Sorry but after having my day ruined by inconsiderate dog owners. Please allow me to get this off my chest.
I was at a show at the weekend and knowing that the venue wasn't big on caging area, got there extra early to ensure a space by the ring.
When I arrived, i set up my cage, put my things on top, a chair to the side with my bags and equipment on or under the chair. I went to get my catalogue, get a coffee and have a ciggi outside.
When I got back to the cage I was furious. I had been caged in both sides, my chair had been taken and my bag thrown on the floor and the lady next to me had set up chairs in front of my cage literally so I couldn't get to my dog.  My suit jacket was on the floor which had previously been neatly laid out on top of my cage.  I bit my lip, the fact that these owners were all of one breed and in the ring before me, I thought just take a breath and walk away.
Continued to enter my classes, then when finished, popped upstairs to get some food.
When I got back, I found the lady next to me had spilt two cups of tea on the floor which had been left to seep all under my fabric cage. She showed no signs of cleaning it up until I approached as it hadn't gone near her stuff. Then she leapt into action saying she was trying to find a mop (we were near the toilets, so she could have grabbed some paper towels)
I got my friend to hold my dog and packed up my stuff. I'd had a enough. The lady came back then had a go at me saying "IT WAS AN ACCIDENT", no apology. I saw red, gave her a mouthful. Thanked her for completely ruining my day and hoped I didn't have the pleasure of seeing her again, then left. I appreciate that open shows can be cramped but if everyone showed a little respect to other people, their dogs and their equipment then it would be fine. Here were a group of people with the same breed who decided to take over a ringside and sod everyone else. I'm not mentioning breeds as the dogs weren't the problem.
Moan over. I do feel better :)

oh,thats awful

That completely spoils everything doesn't it.  Hope you don't meet that ignorant woman again.

Had almost the same problem at the same show! got there early and had plenty of room. Left bags on chairs, went outside to stretch our legs and do a bit of practise work. Came back, man with 'giant' breed stood in between chairs with his dog. Neither of us could sit down cos with 3 large breeds between us there was no room, so we stood behind him, fiddling with my bag to let him know we were there but he just looked at us and didn't move till it was his turn to go in the ring. In the meantime his friend approached and, without a word of 'excuse me' or anything, tried to muscle me out of the way to stand next to him. But I refused to move so they ended up talking to each other over me. If that had been me in the way I would have said 'oh sorry' and moved back, but as they were both ignorant I decided to be as well. Why are people with one breed, so rude to someone with another breed like in Karens' case above? Why do people think just cos they are first in the ring that they own the ringside? If you want to sit ringside then get there first! That venue, although nice and handy, just isn't big enough to accommodate the large number of entries that they have, sardines and cans spring to mind :rolleyes:

Oh blimy guys looks like we all had a nightmare day LOL!  Karen, I could tell you were not happy and after being told to move Bali because someone's dog did not like large dogs I was too angry as I know Bali would not do anything - bleeding people.  Did not have any trouble with bags etc but when Bali and I came back in after going out for some air and to let him have a wee we could not get through the awkward doors as someone was stood right in the way chatting so whilst trying to open the door and squeeze passed this lady decided to open the other door and before I would say watch out she smacked the door open in Bali's foot causing him to leap back and then limp I just looked at her as she half heartily apologised and continued to then barge my way through people commenting on how inconsiderate it was to park your trolley in the door way to have a bleeding chat!!  I do hope that next week is a little better for us all LOL!

It never ceases to amaze me how ignorant some people can be - at shows or otherwise.  Megan I have to say I'd have said something when I got back the first time to find everything moved.  Not in an agressive or rude way - just enough to let them know I was a bit miffed.
Missie, so we stood behind him, fiddling with my bag to let him know we were there - I would have said "excuse me" to let him know I wanted him to move.  Some people are too thick to take a hint LOL. 
I've had the same problems at many shows over the years, unfortunately I don't think it'll ever change.  However one thing I DO get the 'ump about is people in a very cramped venue who spread their crates/chairs/blankets/pushchairs/bag/trolley/grooming tables/kitchen sink over a huge area which could accomadate at least five more exhibitors!  If you DARE to ask if they could squish up a bit they give you the "Well if you wanted space you should have got here earlier" answer and proceed to ignore you!
Just put the whole situation from your mind and think about the next show :D

Hi surannon, I get the 'ump about that too :D
Thinking about the next two shows, all three of us are at the very same venue   :rolleyes:

>I DO get the 'ump about is people in a very cramped venue who spread their crates/chairs/blankets/pushchairs/bag/trolley/grooming tables/kitchen sink over a huge area which could accomadate at least five more exhibitors!

