Before you all hang, draw and quarter me :D let me just say that I do show sometimes too. What puzzles me is why it is so VERY important to attend shows on boiling hot days, and put your dogs at risk from heat stroke in the first place! I know entries are expensive, plans have been made etc, but surely these things are not more important than the well being of your dog. For some champ shows, travel may consist of a three or four hour car journey. What discomfort the dogs must suffer, even with all precautions taken, should you happen to get stuck in a big traffic jam.In mho shows are entered for the enjoyment of the owner, the dog dosnt ask to go in the first place. I own a breed that particularly feels the heat and therefore maybe I am a bit biased, but what do you all think?

When you leave home at 5 or 6 in the morning you are not aware of how hot the day may be, particulaly during this past summer when the weather changes from day to day, and having arrived it is better to stay there than return home in a hot car. There have been times when I have decided not to go because of the heat, Crufts last year & Leeds this, but I would have gone to WKS without knowing the state of the weather as it would be a 5 hour journey and at that hour in the morning who knows. Jackie

It was also overcast at Builth until lunchtime.

phillipa if all a person is doing is driving to the show without all the right stuff to insure the comfort of the dog on the journey well your right.
On the other hand . let me tell you how i and my friends cope . Just for new show people looking in .
We call it the survival kit.
One white blanket or terry blanket for top of car when parked white throws back the heat.
one large flask of iced water
One weather silver blanket for crate, one cold mat . similiar to a ice cube bag with gel taken from freezer before leaving and putting it on floor of crate when it gets hot also a cool bag for keeping the wet towel cold and the ice cubes hard.
some glucose for revival of energy .
A water bowl and towels
periton and antibiotic cream, eye drops and tummy bug tablets .
I too hate shows in boiling weather as it is not the people who take precautions like us that have the prooblems but as I mentioned those who do not come prepared.
Mari

I agree with what you are staying in that the dogs comfort and health is much more important than any dog show ever will be :-)

Regarding travelling in the car, we have air conditioning and it is on all the time it is hot, infact when travelling down to Wales last week we didn't realise how hot it was until we got out of the car and the heat hit us just like it does abroad when you step off the plane. That's because our car was so cool. Also my dogs have water dishes in the car with them.

With regards to actually showing I am lucky in that dogs are usually before bitches so the heat isn't always bad but if I had travelled miles to a show and the heat was so hot that there was nothing I could do to help keep my dog comfortable well I would just pack up and go home. Imagine how you would feel if you thought well I've come this far it should be okay and then your dogs dies of heat stroke :-(

Having said all that in the summer months I think the show organisers should be more prepared and have all rings under cover, you are still showing outside but just under a roof that way they wouldn't need to worry about having and paying for wet weather tents and then not using them.

Just me thoughts :-)

At Leeds on the Saturday we were outside with the American Cockers - none of them appeared to bothered about the heat, although some of the handlers seemed to be suffering! On Monday I went to watch the pugs, and was pleased to see they were being judged in the Wet Weather tent, but with the side canvas removed to allow a little breeze in. The shade offered from the overhead sun certainly seemed to make things more comfy for the dogs being shown. It was such a simple, good idea - almost seemed like a seperate show, tucked away all alone behind the trade stands! Dont know why more breeds didn't do this - and I dont know who suggested it, the commitee, judge or exhibitors. Whoever it was deserves a pat on the back.
Gwen

Gwen that's what it was like at WKC and it's the same at SKC. Pity it wasn't the same for all of the rings though :-( You are just under cover with no walls. I don't know why all Champ shows can't do this, at least you are out of direct sunlight and if there is a breeze it's great :-)