As I suffer from a back/neurological problems I have to use elbow crutches, so my friend used to handle my girl for me, however as she is no longer free I decided to give it a go myself, with me standing her and someone else moving her for me. Today at GDBS I took her into her class and as we were waiting our turn for the judge, I became aware that the lady behind  me (a champ show judge) seemed to be glaring at me, as I caught her eye she coldly said "you arn't going to drop that are you", at first I thought she was referring to my bait then realised she meant my crutch. I was taken aback but said "no" to which she frostily replied "well I hope not, I don't want my dog scaring". I was too taken aback to reply further and couldn't wait to get out of the ring.

I know I am all fingers and thumbs at the moment as I have only done 4 shows, but up until today have enjoyed our outing (once it's all been over).

Now I am wondering just how many people are worried that I may upset their dog, and if I am being fair to other exhibitors. I am not aware that I have ever upset anyone's dog and try and be careful, especially when I put my crutch down, but am really worried that I have inadvertently upset someone. As I feel tonight I don't even know if I want to continue as I felt self conscious enough before but now feel terrible.

Hi Goldiemad , what an upsetting experience for you. How rude of the said person to make such an insensitive comment. Of course you are being fair... by the fact that you are aware of the situation and are careful not to drop your crutch you are giving as much consideration to fellow exhibitors as is possible. Show dogs have to put up with a lot in the show rings from various sources and the majority of dogs and exhibitors would not have time to worry what another exhibitor was doing.
Is it possible that the said exhibitor sees the presence of your dog in the ring as a threat and they are worried about being beaten ?
Whatever the reason they are not worth another thought. Ignore them and their silly prejudices and enjoy your dog and your hobby.

Only way her dg wuld be scared is when you swing your crutch round a Sock her one for being an insensative Prejurdice Nim wit!!!!!
Dont let it bother yu hun, I know it is not easy not to, but she is hopefully one out of thousands :)
And I would hope, if you had reported her fr her comments, she would have been reprimanded for it :)
Hold your head up high and Show to your hearst content :) :) After all, its the dog they are/should be judging, not you!!!!!!!!
Lea :D :D :D

What a rude person :( can't believe some people!! :(

Goldiemad, take no notice and get out there with your dog with the rest of them.

I have only done three shows so far, and while  the vast majority of the other exhibitors I have encountered have been absolutely fine, at least one exhibitor and one steward have spoken to me like I was a piece of dirt. I muttered to my dog about them under my breath, and put it behind me!

It's hard to go into a show ring in the early days anyway, but when you have a crutch to think about as well it must be harder. Take no notice, and if you enjoy it carry on. Don't think that everyone thinks how that one obnoxious individual does, because we don't.

Best of luck.

Go out there girl and enjoy your day!

There are people in wheelchairs that show their own dogs, so why shouldn't you?

I would think that the person in question had looked at your dog and saw real competition and thought of trying to put you off, seeing as you are a newcomer to showing. Ignore her. You have paid your money and have as good a reason to be in the ring.

Good luck at all your forthcoming shows. I hope you beat her every time ;-)

> "well I hope not, I don't want my dog scaring".

I know it's no good in hindsight but it would have been great if you could have said " Oh dear has it got a dodgey temperament?  Shame."
What a silly old bat!!

It's not all gloomy though...
A very able bodied exhibitor stood behind me at Midland Counties and I mean very close....so close, I was afraid to bend over :-)
I said
" Do you mind - I don't even let my husband get that close"

Ohh take no notice she should be in the ring with me when I'm on a bad day, schipperke exhibitors know when I'm going over before I do so they all keep clear, I have been known to fall on a judge before now!  As others have said she's worried about the competition just because she's a judge doesn't mean to say she's any better than the rest of us, all judges are fellow exhibitors or have been in the past so nothing special just passed the required criteria to judge the breed.

You will learn things like the bum shuffle when a fellow exhibitor is getting too close, works well for me just take a step back and rub bottoms they usually fly away from you lol.

>I said
>" Do you mind - I don't even let my husband get that close"

ROLFL  :-D :-D :-D

Wish I'd thought of that when it happened to me :-D   I just said "If you leave some space between us you'll show your dog off better and I won't stand on her! "   

Goldiemad,

Can't believe that person could be so ignorant and insensitive :(   My first thought is that they thought you were competition ;) ;) 

Don't let them put you off, there are plenty of disabled/elderly people at shows, I've even seen people in motorised wheelchairs in the ring and all power to them :-)  It's helping to keep them active - and you too!

