Nina's started her first season, the only thing is we have an open show on the 8 and 14 of August, will she be okay to enter or will the male dogs be flocking at our feet?

Warm regards Susan

Sorry, but you are not supposed to take a bitch in season to any show, it isn't fair on the poor male dogs. They can't be expected to keep their minds on showing with that lovely smell around!! She might just barely be ok for the 14th depending on how long her season lasts, otherwise you'll just have to miss them. I have all this to look forward to with my puppy!  :-)

There is actually no rule to prevent you from taking an in season bitch to a show. It is however seen by some as 'not the done thing'.

My own personal feelings are, I would not do an open show, the financial loss is minimal and dogs are in much closer contact with eachother than at Championship shows, but I might well do a Champ show if I had particularly wanted the opinion of the judge or felt that we had a good chance of success, I could very easily keep my bitch away from other dogs in her crate on her bench exept when in the ring, or in a quiet place for a little toddle or a wee. With larger breeds it may be more difficult with open fronted benching giving access to passing dogs.

I believe though that there is a rule on this for obedience shows.

Dawn R.

>I believe though that there is a rule on this for obedience shows<

There are rules forbidding any in season bitch being at any of the "activites"shows

>>There is actually no rule to prevent you from taking an in season bitch to a show. It is however seen by some as 'not the done thing'.

I think most show schedules say please do not bring bitches in season.

In the breed ring?  Can't recall ever seeing it in a schedule but even if so, it's only a request - it is definitely not a Kennel Club rule and so would be entirely at the owner/exhibitor's discretion.

Regards, Teri :)

could it be a rule of the show, and therefore you would have to stick to it? I have only seen it on companion show scedules it says "no bitches in season please"

I think it would be less likely for experienced exhibitors to take an in season bitch to a companion show because there is really no way of segregating her from a potential multitude of other dogs - mostly untrained BUT even more likely that novice exhibitors or pet owners wouldn't know any better so there could be more chance of in season bitches being around.  I'm not sure about the biggest CDS (we don't have many in Scotland) but those up here rarely have a pre-printed schedule - just a flyer - and none that I've seen have made this request.

IMO it would be impossible to police it and, as I said, it's not a KC rule so I can't see how it could be enforced.   Perhaps someone will have a different experience though :)  regards, Teri  

Only ever seen it on Companion dog shwo schedules, wh8ich wouold be sensible, as amny attending both dogs and bitches are going tob me novices,a dn you enter on the day anyway, so no lossses re entry fees or coveted judges opinion.

I can't see that ever being a rule at champshows where the classes are single sexed or they would have to refund the entries.

Perhaps it is a request for smaller shows where there are certainly mixed classes.

I was showing 2 weeks ago and the lady in the ring told me her bitch was on day 12..   I told her, " I know,  do you think my dog normally acts like a maniac"     :-D

I couldnt see it being a rule at champ shows either but maybe smaller open shows and companion shows :)

LOL @ Blue :D :D :D   Admit it, they ARE unruly, naughty little people :P

LOL Teri , the flaming judge had the cheek to put the bitch 1st ;-)  

my poor wee man was doing his dinger ( pardon the pun) :-D

She might be just okay for the show on the 14th (if you thoroughly bath her beforehand), but I'd certainly forget about the one on the 8th. It's one of the problems we bitch lovers have to put up with, I'm afraid!

Rub her down with a mild solution of TCP or something when you get to the show to disguise the smell, there if no rule to stop you however health risks are around, and some dogs will not leave her alone.  If a bitch is taken to a show in mid season at her prime who's to say she won't be mated?  I don't think it's worth it really, I might take a bitch who's on day 1/2 or day 19/20 but never any other time.  Too risky and as a handler of largish breeds It's a pain to keep heads up and concentration.  My male found a smell out the back of benching at EOE champ show, wouldn't leave it and all the males where heads down just outside our ring.  The following day, out back again another male I had found the same smell! :(  two days at the same show of males finding a bitches sent :(  Wasn't nice for me unfortantly and many dog owners do not like it when bitches in season are at a show.

Another point with people not liking it is yourreputation could go down, giving yourself a bad name, is that worth a peice of card?  You would be surprised how quickly a high reputation could go from sky high to 6 ft under....

At the end of the day there's no rule saying you can't go so it's up to you! :)

It will be very evident she is in season being a bullmastiff ! I personally would not take a bitch in the middle of her season to a show but if she is at the very end & is not too swollen then it is not so bad

Hi

I've missed Crufts because Alice was in season.  I personally would not consider taking my bitches at any point in their season.  Alice is now in her 22 day and still stands for George who, although having had the op, still tries to mate her.

CarolW

No i wont take her thats why i've asked, i dont wont any owners coming up to me shouting the odds because i've been thougthless in chasing getting placed, and i wouldn't let any dog near her to get mated she's only a baby.  I haven't taken her to ringcraft tonight, instead i took my brother in laws dogue de boux didn't i have fun with him, few i was sweating. I agree Moonmaiden she's on her second day and you can tell something down there's not right you can't miss it.

Warm regards Susan

I would never take my dogs to a show be it open, champ, companionship show or whatever if it's in season, it's just totally unfair and yes my boys can tell a mile off if a bitch is in season even if it's not next to them.  Makes them stand lovely but when they move their moving in the bitch's direction and not n the one that I want :d

This is just my feeling and I know many don't agree but I think it's totally unfair they'll only be missing one or two shows anyway.