just ordered my tickets!!!!! so excited!!!! i've never been and i'm just dying to go! so much so that i am getting the megabus, super cheap travel, however gets me to birmingham at 4.10am ... sleepy sleepy me i think. so can some old hands recommend what are the best bits to see? i'm really looking forward to discover dogs and the working group dogs, and flyball looks great to watch... sorry, going to go calm down now (Ommmm)

First time for me last year, it was overwhelming, takes so long to get through all aspects, you, like me will need to go the next year too!
I am no 'old hand', but I can see that I will practise at bveing one......
Karen ;-)

he he so excited! just need to reserve accomadation and wait for the right dates to come up for the buses! can't belive the price- £16 for 2 of us return from dundee!

Hmmm...............well I have just done my 1st ever entry LOL

ohhh! good luck! when are you there?

You'll have to come over to see the rotts, there'll be a few of us from CD's that'll be there showing!

oh definately! i'll be running my poor oh ragged on the sat (its sat for the working isn't it?) most of my fav's are working breeds (bullmastiffs, of course as i have them, mastiffs, rotties, danes, neopolitans...). just trying to work out how to get about on public transport in birmingham. does anyone know if i can get a train from the city center to the nec?

Take train from New Street to Birm International and you are there!

Try and do hound and terrier day if you can.  OOooooooh  all those Borders :) :)  And the deerhounds and wolfhounds are just the most gorgeous.  Must see if I can come down this year :)

CG

Come and see us to, lots of grey curly tails.  I have entered all of mine just hope my lift comes through OK.

Ah you will love it! There is too much to see. My advice would be hit the stalls early before they get too crowded and then park yourself in a good seat to watch what you want to watch depending on your interest. Any major attraction get your seat early or you might not get in. Then hit the stalls again at the end when the crowds die down.

I went two times now and loved it. I tend to park up to watch things like the agility and the obedience, flyball and HTW semi/finals. This year my son qualified to go work his dog but I don't think I will take them. I think it will be quite stressful there with a dog.  

I'm going on Sunday 9th March - anybody else?

My first time too...

maxine

I'll be there

Not sure if it will be with a dog or as a spectator yet.

I've volunteered to help on the PAT dog stand with my Great Dane Benson.  Just waiting to see if we've been accepted.

I'll be there Hound day :d

Want to watch the Ibizans, GBGV, Basenjis, Hamiltonstovare and Finnish Spitz.  I'll have to be lucky with the timing though as I have the honour of judging my breed there this year :d  But the rings for most of those breeds are all in one place so I might be lucky!  They want me there the night before so I'm going to go in the afternoon on Saturday and do all my shopping then.

Debs

Hi Maxine

I'm going on Sunday.  Wasn't going to bother - but there is something so special about Crufts (even without the shopping :) )  I've entered my boy in veteran - trouble is, he'll probably bounce about like a pup :)

Yup Sunday for me too, hoping to get a lift as have entered all mine a nd could only take two with me by train even if the train got me there on time, which it won't on a Sunday.

Good luck to all that are showing at Crufts this year! I will be watching the TV with my nose pressed on the screen!
I have been to Crufts a few times, and for the ones that are going for the first time just to watch thought I would lay out a list of things for you to take/be aware of! :D :D
Take some drink and food as prices in some refreshments are a little expensive.
Take plenty of spending money as there is everything a doggie lover could ever want there!
Make sure you collect a map of the Venue as it is such a big place with loads of stalls etc:
If taking children a lead would be an idea on their wrists!  the place gets 'packed' and very very busy!
If I can think of anymore I will post later!
I love going, even though I can't stand crowds, I love meeting the dogs on the benches and their owners of course, next year I hope to be showing, if not I will still be going with plenty of money to spend!!! :D :D

Don't forget to come to the leonberger ring Astarte :)

And wear comfortable shoes! its a nightmare on your feet all day :P

Hiya and Crufts is great one tip wear comfortable shoes and take a sarnie. Food prices are expensive and the floors are unforgiving and  Crufts is set out over miles and miles.

You need comfy shoes.

I am waiting too to see if I and Sal (sbt) have been accepted for PAT dog at Crufts. We will have to wait and see, fingers crossed. I will be so nervous but she will be fine.

Comfy shoes - that'll be my all terrain crocs then!!

I'm not showing just spectating so if any of you are showing on sunday 9th let me knowand I will come and support you - you might have to weare bunny ears or something so I know how to recognise you :)  Ridgie lover let me know where to be and what time.......

Maxine

Comfy shoes - that'll be my all terrain crocs then!!