Good Luck in your next show - you have every right to be there!

It really upset me to read your post . How can anyone be so insensitive.... some people need to be roasted on a spit! ;0

I really dislike anyone who has no feeling for others and making you feel like throwing in the towel..

Please dont give up............. I really want you to carry on enjoying showing your dog .

what sort of person does she think you are as if you would throw your crutch down and deliberately make a noise ...I am insensed ...wish you were in my breed ...I can assure you she is in the minority .

Lea love your post!!

Who does she think she is?
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

She is obviously threatened by the competition, but that's not your problem Goldiemad. Like others have said, don't let this silly old bat stop you from enjoying showing your dog - she's nothing but a miserable busy body.

Lea, :-D Great post!

That woman is rude, insensitive and stupid, all sorts of things happen to dogs in the ring and they have to learn to put up with it, if the dog is so sensitive that it would go to pieces by a dropped crutch then it should not be in the ring.

Items do get dropped and knocked over and it makes a dog jump but it should and will settle and the judge will be aware it has had a bit of a scare and treat accordingly, it should not be a lasting condition, dogs should jump to action when scared and then when aware there is nothing to worry about settle back down immediately.

You carry on girl and stick to your guns, think I may have said ' no but I feel like clouting it's exhibitor with it'

I AGREE WITH THE OTHERS, ENJOY YOUR DOG AND YOUR SHOWING.
People like her should be ashamed of them selves.
Dogs are very good at ajusting.

Enjoy

>I know it's no good in hindsight but it would have been great if you could have said " Oh dear has it got a dodgey temperament?  Shame."

What a silly old bat!!

Or perhaps you could have said 'oh dear, Goldies aren't really supposed to be so nervous, I'm sorry for your poor girl!'

Seriously, that was a totally out of order remark, I reckon she felt threatened by your girl or was just plain rude - ignore her!!

> You will learn things like the bum shuffle when a fellow exhibitor is getting too close, works well for me just take a step back and rub bottoms they usually fly away from you lol.

Dear Schip,
This wouldn't have worked for me in this instance...the male exhibitor was creepily close and if I did the 'bum shuffle' I might be nearly 3 weeks in whelp! :-)

Don't ever give up what you enjoy.
and never ever stop because some one else does not like it.
I hope to see you and your dog and your crutches at future shows :)

Would think the only reason her dog would be scared as it already has a nervous disposition!!  Ignore her and enjoy!

I,m thinking if this person is a champ show judge and treats exhibitors in this way she,d be better of staying at home.

Dear Tooolz

Highly unlikely love but he'd definitely have been showing his 'pleasure' at such close contact lol.  Must confess I really don't like the way some exhibitors show their love of your dogs in such a manner, so much easier to just walk out the ring and admit defeat isn't it or just plain say 'nice dog you're bound to beat mine'? lol..

Goodness, what a load of rubbish! My first thought like I notice several others here too was that the dog must be really nervous then, or why would it matter! Exhibitors with crutches and somebody else moving the dog for them is something we see now and then in my breed and it certainly has never bothered neither exhibitors nor dogs.

Goldiemad, I was there with my golden bitch yesterday and didn't even notice you! (I hope you take that the right way ;-))  I have my suspicions as one woman by the bitch ring is how shall I put this - nutty as a peanut butty! Certainly no one I was with was the least bit concerned or aware of your crutches being a problem. Will you PM me to tell me who said this to you?

Don't let this put you off. Think of how many people around the ring didn't care, or like me, didn't even notice.

I agree silly old bat for the what she said and the way she said it.  But I can kind of weirdly see were she was coming from, she doesn't know you or your dog and it isn't something a dog comes across very often so could put them off.
She can't show a lot otherwise she would have seen you by now and come close by to get her dog used to things.  I knew of a guy in an electric wheelchair who is the avnsc hound a lot at our local open show so we were often up against him or near him around the edge of the ring.  We get along really well and I bring all my pups to visit him to get used to the noises it makes.  Most hate it at first but they soooo want to greet people that they soon get over it, all good practice.  It is on my exposure list along with road sweepers, buggies, etc

She should expose her dog to more things and then she wouldn't have to worry or be so rude.
I am sure you will see her again at some point but have your lines ready just in case and put her in her place.
Keep showing.

Emma

Carry on showing, ignore that idiot :-)

I think you have to feel seriously sorry for the woman, Goldiemad.  She has a gundog that would shy away from a dropped stick!  You take yours in again with pride.

