Can I gain some opinions on If you should Show whilst your bitch is in heat. I assume this is a common problem when someone has pre-booked a Show, perhaps more so if it is a Championship Show. Looking at other Forums it suggests this is allowed but it does appear to have equal opinions of Yes and No.

I never did - for two reasons.   With my low to ground breed and bitches being 'wide open' back there, they only have to squat in the wrong place ...... and we never had a Pyo in all the number of years we lived with entire bitches.    I know others will disagree, but I'm convinced a big part of that was because none of mine ever went anywhere off our properties to pick up infection, when in season.   Secondly you try showing a male in a ring where there have been bitches in season (from a previous breed) in there.   Nightmare, and especially with a scent hound!!!

You can, but out of respect for others, if not for the health of your bitch, why?   Another comment - it may be different with other breeds, but when mine were in full season, swollen, they didn't move behind well.   I know show entries are high these days but it is also possible with a bitch who is already established in her cycle, to know when she's likely to be in season, and not enter any show, around that time.

I haven't and wouldn't because of the risk of infection and also how unfair it is for all dogs concerned not just males.

I wouldn't, because of the indreased infection risk and the plain fact that it's simply unsporting deliberately to take something to a show that will have an off-putting effect on the other exhibits. Not only the ones in the ring with you, but the ones within scenting distance (a minimum of half a mile) and those who have to follow her into the ring where she's been dropping distracting scents all over the ground.

It's allowed, yes, but it's very unsporting. This is the risk we take when showing entire bitches -we will miss some shows. But really it's not so different to missing shows through the dog suddenly starting a heavy moult. Lots of things can happen in between the close of entries and date of show, that may prevent us from showing.
Edited to say: I missed Crufts this year with one of my Papillons due to her coming into season.

There is no rule to say you cant but in my opinion one shouldnt. I have had mostly bitches & some come in together missing 2 or 3 champ shows. I also have males, so know how they can react. It also isnt very nice for a judge to go over & some dont even think of that! Also as been mentioned, it can affect movement.
Personally it should be one of those unwritten rules of No, an in season bitch should not be shown regardless of single sex classes.

One of the proposals for a change to KC agility shows is to allow bitches in season to compete in competitions where they have qualified for a major final. The proposal suggests that these dogs should run last in a class as there would be less disruption. I personally don't think it is a good idea at all for many reasons and would have thought running at the end of the class would only work for that particular class - the classes that follow on would then be affected as the equipment stands a good chance of being affected by deposits and it just wouldn't be practical to clean the equipment after each class.

I wouldn't take my girl to a show while it season. I don't think it's fair on the boys at the show to expect them to completely ignore an in season girl also I'd also worrie about males trying to get to her, in the past at shows before my girl has been snapped at and jumped on just trying to get to our bench/ring I can only imagin how some males would react if she was in season.

Once you know when roughly your girl should be due in you can just not book any shows for that time if your worried about paying the entry fee and not being  able to go.

Showing of in season bitches happens all the time in my breed, no one turns a hair.

As it is not against the rules, you will always find some bitches at shows whoa re in season.

It is generally frowned upon, especially at the receptive stage.

Though to be fair if you only own bitches it can be a job to know if the bitch is no longer attractive to males, some pine for bitches who have recently finished seasons, even several weeks, and why should the bitch owner be penalised for over hopeful male hormones.  We loose out often enough with trying to show between seasons and hormonal coat drops and planned litters.

And I am sure that many people pretend the bitch came in on the way to the show but I have had this happen, even after checking morning and night.

I don't think a bitch in 'standing' heat will show to her best anyway.

I would worry about the possibility of a bitch picking up an infection as Mamabass mentions. 

I do have males, and one is used at stud.  If he went to a show and a bitch was ripe, he would have tied with her pretty damn quick. 

I've had bitches come into season at a show six weeks or so early.    I was lucky the first time,  I had a cold and was travelling with Vicks.   So between that and the wetwipes which I always carry,  not even her over sexed half brother reacted.   And he usually got really excited about whether in season or not!   Always carried Vicks just in case afterwards.

I've also been told my bitch was in season when none of my bitches was remotely so,  by the owners of over hopeful and badly behaved males :-(

I thought that the Kennel Club shows were originally for the purpose of showing and grading breeding stock?   Which is possibly why there is no mention of not showing bitches in season.

