Would it be pointless to show a dog with a slight notch out of his ear.  On Wednesday my ridgeback had to have some stitches in his ear (down near the tip) unfortunately it looks like they've split open and i have a feeling the vet may need to cut into his ear in order to close the gash he has in it.  It wont be particularly noticeable but I wondered what people generally do in this situation - give up on the showing or hope that judges will be sympathetic - particularly given he is a hound!  Maybe if i said he got it whilst fighting lions!!

Most times it would just be ignored.  Most good judges can see if somethings been caused by accident and often broken teeth are forgiven.  I wouldn't give up!

We had a bitch who ended up with a "flat foot" due to injury and although on grass wasn't really noticable, it was inside, afew judges commented on it and said that due to the other 3 feet being fine, assumed it was injury...when she was placed down it was most likely due to her weak head and loose front rather then the foot ;) LOL

Thanks Ice_Queen - i'm booked into quite a few over the summer so was hoping someone would say what you have said.  He also has a swelling on the scruff of his neck - i think he may have reacted to the anti-biotic and anti-imflamatory jabs he was given - hopefully this will return to normal - else the nick in his ear will be the least of our showing problems!  Seeing the vet at 5 so we'll see what happens!

One of my dogs (the one in the avatar) has the tip of one ear missing. I don't even know HOW it happened but it must have been when he was really tiny (possibly at birth) as it has been like this all his life. All you notice really is that one ear is pointed and the other rounded. Nobody has ever remarked on it at shows. I've noticed it's quite common to see Groenendaels in the ring with scars, as they are black it's quite obvious as the scars tend to be white (hairless) and on the face.

Hope it is just a minor reaction to the jabs!

Just out if interest, the the nicked ear on his show side?  If so it might be abit more noticable depending on how big it is and how well the judge can see! ;)

No ones ever commented on teh Hairy Fairys interesting collection of scabby bits.. I think its fairly common sense that dogs will be dogs (and Hairy Fairies will be silly plonkers) and in the course of being dogs, scrapes and bangs and cuts and nicks do happen.

Don't think any judge would worry about that, one expects to see the odd war wound on an adult dog. If the vet does anything other than stitch it may be best to get a letter to say it was to correct a trauma injury and apply to the KC for permission to show, as it will be an operation to change his natural conformation however slight. Think what I am saying is a nick is perhaps better than an operation to repair it, what do others think?

I've shown Henry with a shaved patch on his leg, and also with a white mark on his lower eyelid from a very near miss in a squabble with our other boy, nobody even seemed to notice! Currently showing my bitch with a bald tail from puppies last year - and a few extra pounds that she refuses to shed no matter how much I reduce diet and increase exercise!

In reply to which side the nick is on....Unfortunately yes it is his show side- at least it may be!  Took him to the vet by which time, it had scabbed over and the vet was loath to interfere with the scab so sent us home with instructions to return if it opens up again.  Walked him back to the car, he shook his head, i got spattered in blood.  But the scab remains intact!  i have a feeling I may be back to the vet again tomorrow!  

most of my lot have large chunks of ear missing, although we can get away with it abit in my breed because of hunting injuries.....prob not so easy in your breed unless you have had a day out at longleat!! :)