I arranged to meet up with some of my puppy buyers at a companion show today and though I might as well enter my girls and the most horrible thing happened. I showed my young Irish and got second place, showed my older Irish and also got second place, but while I was standing my older girl for the judge a bloke on the outside of the ring said in a rather loud voice that my girl was a lovely pet. I agreed and then he went off on some tirade about her being a show dog and not a pet. I said 'Jealousy is a terrible thing' then carried on with my girl. His daughter asked me what kind of dog Keevy was when I got back in the line and I said she was an Irish. Anyway we got our places and I headed out the ring. I suppose I should have kept my mouth shut, but I couldn't help but say to this man that as my girl was a KC Registered dog she was eligible to enter, regardless of the fact that I show her occasionally. He then proceeded to roar and shout at me for no reason. He accused me of having a go at his daughter, when all I had done was answer her question. I said that if he was really that annoyed about his daughter not getting placed she should have been entered in the kids classes earlier in the day, then when I tried to explain that all my dogs were pets he shouted right in my face to eff off two or three time, spat in my face and raised his fist to hit me. The steward who had come over got hold of the bloke and I walked off. I'm furious and this has really put me off companion shows. Just needed to have a rant sorry.

That's disgusting!  I can't stand people who behave like that and yes, it obviously was just sheer pettiness and jealousy!  I did a companion show last year with my SBT and had someone comment on Buster being a show dog i.e. shouldn't really be here!!  I took great delight in telling him that Buster isn't KC reg, so this is the only type of shows he can do!!  The look on his face was a picture :D

Sarah.

OMG Alli, you were so restrained, I would definitely have punched the bloke

I can't believe how some people react at times.  One organiser came up to me in a loud voice and said that I was a "Dog Snob" because I'd come with two dogs that were pedigrees and it was obvious that they were show dogs!!  One, I'd only had for a few weeks and hadn't shown him before and the other one had only gone to about 3 shows.  Needless to say I will not be supporting the same charity this year!

I've found the only safe bet is to bring both show dogs and a crossbreed. ;) Most companion show judges seem to have a preference for one or the other!

Or you could always try what I did, which is to take my lovely pedigree boy to a companion show and do so badly that everyone loved him and no-one was jealous! LOL. Seriously, what a horrible experience.  There are enough classes in most shows to make sure that everyone gets something, so there is no need for such nastiness.

I have always supported our local Companion show with any of mine that are still elligible. 

Of course they are show sogs, but those who have won too much can't entere except the novelty classes.  My champion bitch never gets placed in the novelties, and I don't mind as I go to have a nice day out and support a charity.

I would certainly hope that my up and coming pups would not be penalised in the Pedigree classes for being too good??  After all half the judges don't know what my breed is supposed to look like anyway. 

Once had BIS with my RCC winning bitch(before she had won this of course), and was very pleased until the judge told me how much she liked my Buhund (I own Norwegian Elkhounds :D ).

Brainless, it is quite scary when judges come out with comments like that isn't it? Recently went to a companion show and the judge was making her selection and pointed to us saying "3rd to the lovely Irish Setter" - he is infact, quite obviously, a light blue English Setter! EEK! I am sure it happens too in stakes classes at Champ shows but maybe they are just a bit more discreet.  ;-)

Claire I so wanted to. However my eldest daughter appeared and I saw that she was upset, so I thought it was better to walk away. My OH was coming to my rescue and I grabbed hold of him and pulled him along with me as he would definitely have sorted the bloke out. I just wanted to get away from the show as I would have sat and steamed for a while then went back for another go. Luckily common sense prevailed and I left :D

Let's just hope pond-life like that who can't behave at a novelty show don't decide to go for it on the open & champ show scene   Such poor sportsmanship and inverted snobbery has no place in something that should after all be a relaxing and enjoyable hobby at whatever level.

Best not to rise to it - but sometimes easier said than done :P  regards, Teri ;)

I could see his point more if I had won every class, but I didn't lol. Thr judge just obviously liked my girls on the day. I must practise keeping my mouth shut :D  Maybe I should wear a gag when I go to these shows, I'm sure it would make my OH happy at least :p :p

Know what you mean about jealousy at exemption/companion shows. I went to one with two friends and one had a veteran, somebody at the show reported the one with the veteran to KC of all things...... Claimed the veteran wasn't a veteran. Anyway I know who did the reporting and it was neither myself nor my other friend. Any my friend with the veteran was told by the person who reported her it was my other friend so they fell out and never spoke to each other again.

well must say I got spat on as I left the ring after winning dog ticket at Leeds champ this year,I never actually saw it or they would have gone home with a nice shiner,but a stall holder came up and wiped my shoulder down,someone who was there looking to buy a pup in my breed,as they had just retired and wanted to take up a nice hobby, was stunned,and said he would never buy anything to show now,he could not believe it,
Wendy

That's disgusting! And not like you walked off with BP and BIS or something, just 2nd places!! And Wendy, that's terrible too. There's been a few mutterings when my boy has won, as I am not a 'face', but I would hope nobody in Cavaliers would spit on people or threaten them!!

I just can't believe the mentality of people.  I was lucky with my Irish Setter, she did a lot of winning at companion shows and i never heard anything bad said about her (to my face anyway), sadly i have just lost her.  On the other hand i did recieve a comment about my Gordon Setter when showing him when the judge came over to me and said "sorry i think you are in the wrong class, cross-breed is class 5!!!!".  I think one of the funniest things was there was another gentleman showing his gordon setter and a judge could not make up their mind between his gordon and my irish, he gave it to the gordon, and the man showing the gordon came over and said "that was close, well done and gave me the biggest hug, the next show the judge did it the other way round and my irish beat his gordon, i went to say well done, he just stormed off, i was speechless and he totally ignored me at every other show we went too.

You were so restrained, i am placid until someone is nasty to one of my own, then i explode.