In fact,  in the rules at the back of the entry forms,  has always been something to the effect of "the mating of bitches within the precincts of the show is prohibited"   which acknowledges that bitches in season are likely to be present at the show.   And since you can only bring dogs into a show which are entered for competition or not for competition,  it begs the question why that would be one of the rules,  if bitches weren't allowed at a show in season ;-)

>And since you can only bring dogs into a show which are entered for competition or not for competition,  it begs the question why that would be one of the rules,  if bitches weren't allowed at a show in season

Because you might choose to bring an in-season bitch to be mated by the chosen stud dog in the car park, if the show was held at a mutually-convenient location.

Surely the car park would count as within the precincts of the show?

Most shows I've been to, the car park would definitely count as within the precincts of the show.  Even NEC carpark (and its huge size) you have to pay to get out, so would still count I think ;-)

Surely the car park would count as within the precincts of the show?

Most definitely!!!

I know the feeling Dill, my friend is always asking me at shows if one of my girls is due in season, but it's just her boys that are sex pests! I did once take my dog to Crufts on about day 2 of her season, I didn't think she'd ever qualify again and we were very careful to keep her on her bench except for a loo break, and I didn't hear anyone complaining which you would in a busy place like that if someone's dog had been distracted! But as a rule no I wouldn't take a bitch in season to a show - I've owned a boy who was completely put off by bitches in season so I know how annoying it is!

>Surely the car park would count as within the precincts of the show?

Exactly, that's my point. :-) If it wasn't in the precincts of the show there'd be no rule against arranging matings in the car park, and therefore no rule against bringing in-season bitches to the show. However because there's a rule against matings within the precincts of the show there's the implication that in-season bitches shouldn't be there at all.

I think there is no rule as at conformation shows all dogs are on lead. 

Certainly in some countries like the USA bitches are quite openly shown in season, and no-one expects tehm not to be at the show.

There certainly are rules about in season bitches for the working Activities like Obedience, Agility working and Field Trials where dogs may be off lead.

Under FCI rules bitches in season are not supposed to be shown.

It seems to vary with breeds in the UK.  I had a friend in Dobermans and it was quite usual to take in season bitches to shows (and they are so obvious with the short coat) and done openly a few years back.

However because there's a rule against matings within the precincts of the show there's the implication that in-season bitches shouldn't be there at all.

Right, now I get you! :)

Hmmm, I don't get that impression from that rule at all. I read it purely as no mating at the show. Nothing's to stop you Pulling out the gate of the car park and pulling into the nearest layby and trying it.

Same as you dill I've had people comment my bitch must be in season when she's no where near it as an excuse for over the top makes!

I've pulled out of shows when my bitch has been in season - purely because I would probably break into tears if someone confronted me about it (as a newbie anything negative makes me want to run for the hills!).

>I've pulled out of shows when my bitch has been in season - purely because I would probably break into tears if someone confronted me about it

Someone influential in my breed made it very clear that in season bitches should not be at shows.

Interesting then to find when I showed a friends male and he won the CC that his opposite number owned by them was very obviously in full standing heat, she won Best Of Breed ;) 

So sometimes it is do as I say not as I do LOL

Sorry don't have time to read other comments. But as I show a male It infuriates me when people do this as male can pick up the sent from quite a distance and will not give there best. I used own bitches and males at stud in collies and would never take a bitch in season knowing how it effects them. It's a risk you take when entering.

IMO NO NO No. I do show both dogs and bitches and both are upset if girls are in season. I would NEVER show a bitch in season, not fair to them or other dogs in the ring. There is always next time. By showing a bitch in season you could be stopping a dog/bitch from getting a well deserved award in the show. Deal with it as I do.

Someone influential in my breed made it very clear that in season bitches should not be at shows.

Interesting then to find when I showed a friends male and he won the CC that his opposite number owned by them was very obviously in full standing heat, she won Best Of Breed  

So sometimes it is do as I say not as I do LOL

I've seen that more times than I care to mention.  And it's always those who are most vociferous and aggressive about it too !

As for "There's always the next show"

No there isn't.   In our breed we have limited CCs so a really promising bitch who can't be shown whilst in season could easily miss three shows, then be unshowable for the other three owing to dropping all her coat after the season.  Then she'll miss any other shows owing to... Being in season again..  And so it goes on.   So when exactly is a bitch owner going to be able to show their really excellent bitch?

