Now that Crufts is over for another year, I wonder if it is really everybody's favourite show. Although it is always nice to tell people that you have a first at Crufts it is the venue that I dislike. That long walk in, the echo effect in the halls, my dogs just do'nt seem to like it. To top it all its the drive home, or should I say the hugh queues just to get out of the car park. Now that the spring is almost upon us my favourite shows are coming up. Perhaps my favourite show is SWKA, maybe is because I'm Welsh, but the show is so relaxed with a helpful committee that even though there are no tickets for my breed I look forward to it every year. Everyone must have a fovourite.
Karen

I must admit to quite liking the NEC, partly because it's only a 40 minute drive from my house! Other than that, Bath showground is okay, South Wales okay (fun exploring around the stables!) but Malvern is wonderful (when the weather is nice). Perry Park is another good site. :)

Bournemouth is probably my favourite show, love the journey through the New Forest. Have to say though, living in Ascot, Richmond and Windsor take some beating for me! So relaxing knowing you haven't got a long journey to get home.

M.

Dear Brihow
Sorry - have only had dogs as pets so never been to any of these but what and when is the Richmond show? We'd like to start going to some shows, preferably in the South West.
thanks
cissy

Hi Cissy,

Richmond Champ Show is at Ascot Racecourse, early September.

Re. South West ......... getting over that way you have Bath Champ Show in May, Paignton in June, Bournemouth is in the New Forest in August. If you want to visit any of these, let me know what breed you have and I'll give you dates.

Unfortunately if you're Cornwall, you'll have a bit of a trek to any of the major shows. There may be shows specific to your breed in your area though.

Marina

thanks Marina! We live in Surrey so all of those would be great - I do like going to things in spring.

We have a WPem Corgi and [sigh] I would like to show him as he is beautiful both in looks and temperament and has loads of champs in his line. However, [deeper sigh] he also has a gorgeous foxy tail and when we mentioned this to some of the WP Corgi showers at Crufts they treated us very rudely and literally turned their backs on us - I am well aware of the tail docking controversy but their vehemence still really upset me. I think we probably won't show him but just go along to the shows - it would be hard enough training him for showing let alone dealing with the ostracism that comes with the tail.

thanks
Cissy

Oh, you'll be the same day as me then (Pastoral Group).

Southern Counties Champ Show (Newbury Showground, just off M4) is 1st June
Windsor Champ Show (Home Park, Windsor) is 5th July
Bournemouth Champ Show (Brockenhurst, New Forest) is 11th August (Monday)
Richmond Champ Show (Ascot Racecourse) is 6th September

Let me know if you're going to any and you'd like to arrange to meet up with a friendly face.

M.

ok that would be excellent - I look forward to it [and crossing fingers that there will be some corgis WITH TAILS].
Cissy

Poor you, Cissy, to meet such rude people. :( Not all people who show are as bad as that - but to some the docking issue has made them lose perspective and they can only see the tail, and not the rest of the dog. From what I've read, Pem Corgis were docked to distinguish them from the Cardis, so that farmers would know if someone from the neighbouring county was stealing their cattle! How true that is, I don't know. :)

Dear me, are you saying that the good people from Cardigan would steal the cattle from the people of Pembrokeshire? Pembroke has always been known as 'Little England beyond Wales' so I suppose they were fair game! Anyway I digress, I shall be at most southern champ shows this year, on the days that the tidy dogs are being shown....gundogs of course with my DOCKED spaniels! Tell me, how did favourite championship shows turn into cattle rustling and docking?
Karen

Hi Karen,
The thread digressed slightly because of the remarks about how rude and unfriendly some of the Pem Corgi people were at Crufts. :( It would be enough to put people off showing entirely.

yep and after my quick chat with jeangenie my whinge is over - ie. absolutely no intentions to start a riot over docking, post-medieval farming practices in Welsh counties, etc etc
cissy

The reason why some Pembroke Corgis have tails & others have natural bobs is because a Cardigan Corgi was crossed into the Pembroke lines I think it was something to so with increase the size of the pembrokes but it was so long ago It is difficult to get the correct information

The Pembrokes at one time were natural bob tails & some breeders still have natural bob lines

Jeangenie I am glad you said that and couldn't agree more about the tail wagging the dog so to speak - my husband shuffled me off pretty quickly to admire the Pyrenean Mountain Dogs after this experience but I was mad that I couldn't even share a laugh or information about my breed of dog with people there who are supposed to have such top dogs.
The most scary thing about this issue is that my breeder is a fantastic lady and she told me she was constantly called up and threatened by all sorts of anonymous people for being anti docking. Also, while I have lost count of the number of people in the street who have exclaimed with joy at seeing my [very much NON CATTLE WORKING] dog with his tail I will always remember running away from the one guy who said menacingly when dog was 4 months - "you know it's not too late to have it done don't you"!!
cissy

I like the Birmingham national show at stafford because it is outside.

excuse me all :D . theres non like border union, you get to park up right next to your tents, the shows really friendly, scenery lovley on the way up too, -even though weve no cc's on, its a firm favourite,

Yep!!! Border Union does it for me too Dizzy.Our local eh, us northerners stick together. That view over the Tweed to Floors Castle can't be beat. Evidently I'm in for a treat, I'm told that National Gundog is at Springwood Park, Kelso, this year too. I'm chuffed as it's only an hour from me.
Dawn R.

Same for me Dawn. Good eh :D

I have never been to Kelso, but have heard it is a great venue, unfortunately the GSD judges, have always been for German type there, My favorite show is WKC, because we take our caravan, its great for the dogs, atmosphere on the camp site is brilliant, we do Caravan Warden at Bournemouth for 10 days, so going on to WKC is our holiday, Also East of England is great for caravaning.
Worst show is Crufts, horrid for the dogs, they hate it !!!!!!
Charm

I used to love border union , but haven't been for the last 4 years as there aren't classes on for my breed and it's a long way to go for for no breed classes, so my next fav is Leeds champ show i like the fact that they keep the entry price low and have never charged extra for parking and the biggest plus is it;s only 10 minutes away for me,:D :D