:p

Going back several years (because it is about 12 years since I have been there) at the Horse of the Year Show, you could buy additional passes which allowed  access to thes stabling/excercise area.  I can't remember if anyone could buy these passes, or if it was just the owners/producers or the horses.  They were a sort of "access all area" type thing, as opposed to the General public passes which just let visitiors in to the viewing area.  Perhaps something along these lines could work.  However, a cautionary word, as much as I would like to restrict visitiors in the benching area, we shoudl remember how much the HOYS has taken a backseat compared to Crufts, not even any main channel TV coverage for years!
bye
Gwen

I don't show any more, and would be happy to be included in the 'banned from benches without an invitation' crowd.

Ah, but then you'd miss out on the "banned" by the NEC bench parties :D   No, I'm sure if we put our minds to it we could set up a private arrangement for certain retired show goers while ensuring protection from the madding crowds ......

Teri ;)

No, honestly, I really wouldn't mind asking someone at the roped-off area whether Susan Smith (a name out of Neighbours, by the way!) at bench number 5413 was available for a chat. If so, great. If not, fair enough.

It's the people I want to talk to, not look at a sleeping dog! ;) I can look at those any day of the week! :D

Totally agree Yvonne - they only have the show because exhibitors support it and we pay a darn sight more than the visiting GP for the privilege too!  Over and above which we're dictated to on how long our poor dogs can be away from their benches and on what time we can leave the pemises :rolleyes:

High time firstly the exhibits and then the exhibitors' comfort and wellbeing was given priority - instead of being treated as an inconvenience.

regards, Teri :)

The public DO provide alot of money for Crufts.  They ar paying an entry fee and buying from the stands.  without money being spent at the stands they wouldn't be able to attend crufts taking away alot of money!

However I do think benches and grooming area's should be "public free" But again...HOWEVER benches would have to be put in certain area's and not surrounding rings for this to be 'policed' with an acceptable cost.  Would all exhibitors be happy to have benching further away from the ringside?  I think that having the benching the way it is would be to hard to keep the public away as some are just opposite the ring :)  Benches for IRWS and the aussies had one row facing the creche and main walkway.  (I was surprised the children were quite!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I think we (exhibitors) have many idea's however they do need to be thought though properly, then we should put these idea's to the KC! :)

Yvonne...I thought that was me talking :D I agree with every word.

What about the child that got bit at crufts last year on gundog day. he was going down the benches banging on the sides, his parents did nothing to stop him .got to one bench dog deep in sleep bang went the child on the side of the bench up jumped the startled dog and just lunged out.If public want to go down the benches why dont they get there kids under control.OH !! and they blamed the dog for this.Most of the dogs get stressed with the atmosphere at crufts its different than other champ shows not many public spectators then. Last year trying to get to YKC ring was murder public would not let you through everyone surrounding the dog you could feel the tension they were under asked folk to move and they just looked at you as much as to say you shouldnt be bringing a dog down here. I would like to say thanks to them at the pedigree stand who actually made a gang way to let the poor dogs through.

we where standing with friends last year, not going to say which breed though and there was a child of about 8 running down the line of benches whacking them with a sword like thing and he was laughing, and his parents had his back towards him and not watching, and the man across from where we where standing got up and as the boy came down the other side just grabbed his arm and in a very loud voice shouted DOES THIS BELONG TO YOU, his parents turned around and said yes, well get him under control my dogs are better behaved than him, they went to say something to him by this time he had frog marched the boy to his parents and said if any dog bites him hear, he will be to blame and you will be sued for not keeping controll of your child, and walked off, we just stood there and clapped there was about 20 of us, they grabbed their son and took off,
Carol

they should put signs up around the benches asking people not to touch the dogs and to keep children under control, it might make people think a bit more :)

People ignore the 'No Smoking' signs, so why would they bother with 'Do Not Touch' signs?

Hooray, I would have been clapping too Carol!! Wish I had the guts to do that sometimes!! I see far more badly behaved children than dogs anywhere!!

Great news folks!

One of our breed club reps attended the KC Liaison Meeting today and due to the high number of complaints they have already received YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE IN AND USE MESH CRATES.
This should be confirmed in both of next week's dog papers.

Let's hear for the little people for a change, whooo hoooo :D

Teri ;)

Teri do you know where you can find out the sizes of the benches for each breed?  I think my light crate si probably too big for our alloted size, but I woudl be curious to know how much they allow for Elkhounds.

Hi Barbara,

My soft crate is normal BSD size benching size (if you can remember what that is ) although the soft cages are about 2" longer than the equivalent wire ones of same height and width so TBH on regular benching for us they do overhang by between 1-2" but obviously that's not a big deal.  Will go see if I can find the wrapping for my latest purchase (I seem to accummulate far more than I need) and post again if it helps.  I would have thought your breed's benches were similarly sized to our own anyway - but not 100% sure.......

There's bound to be a link for recommended minimum sizes but goodness knows where

(great help me!)
anyway, 2 ticks and I'll go root around (under the bed LOL) for flat pack boxes :D

Right,

my "Pet Mate" ones - the full canvas, rounded top, mesh front panel with vented sides sort are not as deep (i.e. from front to back) or quite as tall as my "Light & Easy" ones - which are mesh all sides with aluminium supports but unfortunately I don't have the original flat boxes with measurements for either kind - only plastic dust covers :(  When I bought the latter ones this summer, I checked they fitted our standard benches when we were at SKC because I could see they were bigger and they easily did.  They are exactly the same width as the size below for smaller dogs according to the retailer - but then I didn't check that personally.

Hopefully someone with better knowledge of where to find links to exact measurements will come along and help you more.

Sorry!  Teri :)

Not sure if those of you with hairy things :D :D have bigger sizes Teri but us with the shortcoateds tend to have Light 'n' Easy LnE30  which is     30" long    21" wide and     24 " tall. When I was first told that size I thought oh that'll be too small, but the dogs do fit. :)

Edited to say: hm, that sounded a bit rude almost!!! I did mean that the DOGS are the hairy things!!ROFL!

LOL - no, you're probably right Marianne about the cage sizes (and the dogs should be the same ;) ) - I just know one lot of my soft cages is a slightly different length and height to the other lot but the width is the same but as to definite measurements I'll go with yours (tape measures are banned from my household - scales are bad enough :D )   I'll probably use my canvas ones for Crufts - they give the girls more privacy!

Cheers, Teri :)

I bought the 42inch long one that is 30 inches high which will take three of mine comfortably. 

The size I would normally use for one dog, but will take 2 is the 36inch long one that is about 26inches high.

Wouldn't put an Elkhound in a 24 inch high cage as it squishes their ears down when sat up, I am surprised a Belgian would fit into the collie size crate?

Has anyone any idea where the kennel club sizes for benches are.

Hooray, show being about the exhibitors in a small way at least. Excellent news!! :D 

M.