And of course, since dogs can apparently smell a bitch half a mile or more away, how do you know that they aren't reacting to an in-season bitch who isn't even at the show.

In Response to Jeangenie

>Surely the car park would count as within the precincts of the show?

Exactly, that's my point.  If it wasn't in the precincts of the show there'd be no rule against arranging matings in the car park, and therefore no rule against bringing in-season bitches to the show. However because there's a rule against matings within the precincts of the show there's the implication that in-season bitches shouldn't be there at all

Except, if the Kennel Club had really meant that, all they had to do, was write into the rules that bitches in season were not allowed to be shown, as they have with agility shows.

So in effect, they have stated their intentions right there.   By NOT banning in-season bitches from shows.

But of course, those who disagree prefer to think it means the opposite ;-)

My youngest champion bitch (now over 6) has virtually been unshown this year, she was mated in January and missed, then by the time it was apparent entries had closed for the next shows, then she was in season again and missed.  She couldn't be shown at some of the other shows as the judges had already given her a CC.

I am entering her for Manchester as the LKA judge gave her the CC and hope she doesn't come in season early as in February due in season again, and going to try one more time.

It doesn't help that there are no young health tested compatible males to put her too and her mates including the next one are older than she is.

If she does get pregnant she won't be showable until at least September, by which time she will be in veteran, if she doesn't then she will have missed over half the years shows with entries closing.

It would really help if entries for shows did not close further ahead than 4 weeks with a three week closing date on-line (and there was no surcharge during the extension. 

There would be fewer bitch absentees and maybe even more entered that are due in season and owners don't enter as they don't want to throw their money away in case they come in.

I gave up showing after my youngest bitch missed all 6 shows she was entered in, in one year.  

Living where we do, it's only the 6 shows that are do-able for us, and one of those needs a 2 day trip, so losing the hotel room as well.

It was like standing  there just burning the money and there are much better things I can spend it on.

I know how good she is so not worried about that, but it's so demoralising and downright expensive to be missing shows and 'doing the right thing' as far as not annoying the dog owners is concerned, but it does nothing for us.

And of course, when you finally get to a show, you have some idiot with an unruly male or two insisting that you have a bitch either in season, just off a season or about to come in.

How about not taking the male if he can't be controlled around bitches?  I don't see anyoine suggesting that.

>How about not taking the male if he can't be controlled around bitches?  I don't see anyoine suggesting that.

Actually a few of my US contacts actually believe a male should learn to cope with bitches in season.

I certainly have found that experienced males are usually only really upset in the week where a bitch is receptive.

We have that problem re lack of CCs too. With only 7 on offer - the nearest being a 6 hour round trip for me - it's a whole couple of days away. Everything has to be booked in advance and with fees, food, fuel, hotel that's £150 or more down the drain. Touch wood Im yet to have to cancel a champ show, only local opens - in which case were AVNSC anyway!

>How about not taking the male if he can't be controlled around bitches?  I don't see anyoine suggesting that.

So no puppy classes then, because you don't want to put potential stud dogs of the future from taking an interest.

No there isn't.   In our breed we have limited CCs so a really promising bitch who can't be shown whilst in season could easily miss three shows, then be unshowable for the other three owing to dropping all her coat after the season.  Then she'll miss any other shows owing to... Being in season again..  And so it goes on.   So when exactly is a bitch owner going to be able to show their really excellent bitch?

Malinois have just 9 shows a year with tickets. One in March (Crufts), then two in May, one in June, one in July, 3 in August, then a break until LKA in December. So 8 of 9 shows within a 5 month period. My best bitch had pups in February, so missed March and May. She was in season for one of the shows in August so missed that, and is now in heavy moult for LKA. (She will still go.) So she missed 4 shows out of 9 and won't look her best for the last. She has still managed one CC and one RCC this year. Next year we will go all out for her third ticket as there won't be any pups interfering.

In other words, it's annoying when you have to leave a bitch at home due to being in season, but you can still do well if the bitch is good enough.

I would have thought that a well trained male would show better for having a bitch in season around.

I do remember our Pembroke Corgi, who was used at stud but only a couple of times as my father was very choosy about the bitches and wouldn't allow him to be used with anything but absolute top quality,  would certainly strut his stuff if there was an inseason bitch about.    He was never unrully though, or a nuisance, but you could tell by looking at him trotting along and showing himself off, practically on his tippy toes :-)

He was never impolite enough to press his case though or act up.   And I don't think Pembroke Corgis are particularly polite dogs.