Couldn't agree more ;)  There's rudeness in many walks of life of course and it sounds like OP had a particularly unfortunate span of it during that day but IMO, cramped venues should not permit cages - certainly not ringside.  Everyone entered is equally entitled to be able to watch proceedings and clearly most interested in doing so when their own breed is actually due in the ring.

regards, Teri

cramped venues should not permit cages - certainly not ringside.

Actually thats a very valid point!  I don't mean about not allowing crates but crates at ringside.  According to Rules and Regs crates should be confined to grooming areas only.

I do agree with regards ringside. I might have given the wrong impression. I was caged by the outside wall which was parallel with my ring (does that make sense, blonde moment) I wasn't caged at the ringside but near my ring.

Trouble is if crates aren't allowed it means you can only tske one dog to show, and the whole point is to try and suport the society.

Must say I don't get a chance to enter many open shows as no-one to go with (don't drive) as one of my freidns that often took me has just moved to France.  I don't bother entering those that only have one class my dogs can go in, as I want to either enter two or more dogs or two or more classes.

I never used cates in the apst because of travvvlign with freinds, but since the soft crates came in it isn't too difficult to fit one in, and carry it.

Teri
Can I just state again as I think my OP slightly misled. I was caged correctly in the grooming areas permitted at the show (ie, round the outside walls) NEAR my ring. I did not cage at the ringside but near it.

Hi Megan

No worries - I was just generalising about overcrowded venues and cages ring side :)  I'm sure you were doing your best to be considerate and just set up a comfortable spot for you and your dog(s) which is what anyone wants.  It sounds as though you were subjected to some exceptionally rude people - no excuse for that

regards, Teri  ;)

Thanks Teri. I suppose I'm lucky that this is the first time it has happened. This venue is used frequently for dog shows but I've never encountered this before even though it's always busy there. I feel a lot better for getting it off my chest though. Thanks :)

LOL - we've all been there ;)   I was at an outdoor open show many years ago and standing waiting to go into my class which was next in the ring (pastoral & working breeds only using that area).  There was a lady set up with a grooming table, trolley and cages right at the entrance of the ring, some dogs caged and one on lead - she had toy poodles.  She shreiked loudly in horror because my dog got too close to hers :rolleyes: and said she was terrified of big breeds!  So what the hang was she doing sat sprawling herself and possessions across the pathway to the W&P rings

There are some very weird folks out there :P    

Thanks Surannon
I do like to think I am respectful of others. I found I couldn't say anthing as there was little ole me with one breed and all the others had another breed. So I felt a bit outnumbered so to speak. As all these people knew each other.
The joke was I got there early and put out an extra cage for my friend. I then found she couldn't make it, so doing the decent thing. I packed up one cage and put it back in the car so not to take up valuable space. I part wish I'd left it out know. But I hear my moms voice. Treat others as you would want to be treated. ;)

Yes that puts me in mind of a show at one of these sports halls and someone had not only set up two crates but a puppy pen for their small dogs, took up more room than two large crates to hold 6 of mine would have done, and these were a toy breed, and space was very much at a premium.  The penned dogs didn't even seem to be there to be shown.

I must say I am terrible for chatting so if someone is in your way it is best to say something as you can be quite unaware of people if you are engrossed in watching the dogs or in conversation.

Oh I always take one of those cheap tarps folded up to either use to cover a crate if it rains at an outdoor show, or to place under the fabric crate to protect it, inddors or out.

I find it is always best to say in a very polite, clear and loud way " oh sorry am I in your way" or something similair. Usually this makes them realise and if they still don't take the hint ask them to move. It is a sad fact these days that people seem to have fewer manners. We shouldn't let them get away with it.
Strike a blow for the polite ones among us! :-)

:P I usually say 'let me know if I'm in your way' when someone is blocking an entrance that I'm trying to get in or out of :P
Kelly, is Bali ok? Gosh it wasn't a very good day for any of us really was it?

