my dog has just started spotting and is entered in manchester in 1 week should i phone them and tell them she wont be there? or tell them on the day as i still have one dog showing or wot should i do?
kind regards
maria

It is polite to tell the Steward when they call the class that the exhibit is absent, but they simply get marked absent if they don't show for their class.

I suspect my bitch may be joining yours on the absent list for the same reason, unless she can just hang on another 6 days.

thank you brainless,
i will do that!
good luck with your dog,
maria

Yep, just tell them on the day. At least I've got 4 or 5 months clear now, depending on what cycle my young bitch has! Mind you, she's entered in shows just about when any false pregnancies would come to a head, so I'll have to keep an eye on her! What fun bitches are!! :-D

thanks lucy,
i have 3, 1 has just finished 1 is just finishing 1 is starting, last year 2 came in season the same time much easier but she is late this time:rolleyes:

We have just missed dalmatian of the year because of seasons no matter what happens that dog always has her season so we miss it   Luckily not booked in for Manchester with her just my baby and his auntie.   As someone said earlier then you have the phantoms to contend with god I wish I only had dogs :rolleyes:

So is mine in season - so I will only be there with 1

Mines hanging on as long as she can and lkeeping me sweating thinking we may miss crufts:rolleyes::rolleyes:

I thought you could take a dog in season to a champ show as the dogs and bitches are judged seperatly???  Can someone please advise? 

I have seen people in the ring with bitches in FULL season at Champ AND Open Shows (for me this is a no no as it is NOT fair on the males in the ring).

Now I am confused.

Hi Liisa

There is no KC rule against taking an in season bitch to conformation shows - but at open level because of the fact that many classes are mixed sex and conditions relatively cramped it's pretty much an "unwritten rule" with sporting exhibitors.

I have twice taken a bitch who was almost over her season (day 20 + ) to champ shows but only ones where I knew the layout allowed me to have her well away from the benching areas and also a good distance from the ring.  She was happy as larry in a cage beside me and exercised off the show area on a flexi and wasn't a nuisance to anyone on either occasion  One show was the last day of a four day show and the other a one day group champ show - so on neither occasion would her presence have had an effect on males being judged in the ring after her.

Regards Teri :)

At champ shows the dogs and bitches are indeed judged separately - but they're in the same hall, in close proximity, and benched according to owner's surname. The dogs are going to be just as upset as if they were in the same ring. That's why I'd never take a bitch in full season (first or last day, perhaps) to any show; and yes, that was my rule when I was showing bitches, not dogs!

I agree that it isnt fair on the males as yes quite rightly you could be benched next to a male.  My male went crazy at an open show as there was a bitch in full season yet nobody said anything?

Why do people do it then if they know the upset it can cause? 

Either selfishness or thoughtlessness, IMO. :(

I both show and have lived with dogs and bitches at the same time so can see it from either POV.   Personally I think it is totally unreasonable to take an in-season bitch to a regular open show but, if the circumstances (i.e. venue, exercise area, car parking etc) are suitable, it is possible to attend a breed club open show.

At champ shows the vast majority are outdoors so hardly cramped conditions and as much as for the bitch's sake as courtesy to other exhibitors I think it inappropriate to bench an in-season bitch.   As owners of bitches get no refund of entry fees should their girls come into season at an inappropriate time and IMO providing a bitch is either in the first or last few days of a season and in herself quite happy to travel and attend a show then until the KC says otherwise, it's at the sole discretion of the owners. 

My males if anything have shown better at champ shows after the whiff of a distant in season bitch - so not all males are adversely affected by it :)

Common sense, due consideration and good sportsmanship are unfortunately lacking in some however - particularly at open shows where the need for a little coloured ribbon and tacky piece of card makes some people do all sorts :rolleyes:

regards, Teri :)

I would never do it - it's not fair on the dogs who do get distracted, and more importantly the bitch is open to all sorts of infection when in season with open vulva!!

may i just add i agree with you all that say NOT to take dogs to shows when they are in season, for hygene and numerous other reasons, and to say thank you all for your help and advice on my post,
good luck to those going to stafford i hope to meet some of you
kind regards
maria