In other words, it's annoying when you have to leave a bitch at home due to being in season, but you can still do well if the bitch is good enough

Having had to throw away all 6 shows in one year and looking at the same happening the next year,  i fail to see how this is possible.

For a bitch to do well,  she has to actually be at the show!   

She can't be judged if she isn't there!

So no puppy classes then, because you don't want to put potential stud dogs of the future from taking an interest

According to many posters here, bitches can't go in puppy classes either,  they come into season at around six months, so wouldn't be allowed to go.

I get the feeling that most here would prefer bitches not be shown at all.   Then their dogs wouldn't be distracted.  

Except, then it would be something else distracting them.   Women having their 'season'
Men eating pasties.

The list is endless.

Tehe. Locally pet owners in my area think in season bitches should be locked up... Just imagine if women wernt alowed to leave the house for a week each month...

It's quite refreshing to see someone fighting the bitches corner. No one ever speaks up!

Tehe. Locally pet owners in my area think in season bitches should be locked up... Just imagine if women wernt alowed to leave the house for a week each month...

It's quite refreshing to see someone fighting the bitches corner. No one ever speaks up!

>I certainly have found that experienced males are usually only really upset in the week where a bitch is receptive

DEFINITELY.

My boy wouldn't waste his energy if a bitch wasn't ready.  But if she's ripe it's amazing how fast they tie.

>How about not taking the male if he can't be controlled around bitches?  I don't see anyoine suggesting that.
>So no puppy classes then, because you don't want to put potential stud dogs of the future from taking an interest.

I am guessing that this comment refers to not taking males to puppy classes as you wouldn't want to stop them taking an interest in bitches. So you think that a dog puppy shouldn't have to miss a couple of puppy classes but it is fine for a bitch to miss classes regularly throughout her show career? Sexist or what! And if dogs learn about  bitches by going to shows then if all bitches in season were banned then where will the boy get his experience?

LynneB Said

>By showing a bitch in season you could be stopping a dog/bitch from getting a well deserved award in the show. Deal with it as I do.

By not taking your bitch to the show you could be stopping your own bitch getting a well deserved award. The dog owners are stopping you getting a well deserved award by taking their badly controlled untrained dogs to the show! It works both ways.

I have 3 entire boys  who are used at stud. I show them both in breed, agility and obedience. One of them is of a breed not generally regarded as easy to train. but even he knows the difference between the times he is working whether it is running agility or showing in breed. I have trained all my dogs to when to pay attention to me and when they can go sniffing on the floor looking for bitches or what ever.

I do show my bitches in breed at the start of their season. The only time I won take them is when my boys tell me they are ready to be mated and that is to protect my bitches from the untrained dogs at the show. not becauase I am worried about spoiling the other dogs chances of winning

I must admit I am astounded by the reactions on this thread. So many people who think that bitches should be locked up and kept away from their precious boys just in case it puts them off. TRAIN YOUR DOGS PEOPLE!! You cant ban everything that could conceivably distract a dog.

Has  it always been an unwritten rule? I would guess probably not hence the reason for the mating bitches rule.  Perhaps if people did take their in season bitches to shows and training more then dogs would learn to be better behaved around them.

Been thinking about this some more :-) Every week at shows there are dogs winning top honours including best in show. Presumably these dogs also have to compete with the same distractions of bitches in season as all the people who are moaning about it? These dogs are also entire  or they wouldn't get to where they are. The vast majority of them will be used at stud and quite frequently too given their qualities. If you want your dog to win top honours it will have to learn to cope with smelling bitches and a multitude of other things that could distract him. Someone said if your bitch is good enough it will do well even if it cant be shown when in season. Well If your dog is good enough it will do well inspite of the bitches around! Or rather if you are a good enough trainer/handler your dog will do well regardless of what is going on. I think bitches in season is a people problem not a dog problem.

> I get the feeling that most here would prefer bitches not be shown at all.   Then their dogs wouldn't be distracted.  
>
>

I think if you go back through some of the posts, some of us have/have had both sexes, so know both sides & still dont think in season bitches ought to be shown!!

This subject comes up regularly & never gets any different..some agree, some disagree!!

>According to many posters here, bitches can't go in puppy classes either,  they come into season at around six months, so wouldn't be allowed to go.