Sorry to play devils advocate - but as you have already stated - small venue, both giant and large breeds - if there is another breed in the ring first - would it not be more considerate and sensible to allow those people with that breed to sit around the ring and wait until your breed is in the ring? Rather than getting there early and commandeering chairs - If I was at that show and people from a breed that was in the ring after my own and had left coats on chairs I would gladly move them off and sit on the chairs - just a thought!

You've got a point there BUT it is such a popular venue that if you don't get there early, you don't get parked. People had even parked on the 'dog walking' area cos there was no spaces left. So, if you get there early why shouldn't we be able to sit by the ring, I actually like watching the other breeds in the ring :) Admittedly if we were were third or later, but as you don't know how many in the classes before you that there are going to be, you never know just how early/late you will be in :)

Missie if you all are talking about the show I THINK you are talking about, the entry figures were actually published in Dog World! (unusual for an open but very useful.) So I used that to judge when I'd need to arrive.

sorry, don't get dogworld :( used to but the bloke at the paper shop always got my order wrong so I gave up!  But goldmali, you have to admit that even if they are printed and I;ve no doubt they are, you have to allow for those that don't show, making the classes smaller. We've misjudged it a few times in the past which is why we like to be there at the start. For instance we expected one class (at a different show) to have 17, but only 8 turned up so making that class smaller and quicker.

I did see the entries but firstly, dogs entered do not equal dogs that turn up on the day. Secondly I have a youngster which I have to get there early and practise with him in the ring to calm him down for his class. Thirdly I was one dog in one small cage, to put a chair so I can't open the door then tut when I ask them politely to move is bang out of order. Fourthly if you damage someone elses possessions even if it was an accident, Sorry is a little word that means a big thing. :)

I agree. It always annoys me when people with a breed that is to be in the ring AFTER mine have taken up all the space, and also have barking dogs, stand around in groups talking loudly, and on many occasions also block the view of the ring for those of us whose breed is actually IN the ring.At one show a lady with a breed due to be in after us left several dogs caged first thing, and one of them barked non stop all the time our breed was in the ring -which even the judge got annoyed at. The owner, well she'd gone off browsing the stalls!

If I'm not first in the ring I always prefer to arrive as late as possible, to avoid the dogs having to spend extra hours at a show. At least at champ.shows geneally speaking the dogs can rest on a bench.

Hi Dee, well Bali is a still limping, I can't work out if it is due to having the door opened on it or something else but it really annoyed me as he is so good and NEVER pushes through doors before me so was being very good and waiting for me to open the door and go through but I couldn't.  I know this venue is normally busy but it's no excuse to move other people stuff, how did they guy who moved Dee's stuff know she wasn't with the breed in the ring? As for dogs in crates I think it is vital for some to be in crates, Bali is not crated at any show as he benches well and I never leave him but some just settle far more if crated and I don't think the crates are a problem as such as they are put to the side but its more a case of being rude and moving other peoples stuff and then telling others to move as their dogs don't like big dogs huh!!!!

It's just about respect for other dogs and belongings, if people just organised themselves it would all be ok - no need to shove peoples stuff on the floor - if there was not room for my dogs crate when I arrived at a show I would simply have to keep them with me at the side, which can be equally if not more so annoying as you get other not so nice dogs trying to snap at your dog so you can never relax and watch those that are in the ring!

Blimy, I think I am done now LOL :D

P.S. Dee and Karen, are classes on tonight?

Poor Bali :(
Yes classes are on tonight, you going?

Yeah will do - ill see how he goes thought with his leg!  See ya there :)

Hi Keli
Hope Bali is better. I think we could toss up who had the worst day. Can't believe that woman having a go and asking you to move your dog (who was standing there being a good lad) just because her dog didn't like your breed. GET OVER IT!

Hello Megan! .
Sorry you had such a bad time. Guess thats why when i came over to say "hello" you were know where to be seen.  Shame about the poor turn out in BCs. My girl hated the venue, she got very stressy about the lack of space. Hope to get to meet you next time.

Hi there Kernahan.
Sorry, I did see you were entered. Kind of kept out the way until it was time to go in.
Will catch you next time.

Some of these venues are very cramped aren't they - I went to a show last month where the whole hall seemed to be filled with a largish breed with long tails, and the owners didn't seem at all bothered about keeping their dogs' tails safe from our trolleys as we tried to carefully wheel them through the crowds. :-(