Echo the sage advice & comentary already given.
Goldiemad Im soo sorry to hear this has affected you . I hope after all the support voiced here you have already put this behind you!
{{Hugs}} x
What an awful sportswoman and intolerable human :(

Re-reading this reminded me of the time a well known exhibitor tried to stand in front of me so the judge couldn't see my dog properly, I didn't even realise she was doing it on purpose, but kept taking another step forwards so I was next to her instead of behind her. My friend who was ringside was hysterical with laughter as it looked like we were dancing, apparently by the time the judge pulled me out (first, ha ha) we were already nearly in the middle of the ring! You do meet some funny people when showing! :-D

Oh for goodness sake if a dog can't cope with something possibly being dropped then I would wonder at it's temperament.

If your not standing close to it then you are not going to physically hurt it, so I would ignore this unsporting person who appears to lack any empathy with someone less Mobile than herself.

I just want to say thankyou for all your lovely comments, humour and words of encouragement. Tonight, after thinking about it all day, I am wondering whether to contact the lady in question and let her know how hurtful her comments were. At least that way if it was not meant as I took it, although I cannot see any other way to interpret the comments, she would have the opportunity to explain what she meant.

Healthwise the last few weeks have been quite a slog and and I have only just started to feel half human again, so her comments really hit a raw nerve. I often think the old saying "least said, soonest mended" is true, but in this case I don't know if I would feel better if I got it off my chest.

Anyway thanks again for your lovely posts, they have certainly made me feel a bit better.

I havn't got the hang of the quote and reply thingy yet, but Toolz and Schip your banter really made me smile. Even Hubby sat in his chair, blissfully unaware of what happened yesterday, kept asking what I was grinning at, I didn't dare try and explain the images that were springing to mind!!

Hi J
Read this last night. I think, should this happen again, (I should hope not), but I would say. Well I am very sorry  but should my stick fall by accident I would be very upset as I would hurt myself and therefore I certainly hoping that my stick doesn't fall. However, I did come into this breed because they are supposed to be gundogs and a little incident of a stick falling should not upset them.
Don't be afraid of these people, they get above themselves and sometimes you just need to bring them down a peg or two. I have had an incident many years ago with 'the top breeder in the country', it didn't put me off and I just don't get involved anywhere near her. What you do is very brave so don't let them spoil your hobby. I looked throught the catalogue as to who was in the ring with you and I have a feeling I know who you mean. I get on well with her but I could imagine her attitude. Don't worry about her.
see you soon
Alison

I wouldn't say anything to her tbh, if she's that petty and mean you might find she tells all her friends you were rude, which I'm sure you wouldn't be! Like you say, least said soonest mended. Put it behind you and move on. :-)

Just another example of poor sportsmanship Goldiemad, I doubt speaking to her would make any difference as someone that insensitive would struggle to comprehend that they had said anything wrong :(

At the end of the day this person must be very sad and unhappy, I would be too if I was unable to relate to the people around me.  To miss out on the ability to show humanity and compassion is a waste of life that I would pity.

I'm sure your next experience will be much more positive.

Well today I took the plunge and went to an open show. I am really glad I did as I was so nervous I felt sick, but once in the ring I found I was too busy concentrating on Jade and forgot everything else. I think if I had skipped this show, I would probably never have gone back in the ring. We didn't get placed, but I felt that I hadn't made too much of a hash of it. I hadn't noticed that the breeder of Jade's sire was watching, but she made my day as she said I had handled her really well and it was just a case of "a different day, a different judge".

Thanks to everyone for your support, it was very much appreciated and helped push me back in there.

Well done for being so courageous. I'm glad you had a good day out. I'd still like to go into the ring and not feel like I made a mess of at least one thing. I hope it's the first of many successful days in the ring. :) Placing doesn't matter, just enjoying the day.

Well done to you both :-)

That walk into the ring can be frightening at times. I still get bothered with my nerves but just take the plunge. Open and Limited shows are easier but still scary ;-)

Goldiemad,

Well done for getting back into the ring. Showing (and breeding for that matter) need normal, balanced individuals like you.

Your initial experience sounds like a bad case of competitive, tunnel vision on the part of the other person. If she is a judge she should know better. It is a sad day when the desire to win becomes so overwhelming that courtesy and sensitivity are obliterated in pursuit of the prize. You wonder just how far people like her are prepared to go to win!

I am so glad you found the courage to have another go and in doing so you have poked two fingers right up that unpleasant woman's nose. Other exhibitors should give you room and help where they can it is nonsense to take a dog into the ring that would be damaged by some one dropping a stick.