Bitch puppes can go into puppy classes as long as they're not in season! I generally show bitches - a have a bitch puppy who's coming up to 8 months now and we're watching for her first season. She's entered at LKA but if she comes in season then we won't go, it's as simple as that! That's why there are generally more absentees in bitch classes than dog classes - because the bitch has inconveniently come in season and the owner's considerately kept them at home.

I used to do Discover Dogs at Crufts with my boy, who although a show dog until his injury wasn't a stud dog. There was a nightmare year when we were doing the Sunday, and clearly there had been plenty of in-season bitches in the NEC over the three days previously. He behaved as well as he could do, bless him, but it was very difficult to ignore his willy on display for all to see, and he was really distressed.

>still dont think in season bitches ought not to be shown!! 

exactly my point. Glad you  agree with me :)

re-read by post & it should read in season bitches shouldnt be shown..so no we dont agree!!

>He behaved as well as he could do, bless him, but it was very difficult to ignore his willy on display for all to see, and he was really distressed.

So you should have excused him! Or did you think that the management should have asked all those bitches. Who were breaking no rules. to leave just because your boy couldnt cope?

If it was as much as a problem as people think there would have been 10000 dogs there in a similar state as your boy but I am guessing there werent. Therefore is is your problem not a showing problem. If a dog couldnt cope with crowds I wouldnt take him to crufts. If a dog cant cope with in season bitches dont take him where they will be. Simples :)

>Or did you think that the management should have asked all those bitches. Who were breaking no rules. to leave just because your boy couldnt cope?

That's just being silly. I'm pointing out that it's not just dogs in the same ring as bitches that are affected by them being in season. Remember that I show bitches, so I'm also one of the ones who loses money and an entry by not showing in season!

>If a dog cant cope with in season bitches dont take him where they will be.

I don't take my in-season bitches where they're likely to meet entire dogs, whether it's at a show or in the park. It's called being a responsible owner.

>This subject comes up regularly & never gets any different..some agree, some disagree!!

But whatever your personal view and what you choose to do with your own bitches, you need to know full well that there will be in season bitches at most championship shows, sometimes even open shows.

So yes male dogs owners will have to live with it, as in the UK there is no rule (and there could be) against in season bitches at conformation shows.  The KC haven't simply overlooked making one, as they are not allowed at other competitions.

Personally it is no fun showing an in season bitch unless it really is just the first day or two, but when she has finished it is annoying to have people tut because their male still shows interest. 

Understandable if it's only a week or so from the end, but often it's the ones who are mid way between seasons or even spayed girls.

So bitches often get blamed for boys being boys, especially adolescent ones.

> But whatever your personal view and what you choose to do with your own bitches, you need to know full well that there will be in season bitches at most championship shows, sometimes even open shows.
>
> So yes male dogs owners will have to live with it, as in the UK there is no rule (and there could be) against in season bitches at conformation shows.  The KC haven't simply overlooked making one, as they are not allowed at other competitions.
>
>

I do realise that , having been showing for over 30 years!

I think it's more prevalant than it ever used to be though!!

>I think it's more prevalant than it ever used to be though!!

I'd agree with that; there are more pot-hunters than there used to be, for whom showing is more than a fun hobby.

I would have thought that a well trained male would show better for having a bitch in season around.


A fully mature adult used to living with bitches, yes. I have even used that to my advantage with one of mine -bitch ringside at Crufts was in standing season so we had him focus on her. But a youngster, say a year old? No chance. Then there is the INexperienced adult male.  My friend had the first ever Crufts DCC winner when we got tickets. He was 6 years old and used at stud for the first time that year. Afterwards, it took a year to get him back to behaving in the ring, as he had nothing on his mind but bitches. He even cocked his leg up one judge's leg. 

Then there are the breeds where the male dogs are known to NOT generally get on with others of the same sex. Add an in season bitch to the mix and things could get out of hand. I have certainty seen first hand fights ringside between males.

And those of us who DO show both sexes will have an extra reason to leave the bitch at home -very unfair on the male dog to travel for hours in the near vicinity of an in season btich, and then what do you do at the show? I certainly don't lug cages around with me, there's enough stuff as it is with chairs and usually 3 large dogs etc.

If you miss 6 shows in a year with a bitch, then surely the simple answer is to spay her when she has been bred from and then campaign her heavily. I always find that the biggest advantage once a bitch has been spayed -you can enter shows and know she will be able to go.