceptable in other countries - unsportsmanlike or not, a foreign exhibitor might not give it a second thought?

A few years ago at east of/England a lady who only shows now and then turned up and stood right beside the ring behind me with her bitch in full season, I was after my third ticket and my dog could not contain himself, he could not stand still/he was drooling, after she had no shame and was taking her after the show to be mated and this is a white coated breed.

Glad the situation has been resolved - I hope your friend will take good care of your bitch if she is going to be in standing heat at the time!!!

On the 'sportsmanship' thing - on behalf of all entire males, and especially scent hounds (!!) PLEASE keep your in-season bitches at home - Crufts or not.   You try showing a Basset, best of times.   If it's other than on the first day, at a carpeted show like Crufts, it's near on impossible to get their heads up.    Also, always remember when a bitch is in season (more so the low to ground breeds) she's wide open - to INFECTION.

Just my two-bits worth.

just curiosity but are there no rules against in season bitches? I compete in agility and bitches in season are not allowed to compete and are not supposed to be at the show at all so I am surprised that ii is an option at breed shows?

No, no such rule in breed. I do obedience and wondered how it works at shows like Paignton champ show where they have agility, breed and obedience at the same time. Surely it's one showground not three! I imagine you agree to the rules in the schedule/entry form you sign for your discipline, but it's a funny one.

Are they allowed in obedience then? seems funny as they are all KC events. It's an interesting point re mixed events, there is some debate even in agility though whether bitches in season are allowed to attend NFC in the camping are of big shows or not. I don't think it's well enforced TBH but it is a rule.

No, not allowed in obedience :) guess it's less of an issue in breed where dogs should all be on lead and to an extent behaviour matters less? Poorly worded but for instance they don't have to be off lead searching a scent pattern like in the higher classes of obedience. In season bitches could cause havoc in these cases!

Trust me, it causes havoc in Breed too, having been at a show where my boy was completely incapable of standing still or walking normally because he was barking his head off and trying to drag me over to the other side of the ring the whole time....

Keeping only bitches this is a problem I have at least twice a year !! with each girl so as many as 6 times with 3 bitches.....
Its part and parcel of showing the girls, like swings and roundabouts, with girls you can have a lie in as they are always second in the ring ;-)  but with boys you have no seasons... I pays me money and takes me chances ! I have an idea of when seasons are due but the girls are nothing if not contrary and they never count the days ! We enter and hope for the best. I would lave to have all the entry fees I have lost over the years back ! I would be rich !!
To take a bitch in full season to a show is disrespectful of other showers, it upsets the boys and makes it very hard for them to show them to their best. Its probably not the best for the bitches either as they are often feeling under the weather with a little tummy ache and are possibly more open to infections of the reproductive areas at this time too. Maybe if it is day 1 -2 I would risk it for an important show with a judge I respect but not for " just another show " By day 19-20 my girls are usually over and finished and with a good bath I would take them then. Some are far from over though and its not uncommon to have successful mating's at 20 + days so its very much an individual thing.
Yes its a pain in the proverbial, we loose lots of season days, its much harder to make a bitch up too with seasons and litters a large part of their showing life is used up. But the joys of pups and the love of our girls should be worth it.
Those who just go anyway and then proceed to moan about randy male dogs are in my opinion trophy hunters.
Aileen

Poor Cinders.... Maybe a handsome prince will come and rescue you Jean ;-)
Aileen

>because other people are inconsiderate and unsporting?

While it is not banned in the rules (it is in some countries, and is in this country in obedience Agility. trials etc), then people can and will bring in season bitches to shows.

I have had a bitch I have been wanting tom mate so tissue testing twice daily come in season during a  show, got myself quite flustered about it as there was blood on the bench, warned the neighbouring benchmates owner as it was male, but eh nor anyone else took any notice.

I have also brought a bitch to a show just after she should have been finished but not owning males had no way of knowing if males would still find her interesting, some did (young males who probably would have been interested whatever stage of her cycle), some didn't, but nothing to get to worried about and I did keep her out of direct contact with any passing males.

I did show a male that I bred to his second CC at a show when the CC and RCC bitches were in very obvious standing season.  He did try to lap the bitch in the BOB challenge and the bitch won BOB, and just as well I had got hold of the lead, as knowing how quick some males can be the winning bitch might have gotten more than was bargained for ;)

>The great majority of exhibitors would know if there was a risk of their bitch coming into season at the wrong time,

I wish mine were. I have a bitch here who has gone anywhere between 6 and 8 months between seasons.  the last few were more like 8 months so I thought I was safe having new kitchen cupboards for the end of February with her not due in seasons until end of January/February, and hopefully a litter late March/April.  so she comes in 23rd December, would have been due 15th March, but she absorbed!!!

She isn't alone, no sooner do you enter a show, or plan a litter and they come in season early or late.

I have lost count of the shows I have entered one of them, only for them to be in season and really peeved that I hadn't entered one  of  the others.  Maybe being able to enter a reserve exhibit in case of one coming in season would reduce the number being taken to shows in season, and not have those of us showing bitches wasting money.  Actually maybe being able to enter a reserve dog would reduce absentees generally.