hi all i read the post on the bullmastiff open show in kirkby on sunday and would really like to go, but was wondering if i could take my 18 month old bullie with me even though he's not entered. he's well socialised with other dogs and people but i dont know if its allowed.thanks for your help.

Sorry, if it's a show held under KC rules only entered dogs are allowed.

There has been a change in the rules & unentered dogs can now be taken to limited Ch Shows

I have received my little supply of forms & numbers to issue to any member of the public wo comes to our show with their dog(s)

"At its meeting on July 5th 2005, the General Committee agreed to amendments in the Show, Agility, Obedience and Working Trial Regulations that will allow a society, at its own discretion, to admit spectators into its show/event when accompanied by their dog. This will provide an opportunity for potential exhibitors/competitors to ask questions of experienced exhibitors, breeders and competitors, and learn more about the world of showing dogs, without having to leave their dog outside the show.

For the benefit of all those attending shows, owners of 'spectator dogs' will be asked to complete a short entry form which will require the owners' details, and confirmation that the dog is healthy and will be kept strictly under control.  The society will retain the discretion to refuse entry if dogs appear unhealthy or are badly controlled.

This new amendment does not affect the regulations regarding those exhibitors who have already entered and wish to bring additional dogs to a show.  These dogs must still be entered 'Not for Competition'.

A copy of the Spectator Dog Entry Acceptance book will be sent along with a covering letter to all those societies holding shows. The Regulation amendments do not apply across the board to General & Group Championship Shows. These shows will still need to apply individually for permission from the Kennel Club to admit spectators' dogs."

That should read Limited & Open Shows-General & Group Champ shows have to apply

It is still down to the discreation of the show society concerned to allow this though so you would need to check with them.

No sorry it's not I have the benefit(sic)of being a show sec & this The society will retain the discretion to refuse entry if dogs appear unhealthy or are badly controlled.  is the only reason they can be refused

The KC letter is quite clear about this

Really then I will have to go back to our next committe meeting and sort this :(

Serving on a show commitee I have seen the booklet of entry slips to be filled in, but we were not issued with a copy of the accompanying letter and therefore I don't think anyone has realised this is not at our societies discreation.  I do hope its more likely that the bigger shows will attract the visitors as a lot of the smaller shows just don't have the facilities or people willing to help make these things work.

Oh and just as an afterthought how do you tell someone that their dogs behavour isn't suitable to be allowed into a dog show without getting into an argument :rolleyes:

Exactly feelings is it before or after someone gets bitten :rolleyes:

There's no discretion apart from the big shows which probably have more room

We only hold 2 limited shows & the hall is just the right size for the entry we get of around 80 dogs in 26 classes

My apologies Gillian It wasn't in the letter doh Just reread that It was from one of the pl**kers er committee members(via e mail) who passed the rule change, there is still discretion not to allow spectator dogs but the intention in that they will be admitted where ever possible

A bit of a Denning law interpretation is the intention Apparently the suggestion was just to allow anyone to bring unentered dogs & it was refined to the decision they came to. I raised it with the Committee member as our hall is so small & was told unless the hall was at capacity we could be breaching te member of the public's human rights !!!!!!!!! which was the real reason for the rule change I think

So I suppose it turn up & see on the day !

Now if it had been making NFC free I would have thought yippee

The silly thing about it is that if a society chooses to allow member of the publics dogs, you can not bring in your extra dog, it has to be entered NFC.

I really can't see how they can enforce that one.

Me neither although we do not charge for NFC at our limited breed nor open obedience

Thanks for clearing that up for me Dyane I'm off to a show tomorrow with another commitee member so you can imagine what one of the topics of converstaion was going to be ;)

LOLOL Had a long day today so mind was a bit scrambled I knew somewhere someone had said the intention really was to allow local people/Gen Public to attend shows & possibly get interested at a level above Companion shows, fine in theory if you have the room & the insurance can cover enough people!

I can imagine some shows at places like Newark getting a fair few

Obedience shows of course are a bit more relaxed as most are outdoors on playing fields, racecourse etc that it is impossible to stop non entered dogs being brought along. LOL I took my pup when I was judging-can't enter him yet as he's not KC reg yet as we've waiting for the ISDS to send the certs out then I have to decide on a name format ! Had to move some members of the public who were sitting by my sendaway markers eating ice cream with their dogs ! Got a mouthful off them, the dogs were fine ;) hm could we chuck out the owners & allow the dogs :D