Very good idea!  Haven't decided if we're going yet, but if we do, I'll be wearing mine :-D

:D  Another good idea is ladies to make sure you go to the loo early as once the crowds start you've got no chance

We're going hound day, because my Mum didn't know what to get us for Xmas she's treating us to a couple of nights in a nearby hotel, which will be lurvvvley :-)

Paula

aww, everyones going hound day! i sadly am missing it, gotta travel back on sunday for classes/work monday :( so no hounds and terriers for me, i'll be there thurs, fri and sat though. i figure since i'm going for three days i should hopefully fit alot in. thanks for the tips everyone. we're renting an apartment rather than getting a hotel since then we can make packed lunches etc, cunning no?

Hi Maxine

Hall 5 Ring 30 Veteran dog is the first class in the ring, 9 am.  My lad will be the rather overgrown puppy :) :)

Yeah....Jack shows Sunday...Australian Terrier, daughter should be showing him unmistakeable red head! (thats her not him) :D

Karen

oh definately!!! the leonbergers are one must see for us. when the OH and i are "proper grown ups" (big house, larger incomes etc) a leonbergers on our possible list but i've never met one! :(

Then you must come over and meet mine :)

ohh i'd love to. just looked at your pics, they are beautiful! my oh wants to steal your puppies i think lol

Lmao :D :D steal my puppies indeed! ;)  :P

Look forward to seeing you there then :)

i'll have to keep an eye on him when we're there...wouldn't trust him an inch, he'd have them off you in a second ;)

I'll be doing DD Thursday afternoon with 3 mad Malinois for anyone who wants to come by and see them, then meant to show all 3 on the Saturday but Ripley has just had a bad injury to her leg and although I'm sure she'll be okay to still do DD then (well I hope so anyway), not so sure about her being back in show condition.

will do my best (though theres a chance i'll get lost :S)

I should be there on the Sunday - Terriers, showing my Bitch, but the way her show 'career' has gone she'll be in season and ready to stand and it'll be another £20 down the drain :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Mustn't be pessimistic - We're going, we're going ...

I must be MAD!!!

Last year we went on the Saturday Terrier day and I vowed NEVER AGAIN!!

Tell me - is Sunday worse than the Saturday???

Not really sure I want an answer to that



they rotate the groups so those on Saturday last year are on Sunday this and then Thursday next year.  Last day is always the worst, for those exhibiting anyway.

My entry is off. but cant make up my mind if I really want to go. If I asked my girls they would most likely say 'Hey do you mean sleeping in the car for 9 hours then staying in a strange pleace overnight, get up early in the morning, and who knows it might just be ******* down rain/snow, then walk half our to get in then cramp up on those sill far too small benches' dare I go on?  Or I could just have a lay in, go to the forest with the girls, maybe have a wee walk later and just maybe someone will stop me and say 'my what lovely dogs, arent they beautiful'! and guess what I didnt have to pay him money to say it.  I just may have two nights at a Travel Lodge going half price if anyone is interested.!

Well I have secured a house/dog/cat/child sitter for a long weekend so will be going on GD on Friday hopefully will catch up with a few people then off to find a nice 5 star hotel somewhere for Friday and Saturday night :D I can't remember the last time we will have been away on our own

If you mean it about the Travelodge - let me know if you decide not to go.  The prices are mad this year, I'm waiting til the special offers appear, otherwise it's a day trip for us.

will do, am almost certain that I wont go what area are you.?

Devon, near Exeter

t/lodge is lymm.wrong direction

Oh well, thanks for letting me know - I'll keep my eyes open for special offers.

which days tadog and how much? i am seriously considering the sunday now as well since it seems you'll all be there! (bad people! i'll be missing class on monday!)

ok, is there anywhere that i could leave baggage at the place on the sunday? trying to work out how to do it as cheaply as poss

thursday 6th and friday 7th.

sorry £39 for the two nights!

ok so how do i id CDers and their gorgeous gorgeous canines

GOING GOING ! got tickets got hotel,went first time last year and going this year with two new friends we have made who have got two rescue salukis aswell.You go a bit mad for your breed you can't help it,we had such a great time last year although I was a bit confused with the classes,up until the head to head I was lost,im looking forward to seeing the greyhound rescue aswell as we sponsor a dog,i doubt she will be there as there are so many.
Anyone driving up a nd looking for a hotel,we got at great deal at the Hilton Bromsgrove,its a long way for us so we stay two nights,its much cheaper than you think being a Hilton,works out at 64 pounds a night and they throw in dinner, (and they have sauna/pool)we spent a total of 10 hours at the show last year,my poor feet were numb,worth it though.

thats a good deal. we're rentng an apartment for £50 a night between us. looks like a nice place

Hi I will be there on Sunday. Last year for the first time I had BIS tickets. I had a fab day. I have BIS tickets again this year, I am so looking forward to it. Love looking around DD too. Fell in love with RR last year. As I have a cairn I am pleased that the cairns will be there on Sun this year. It is one of the highlights of my year. Love it, but I dont have the stress of showing it is purely for pleasure. Good Luck to everyone who is entered.
jane

You obviously have excellent taste, Jane :)