Really looking forward to watching the working and pastoral.. especially rough Collie group.

Best advice?  Wear comfortable shoes.  By the end of the day my feet are killing me. 

Pastoral is my favourite day.

Yes i have been told that !!! will also take some snacks ..

Going to the Gundog day for the fifth time. Cracking day out. Take a backpack for all those purchases!

Keep an eye on queues for toilets, plenty of ladies in all the halls BUT you can wait for a good 20 minutes or more to get in. If you haven't been for a while and see one without a queue outside the doors - get in the line
Especially important on Sat and Sun !

This year I'm going for two days.... I'd really like to watch gundog's and rough collies, gundog's I'll see on Friday but I will miss the Roughs on Saturday...it's far too busy for me at weekends.
I don't like the increase in crowd numbers at weekends, so always go in the week, I have to alternate days to coincide with breeds and sometimes miss out like this year, but I just couldn't do with the crowds.

Comfy shoes and full purse are my must haves for the day.

Yes with comfortable shoes.   And take something like Paracetamol with you - Crufts always gives me a head-ache.   Also, unless things have improved since our time up there, go to the Loo well ahead of 'need'.   The queues are shocking.

But do enjoy!!!

ps   Be prepared for a vast area - because it is ... vast.

I would also advise to take some food/drink with you or. at the very least, some snacks.  Food is quite expensive at the NEC and the queues can be rather long.

Agree 100% about the shoes and to be prepared about how vast it is.  If there are stall in particular that you want to visit, make a note of which hall & number of stand then you don't have to wander aimlessly around every hall.

Other than that, enjoy!  It's certainly an experience!

It also gets rather warm in there so dress in layers rather then a heavy coat. Be careful with rucksacks as it does get very crowded and apart from knocking people with the rucksack, it could be raided by a pickpocket when you are all squashed together. I took a bag that could be slung right over my shoulder. I've seen people with a fold up crate on wheels which are useful and are often sold at events such as these.
You may go with a full purse, but it will be very empty when you leave. There are cash machines about should you run short or your credit card looks horrified at being used yet again.
its great fun,especially gun dog day and the Discover Dogs area is fascinating, all those dogs you've read about but never seen in the flesh

Repeating what others have said - take drinks with you, the atmosphere is very dry in there, best ones are those little cartons of juice as you just chuck the empty carton and no big container to lug round.

Also we usually walk round halls 1-5 looking at stalls,if you want anything a bit bigger/heavier make a note and then walk back reverse direction to actually buy , saves carting stuff all the way round all day.

Hope you enjoy the Roughs, PE, nice big entry to have a look at. Enjoy ... (And definitely comfortable shoes!)

Thank you for all your good advice .. Visiting the ladies will need good time management !!
i will  love seeing the Roughs for sure ..

There are toilets on the way in from the Car park, so I always use them, as never seem to get the time once showing

Best advice I can think of that hasn't already been given is.... don't buy anything until you are about to leave or go to your car as it will be like carrying a ten tonne ball and chain for the rest of the day!

Friend of my takes het mum's four wheeled shopping trolley, puts all food and drink ,takes resealable bottles sandwiches in disposable containers, as she shops she puts her shopping on the bottom heaviest first leaving her food on top, she ties her coat to the handle with a elastic strap

lol i will keep that in mind !!

I'd take lots of snacks but healthy and long lasting energy ie raisins,nuts and bananas. Water bottles good as you can refill them and In an emergency act as a toilet stop. The little disposable festival girl toilet aids help greatly  ( I hate public toilet seats and always carry a disposable seat cover and tissues!)
I found a little water spray helped to cool myself down and the dog! Enjoy

measure your dogs all over - ie neck, back lengh, chest depth etc. also measure your dogs current bed . there are always some really nice beds, coats and collars at good price and its terrible if can't get as having to play guess the size!

Errrrm I know it will sound weird.....but I will be wearing a tena lady.....The queues can be long or you may need to walk round to get to the loo so having a tena lady keeps me from worrying which gives me the added confidence in knowing that I won't have to suffer any embarrassment in case I have an accident - which won't happen because I have more confidence! ;)

I will also be carrying a can of magi-cool with me as it is dry in there and you do start to feel it after a few hours. The food isn't all that great from memory and even the subway we had 'kinda sucked'.

Make sure you remember where you've parked if you're going by car as you can easily lose it and the free shuttle is a god send :)

and I learnt all this from my first ever visit last year! Enjoy!

> Make sure you remember where you've parked if you're going by car as you can easily lose it and the free shuttle is a god send :)<br />

I can soooo relate to all this post (especially the Tena Lady and the car!).   Sad innit but good to know I'm not alone.

free shuttle is a god send

great on the way in but depending what time you leave can be queues about a 'mile' long even with the non stop line of buses filling up, lots of people have dogs and all size/shape of parcels/shopping all trying to fit on the buses at the same time.

The past few years the authorities have allowed taxis onto the site, I can't remember exactly how much - couple of quid ? per person - but well worth it when you have been walking virtually non stop from 8/9am to 4/5/6 pm and have shopping as well

It's fun going on the shuttle at the end of the day. Most people are really cheery as they have enjoyed themselves. Everyone eyes up what other people have bought and starts to consider whether it's worth going back to see if they can find one. Many are just glad to sit down and take the weight off, but not adverse to having a chat. It's a lovely day out.

Thanks again for all your good advice ..i have made notes !!

Although Roughs are my reason for going i will enjoy seeing so many other breeds .