Hi, I'm taking Lola to our very first champ show in August, and I don't really  know what to expect - I know there is benching, but I've never used benching before - Should she be in a crate or just on the bench, or either? If in a crate, is it better to get a soft one or just take my very hard to carry metal one? And also, do they *have* to stay on the benches - i.e. can't I walk her around where the show rings are etc? Or can I only take her to special exercise areas etc?

Thanks in advance, not keen on the idea of benching and want to be prepared! :)
Jo

Hi,
First good luck at your first champ show.

Please remember you maybe there for many hours. On the benches you either need a crate or bench chain.
I would say what is she used to? All mine are crated at show, they can rest and sleep. I get them out regularly for exercise and a play.
As it is her first show, it could be alot for her and she may need a rest or somewhere to go for a sleep.
If she is not used to a crate, you have time to introduce one.
Again,
GOOD LUCK :-)

I use a benching chain. I would need either a very large cage, or more than one (and they are very heavy ;-) ) I do have a fabric cage, but not all of my dogs will stay in it - I've an escapologist LOL! :-D
I also use a blanket that isn't used at any other time (vetbed usually) so that the dog knows that we are there to stay for a while. The dogs are supposed to be on the benches unless they are either being shown or exercised, but not many people do ;-) We all take our dogs with us when we go round the stands, or when the breed is being judged. In fact a lot of people only use the benches to pick up their numbers........

Good luck at your first Champ show. Enjoy it as best you can. It can seem a bit intimidating at first, but it's only a show..........

Thanks Chrisy, She's used to being crated - She's crated at home when I go out, and when I went to a breed show last month, I took her crate and she was more than happy snoozing in there.  Only thing is, I'm car sharing down to Bournemouth, and they'll be no room for me to take my individual crate, they'll just be the twin crate that the other lady owns.  Maybe I should buy a soft one and get her used to that - at least it'll fold up in the car.  Thanks for your help and thanks for the good luck, I'll need it :) 

I'll be much happier then if I have the option to take her around with me if I need to, that's a relief. But if she's happy on the bench, then brill. Though I'm not sure I'll be happy, leaving her there all on her own ;) Gawd, this is all as worrying as when the kids have first days at school etc!!

Only a show... but a big one! I need to focus on the fact that the shopping should be good! ;)

Thanks!

Jo

>Though I'm not sure I'll be happy, leaving her there all on her own

I never leave mine unattended on the bench. They either come around with me or I stay at the bench with them (take a folding chair - there might be room for it - and a book!). I won't even go to the loo unless I can get someone to watch them for me.

That's a relief then, cos that's the part I was most unhappy with, the leaving them part - do they bench breeds together, so I'd likely be benched with people I may know?

Yes, all the boxers will be benched together, in catalogue order (alphabetical order of their owner's surnames).

Brill, thank you so much for all your help :)

Just to clear up dogs DO NOT have to be on the benches at all times unless exercising or showing anymore.  The rule was lifted a while back and therefore it is not against the rules anymore.  Not that it was ever enforced in the first place... :-D

I just looked up the schedule for the champ show I'm going to and it says:
"No dog shall be removed from its bench except for the purpose of being
prepared for exhibition, judged, exercise or by order of the Veterinary Surgeon or Show Committee.
After being prepared for exhibition the dog must be replaced on its bench. No dog shall be absent
from its bench for the purpose of exercise for longer than 15 minutes."

That's the old ruling -I'm surprised they haven't replaced it, as like was said the KC did relax it.

At any champ.show you will find rows and rows of empty benches, all day. :)

Thanks :)  That's good to know. I tried to find clarification on the kennel club site but can't unearth anything. No worries, you've all been a big help!

Jo

We never bench our dogs at Champ Shows - the benches are usually too small and too fragile. Some years ago we were hailed over the tannoy (at SKC, I think) - "Will the owners of dogs no. XXX and XXX please go to the benches where their dogs are distressed!" Actually they weren't distressed at all - nor were they on their benches - they were halfway down the aisle dragging a large section of benching behind them still attached by their benching chains - well they were huskies!  Since then - benching? No way!

Mick

Oops! Sorry, I keep forgetting they changed the rules!

I use the benching until my breed goes in, but then I hate crowds so rarely do the stands until most people have gone home ;-) Can sometimes get a good bargain then too :-)

I feel that the majority of folk no longer use benching and wouldfar rather have somewhere close to the ring where they can set up their crates and actually SEE whats happening in the ring whilst keeping an eye on their dogs.

at East of England last Thursday there were huge under cover barns full of empty benches and we had to try and show our dogs in a ring that was like a quagmire with over half the allocated area unuseable due to the large muddy puddles that had formed -  the benching area would have been ideal as a wet weather facility but was filled with row upon row of empty benches with most exhibitors grouped round the entrances with their dogs in crates - what a waste of money and resources !

Yvonne

As a solo exhibitor travelling with Friends I travel as light as possible, dogs and a holdall, so benching is a must.