I was at an open show this weekend and I witnessed the most disturbing thing in a class today to which not only were my family horrified but I was sittin with my boyfriend and a friends mum (friend has just started handling our dogs in junior handling and breed)  Both of them are non show people but both are doggy people who own crossbreeds.

What I saw was a dog being DRAGGED round the ring.  Now I've seen dogs strung up too tightly, I've seen dogs refuse to move and tugged on the lead but I have NEVER seen a dog dragged on the most part of a triangle AND up and down!  I'm not sure what was wrong with this dog but when it did walk it appeard VERY lame, not sure if this was why it wasn't walking or was due to it being dragged, when taken back to the judge after movements compleated it layed down and started to bring up bile and foamy type stuff.  I was disgusted, aswell as family and the two non show people I had with me! 

If this is what people do then I'm amazed!  It was so upsetting to see and I just have to say something!

Overall though it was a good day and my friend woon her handling class at her 4th show, beaten some very esperianced handlers who have been doing it for years!

watch out icequeen someone might think they recognise them selves here and start compaining!!!! :) :)

Meow!Can't blame me on that one,Sam.Was placed today and went RBOB.

If someone recognises themself on here I would like to see an explanation for that sort of behaviour. What has been described sounds completely unfair on the dog.

I have had certain issues with one or two happenings at open shows - one involved someone hitting their GSP for growling at another one - which made the poor dog all stressed and panty. Another involved a woman with a Viszla who I heard complaining to the person she was with about how you weren't allowed to hit dogs at these events....

hi,

no names, no show names, ect. but i was at a show yesterday and in a junior handling class a poor dog was dragged round the ring and up and down and then collapsed at the judges feet with a nose bleed ! the dogs owner had come in and carry the dog out of the ring,  i think the judge or steward should have made the child stop or you would have thought the owner would have stepped in and said something,  some youngters have used my dogs for J H  and there is no way i would stand by and watch them drag one round the ring ! !  what is wrong with some people surely the dogs wellbeing comes first not a rossett.

I know when my bitch is anxious she throws up bile. Needless to say I do not show her anymore, however I do do obedience with her and in very little time (and good experiences) she has gotten over her fear and does not do it anymore. She enjoys going into the ring! 

She was never dragged round the ring (she enjoyed the running part, just not the touching part). I thought my girl was bad, but looking around, a lot of dogs were a lot worse, and people still showed them- again and again. Even when they were cowering and trying to leave the ring all the time.  

Isn't showing suppose to be a sport that owner and dog BOTH enjoy?!

I think people who mistreat a dog in front of the judge should be banned from showing for at least 3 month and the judge should demand the dog be taken out of that class and strait to the show vet.
People need to know they can not treat a dog badly in a show and if they are seen to do so should be disqualified I would have reported what I saw

I'm astonished that that sort of behaviour is allowed to go on, if I were there then I'm afraid I'd be making a scene.

It should not be allowed and the buck stops with the judge, once the steward has handed over to the judge they can no nothing but the judge could and should. Mind you even the judge can only send a dog from the ring if it is sick or aggressive. However if they see a dog being dragged they could stop the exhibitor and ask if they want to withdraw as they, they judge, has no intention of judging a dog that can't walk.

Perhaps some judges are too afraid of confrontation.The worse I have seen is an adult large breed jump up at the steward and snarl extremely aggressively baring teeth and very scarey.That was after taking on every other dog in the ring.However I have found judges in general very friendly and helpful to my daughter who has just started to show.She is young and learning all the time  but loves the whole scene.She even went RBOB today.

if it was that bad why on earth did the judge or seward not stop it?

I've seen someone at a champ show hit their dog for barking at another one over the head.  There was just no need for it at all.

THough I have to say in the majority I have never seen any rough handling of dogs and actually this is the only time in 20 odd years that I saw anything like this.

Seen some unsporting owners throw cards etc. when they haven't won top honours though on a few occassions!