I've just come back from a show - it was held in a small sports hall with not much room to move the dogs between the rings. I found a spot to put my chair and settled my dogs . A couple of Cocker spaniel folk then came along with two large crates, a grooming table three bags and two chairs leaving even less room for my two quite large pooches and myself. They then let their four dogs leap all over my dogs. When my boy growled at a particularly pesistant and exhuberant male spaniel the owners then had a go at me !!! .

They claimed that their dogs were just being friendly and that mine should be the same - well I'm sorry folks but whilst my breed are happy to settle quietly in their own corner they DO NOT like strange dogs leaping on their heads. I actually ended up moving myself because they just would not keep their dogs under control and I did not want my two stressed out before they went in the ring.

They even threatened to report my dogs as being aggressive :( ( they absoloutly  are not - one of them is a registered PAT dog !). Can people not understand that different breeds react differently and NOT let them run up to other dogs on loose leads - I do find that the gundog exhibitors are the worst culprits for this they just assume that all breeds should have the same reaction as theirs - well I have a guarding/shepherding breed (BSD) and they do not behave in the same way as your average gundog !.

A little thought and consideration goes a long way .

Rant over :)

Yvonne

At least one of mine would have growled too! Some people are just SO inconsiderate!
Archer

Oh how I agree - and dont get me started on the ones who let their dogs jump all over my bitches and then ask "is she due in season", as if it is her fault.

We were at a show and got there early to set up the cages 5 Sibes and 2 chairs. walked and settled the dogs into the cages, thought now time for breakfast. we were gone about 30 min's and come back and the cages were gone and in there place was a complete stranger grooming her Afghan. I said where the hell are my dogs. To which she replied we have moved them over there you should not be so greedy taking up the spaces. went and got the show secretary and did a ballistic bouncing up and down. end result we had to move back, but to a smaller space, and then she let her bloody dog pee up my chair. to which I tipped to pee out into her grooming bag while she was in the ring.
Damn small justice, but it cheered my day up

I know how you feel, some people just think that they own the show, I have had long coated breeds that take a lot of grooming and breeds that just require a quick flick or now a finger comb through,(Spanish Water Dogs) but would never take up lots of space, but even then you get people set up in between you and someone else where there is not enough room and they end up taking over, it makes me mad, my current breed do not like other dogs leaping on them either, although they dont react aggresivly it still upsets them and makes them spook. Even worse there is one man at my local ringcraft class who thought it was great fun to let his dog come right up behind my then puppy and sniff and jump on her which resulted in her spooking in the ring when we were running around as she thought all dogs were gonna do it, it has taken months to put right and even now she still spooks really easily in the ring.

I have one dog, who admitidly isn't the best temperd but I always have him under full control, one day a young puppy bitch was being let jump all around and jumped on the back end of my boy, to which he turned and snapped.  He didn't get anywhere near the pup but I was told a male should never go for a young puppy bitch (which ok I agree) but I know if anyone came up behind me and jumped of me I would throw a fit at them, I wouldn't care, you don't know who's behind you.

Also many times while trying to walk this dog though crowds of dogs, I have had him on a short lead, concentrating on me, and people have their dogs loose not giving a care!

Will also mention these are gundogs, they do not have a briilent temperment all of them (yesterday and Irish setter flew at everything that went past it :(

Unfortantly I think some people take too much to shows (including more dogs then they can cope with) and forget thats some shows unfortantly can't hold the space for everyones grooming sallon!

I was at an open show once standing by the ring watching some judging of terriers. (Can't remember which now.)

My Labrador was lying down next to me when suddenly one of the terriers in the ring shot over to her and had a go at her! Then the handler came running over and had a go at me!

Eh?

My dog hadn't done a thing and didn't even stand up for herself.

We walked off. :D

I agree 100% Trevor!  I have had the same thing several times myself. 
Dawn.

I do know what you mean! I have gundogs, mine are kept close by me the whole time, I don't let mine bounce over people, or other dogs. I find that other people will let their dogs bounce all over mine though, especially as they are flatcoats and are friendly. This annoys the hell out of me, and I wish they wouldn't do it.

Its not only at shows, I like to work my dogs and find that when I arrive at a shoot there will be all the beaters and pickers up with their dogs on leads then a gun or two will arrive, and just let their dog out of the car to run where it pleases until our gamekeeper reminds them it is shoot and he does not expect that kind of thing. I also get fed up when dog walkers allow their dogs to interfere with my dogs when I am out training, it is obvious I am trying to do something but still they let their dogs run amok! I even had one recently run up and take the retrieve item from my puppy!