I feel so depressed today - went to WELKS yesterday and was taking Mack on behalf of his owners, he was entered in MP, P and J....well to cut a long and tedious story short I didn't get to the car park until 10.....virtually ran down, me and fellow exhibitor, 3 bags, 3 dogs....and he missed his first 2 classes, just caught the end of J and the judge allowed him in......

but he was the only entry in MP - and I didn't realise it was a Crufts qualifier. I am so upset about it, I told his owners and urged them to get him in some more puppy classes.....I got home last night and cried :(

oh yeah, and being on the M6 for 3 hours didn't help...

and before anyone says I should have set off earlier, I left my house at 5.15 to go across to Bury to pick up another puppy and owner....... and I got home at 8.30 last night.

BUT - congratulations to Kelda for placing 2nd in her MP class :)

I'm sorry I let you down Mack (I bought his owners a rosette anyway, although it does little to displace the disappointment :( ) 

Oh poor you, at least it was not your fault and you did everything you could, never mind if there was only one in Minor puppy the chances are there are not that many about and anyway he could well have a win even if there is a class of 20. As a minor pup he has a lifetime of winning to do and I am sure his owners will not blame you.

More importantly how did he show, and how did yours do?

Must say that is one advantage of shwoing the girls that if you are a bit late the chances are you won't ahve missed any bitch classes.

he actually showed very well to say he isn't used to being handled by me - I didn't have time to brush him etc it was literally run up, tell the steward who he was, and dash into the ring - I was impressed with how he took to being moved etc.....I agree he has a good chance to qualify this year if he keeps showing, my only comment would be that I feel he needs to tone up some - I know he's a babe (8.5 months) but I would like him a bit firmer, especially as he is going to be a big boy

my girl needs to learn some manners, she travelled well (used to the van now) but is just too fidgety - I hoped she would settle more with me increasing her shows, but I'm seriously thinking of taking her out of shows for the next year to concentrate more on training her, and a bit more maturity would be good for her as she is PG now and at 21 months still young.

I'm going to take my older girl to a few more shows, she's a dream and no hassle at all, I didn't take her yesterday as I wouldn't have been able to cope with another dog, but now I wish I'd taken her instead of the recalcitrant one....**roll eyes**   

Oh what a shame, I've missed a few classes and it's so annoying. Had a very close call when Henry was in Junior when I thought I would have time to go bellringing first, arrived just as she was placing the puppies in the previous class!! Next time I'm sure he'll do it though!

Missed a whole show once, drove to Stafford when I should have been at Leeds, not sure I should be allowed out :-)

If it had been my dog that missed his class I would be annoyed with myself, but not as upset as I still feel

I feel like I have let his owners down, they are so lovely, they adore him and have worked/are working so hard with him, and getting him to shows, it's just with it being on a Friday they couldn't take him themselves...

and I told them how to enter him, and it was his (and my) first champ show......it has really upset me

it's just with it being on a Friday they couldn't take him themselves...

I shouldn't feel too bad about it, if you hadn't have been able to take him to the show he wouldn't have gone anyway and it was just unfortunate circumstances that prevented you getting there at the right time. At least you tried to help out even if didn't work out quite as planned.

Missed a whole show once, drove to Stafford when I should have been at Leeds, not sure I should be allowed out 

Good one Nova, I went to Wales once a day late to a show.  Car broke down and died on me.  Luckily I'd already purchased a new vehicle in part exchange so got quite a good deal out of it!!

Ooooh matey, hardly your fault!

If id not have faffed at home, if i hadnt needed a flippin wee (oh yes people... i have no shame, in a layby as it was far far quicker than services!).. if there hadnt been a ten minute queue to get IN to the carpark... if the carpark hadnt been quiiiiite so far from the ring...

And as Harley so wisely points out... he still got valuable experience, and had you not taken him, hed not have gone at all.

And you didnt let any dogs escape! I feel such a wally for that and nearly burst into tears in the middle of the showground!

well I don't feel quite as bad today, put in perspective I know he wouldn't have been there if I didn't take him, and not having been there before I wouldn't have known to allow extra time as first breed in ring and parking etc etc - but I know for next time ;)

I just feel bad for his owners, I have highlighted some more shows for him which he will still be able to enter as a puppy, some of which I will also be going to, and some that I can't make but on weekends so they should be able to take him

have also decided that I will take my older girl to any more shows this year (so no risk of wriggling out of collars and causing havoc!) so that should ease my stress levels somewhat, and I dare say in a few years and with a lot more experience under my belt I shall look back on this and smile (if rather wrily??)

:)

I always aim to arrive at a show about an hour before my breed is due to be judged (if first or not before time), and that is with showing bitches.  Even so I once didn't arrive until Open dog when I had a Junior bitch at Crufts.

That was the fault of the trains though as the one I had booked on and the one after that were both cancelled, so we were on the third one!

We always stayed the night before at a hotel so we could be at the show by half seven when we were showing Polo. Boy did it take ages to get him ready for the ring!!! I'm sure their v. grateful for you trying with him, I was when Polo's breeder travelled all the way just to help us out.(hope that sentence makes sense!)

Don't feel too mad.
I left for Blackpool, car broke down 1 mile from house. Got it gone and arrived just as JB was finishing.
I should have been in PB and there were only 3 in it, 1 absent ME.:-(

Latter on that year took same dog and qualified in class of 8.
Now have new car :-)

I'm sure you'll do great at next show.:-)

never mind it,s just one of those things that teaches us and you,ll find you,ll make sure it never happens again My puppy got bp once at champ  show didnt know there was group for puppies and went home Now i always check

Yikes Nova, that is impressive! I once turned up a day late when I was supposed to be stewarding an open show, but so far have never missed an entire show I've been entered in. :-)

I felt daft I can tell you but not as daft as the person who drove to a show without the dog. There are any number of exhibiters who have taken the wrong dog but to forget to put the dog in the boot with all the other trappings is I think a bit worse than going to the wrong venue :-)

Ha ha, I've never forgotten the dog yet, they make far too much noise while I'm packing up in the morning to ever forget that. I did once forget the show bag, had to run round borrowing brushes, treats, ringclips etc from all my friends!

Must be a common thing...I went to Ascot once and complained bitterly that my dogs werent entered...swore blind I had the proof of postage, only to find out, right venue wrong day...went on Sat my show was Sunday!! LOL had to drive up again the next day!!
Aileen