Now if you start hooking people by the ankle or prodding their dogs I could understand but whilst you are minding your own business and getting on with showing your own exhibit everyone else should do the same.

Well done and good luck for the future.

Good on you for going back in the ring :), i must admit im nervous just starting ringcraft soon!!, new hobby :). it's good that the silly womans comments didn't stop you going back in the ring.....good on you :-p

Thats fantastic news!!!
So glad you decided to get back into it!
see you on Wednesday.
Paula  

really pleased you took the plunge good on yea!!!

hope you rnext show is even better...well done

Roni

Well done, and hopefully you'll get the result you deserve next time! :-)

Thanks everyone, I feel quite chuffed with myself and feel really positive. This morning I woke up and felt yeh, I did it. It isn't like me to chicken out, but I think she just hit a raw nerve. Even though we didn't get placed I feel great today because I feel my performance in the ring was much better. I know I have a long way to go before I can do Jade justice, but we both enjoyed our day out and I now feel I CAN do it, and am not doubting myself anymore, so in a funny way I think she has done me a favour.

Thanks so much for all your support, and if you are at a show in the NW and see a wobbly woman, plodding around with a walking stick and a goldie, say hi cos it will probably be me. Anyway, i'm off to fill in some entry forms now!!

Well done for having the courage to go again :-) I very nearly chickened out of my very first agility competition, just a local one for the members of my agility club and was only persuaded to go by my daughter. I was so nervous knowing everyone was watching me and that we are very new to agility but so pleased that I actually managed to get into the ring and even more pleased that we very unexpectedly won our class and came away at the end of the day with a first and a fourth place. I don't think I will ever not be nervous but having taken that first step it will hopefully be easier next time.

Wooooo Hoooooooo
Its great to hesr that you didnt let the ****** (insert words of you chice here!!) Get you down :-) :-)
Is the saying 'what doesnt break you makes you stronger' Wel, goes to show it here :-) :-)
Keep at it hun :-) :-)
Lea :-)

I am pleased you managed to conquer your worries, in this part of the country it is not that unusual to see exhibitors on sticks, crouches or on scooters, showing their dogs, some dogs are a bit disturbed by electric scooters but they have to learn to accept it and they do quite quickly. They have to put up with trafic when being walked so what is the difference.

Well Done Goldie,

I am making a suggesion here it may be of some help to you in your dilemma.
Have a quiet word with the steward and ask to be able to stand a rear of the class in
so doing gives you and your charge a bit of space.
It has worked for me.So good luck to you also I wonder how she would feel in a Wheelchair!!!
               Keep on Showing.

Well done goldiemad..ive just read this thread right through and was sorry to hear about your awful experince...what a rude lady.
Im so glad you didnt let her put you off,believe me most people in the ring are more understanding that she was so hopefully it will be a one off.
I suffer with back problems  and sometimes have to get people to move the dog for me too so I know what you mean about holding people up I just ignore it.
Well done for going back into the ring and im glad you have your confidence back....good Luck for your future shows I hope they  go well for you
P x

Such a rude person! 

I have trained my dog (min pin) to show with me with a cane, or crutches (and I hop, dont know if you do).  In Canada, we cant have two people handle the dog (like I cant stack Cher, and someone else run her).  Its either I do it, or hire a handler. 

I think the challenge, of trying to show a dog when a mobility issue exists, is wonderful.  I dont let others bother me (and some top handlers have commented on how I show my dogs, that its a GOOD THING).  They may not know my name, and call me slipper girl because they dont want to be rude to a person a crutches by pointing out their crutches, but a slipper over a cast is fair game.  lol. 

If the other dogs scare by a cane or crutch, they arent properly socialized in my opinion.  If the crutch was to hit them, thats different, but you just having crutches, shouldnt upset the dogs. 

Continue doing it, and have fun with it.  Best of luck. 

(but I am not on crutches all the time, just when my knee decides it hates me again.  Just wanted to add that, as I do have times when I can walk.) 

From the dog's point of view, if her dog is that sensitive it shouldn't be shown in any case. With regard to the owner, I'd be thinking seriously about lodging a complaint, since she isn't likely to respoind to anything else. that behaviour shouldn't be tolerated by anyone. One in 7 people in the UK has some sort of disability and it's hard enough sometimes to get by in a society that doesn't think enough about how to work with people who are differently abled without having to listen to this kind of offensive nonsense. I hope she reads these replies.