with the cost of living going up,petrol and fuel dog food,

how many are you cutting back on showing
are you not going long distant to shows.
i guess this will have a knock on affect on all events not just dog showing

i have cut back on rhe showing and only take 2 dogs out of the seven.

i am, do not only breed show but do agility as well, so this year will carefully choose which shows
that i go to and will take into account how much petrol it will cost
if camping is available etc.

it is mainly the petrol/diesel that i find that has really shot up over xmas
not sure what prices are like around the country .

Have been doing it for the last couple of years.  Entering one dog instead of Two, or doing fewer shows and entering two dogs.

Was going to show two dogs for Crufts as you only get one pass per dog and I have OH to drive me, but am now considering paying the £12 for his pass rather than the entry for a dog.

Have taken to entering just one show a month so many of the favourites have been either or. 

Like do I do Houndshow in August or WKC, normally would have done both.

This year if there is no preference re judge then the Venue, travel and the likely level of competition will be a decider (meaning I will go where the best entry is likely).

> it is mainly the petrol/diesel that i find that has really shot

Its this cost that is putting me off travelling distances. I don't mind paying out £25 a dog for entry, but not happy about spending £70 for a tank of fuel and using that all for a show up north. Car sharing is an idea and I think should be something we really start pushing on to keep these shows going otherwise they will loose money and we may end up loosing some of the shows..

My social life appears to be dogs, but i'm cutting back on almost everything. even my Clarins may have to go if things stay or get worse

it is mainly the petrol/diesel that i find that has really shot up over xmas
not sure what prices are like around the country .

Diesel is £1.31 a litre here in the east of Kent but that was a few days ago before the VAT increase.

> Diesel is £1.31 a litre here in the east of Kent

Jeez!!! Ours was around £1.27 in Sussex on average.. Goodness only knows what they'll hike it up to..

For some reason the cheapest petrol at the weekend in the South was on the Isle of Wight.  I don't think I'll be driving over there to fill up though. Seen it for £1.25 unleaded locally today.

£1.32 for deisel , what annoys me most the petrol in their tanks has allready been paid for , so we are paying more for something paid for at old prices  Grrrrr ruddy goverment

i'm definately cutting back on shows this year. Crufts , possibly a few Club open shows and the odd champ show and thats it for us this year.  

I've also had another thought. I can just about squeeze into kids clothing, well the older kids anyway, cheaper and no VAT on them.. Lets see what bargains I can find. Just won some clothes, VS as well on freecycle :-).. Waste not want not..

I keep saying I'll cut back and then getting tempted. I do need to pick more carefully, and have decided to try to avoid open shows without AV Toy classes, the general AV classes are too big, but it's a long way to travel and a long day out just to take 1 or 2 dogs in 1 class each, much more fun if I can do breed, AV Toy, and perhaps some Adult Handling or even Brace!

It's going to penalise the lower incomes much more. Bus fares (as if they weren't already extortionate here) will rise, as will train fares. I don't drive and rarely get out of town as it is.

Thankfully there is no VAT on food... so raw feeding has yet another plus in favour :)

You say that there is no VAT on food but , it will go up anyway, the manafacturers will put VAT on production , then there is the fuel for deliveries to warehouses and super markets it will all go up so the products will go up and it's us that will bear the brunt of it              .

Peanuts

> You say that there is no VAT on food but , it will go up anyway,

You're right of course, there will be knock-on effect. I'm not sure the government has fully taken that into account.

I don't think that the govermant gives two hoots , they get an allowance for there food.

Peanuts

Just a general question ,not aimed at anyone in particular, how would you propose to pay off this huge debt the government has if not by increasing VAT ? I personally think this is the fairest way as it doesn't single out any particular group.

I've seen the provisional list of judges, there are 9 Champ Shows I would like to go to this year, but unsure how many I will be able to afford.  Two are breed club Ch shows, so cheaper.  No open shows will be done unless it is a breed specialist judging.
I am going to Boston (weather permitting ;-)), still debating Crufts & then we're talking May shows.  Oh well, the garden will get looked after for a change.
We cut down a lot last year with the cost of fuel, even DH's hobby was halved (I actually saw him the odd weekend during the winter)

how would you propose to pay off this huge debt the government has if not by increasing VAT ?
My worry about the VAT rise is that the retailers will be the ones that suffer.  I for one, won't be hitting the high street any time soon.  I will reduce my car journeys, buy only essential groceries & continue to eat our own produce.
Sorry that isn't answering your question, not sure any tax rise will be popular or fair.  How did we get into this mess in the first place?

> I personally think this is the fairest way as it doesn't single out any particular group.

It has to be done. I don't care what other politicians say one way or another we'd be paying extra money back to the government.
My gripe still with this is the big bosses in banks are still getting stupidly big bonuses, considering that many of the banks are now technically owned or partially owned by us(The nation) we should request that the money goes to the government to help the people..

As much as I like a day out at a show, I probably wont be doing that many shows this year, mainly due to cost of the whole day, my car's getting older and so am I! Those very early morning starts have lost their appeal.

my problem is the cost of petrol and have cut down the past two years. last year i did 11 out of 19 champs and is looking like the same for this year. i only do club opens now, i would love to support classes at other opens but with the driving i simply cannot afford it, what i spend in winter is what ive earnt through the summer.

Is it true that canine clubs/societys are fined by the KC now for not having enough entries?  i thought they stopped the classes if there wasnt enough entries??
I heard a welsh show last year was canceled to avoid this or is it just champ shows, i cannot remember.

I've only just joined my breed club and was rather stunned at the cost to enter a 'show' show, even more stunned at the not for competition entry fee. I thought £4 a go for obedience was bad enough compared to the meagre £2ish in agility!!!

He he, it is £22 - £25 for a champ show and if your lucky about £15 for a breed club show, similar champ show classes without CC's.

Open shows are around £5 for the first class. 

It's the cost of venues and tenting that makes it so expensive.

Much dearer to enter shows in Europe.

Trailist wouldn't  have any champshows without CC's though LOL.
Are you going to dabble in showing ???? Trailist

Well you never know ... I have said before I fancy giving you show dogs a run for yer money!! :-D

No, I doubt it very much. Whilst I think that I have got the most fabulous dogs my beautiful boy with perfect conformation, etc, etc wears one ear up and one ear down, just like his Grandaddy and just the way I like it :-) And my super stylish girly, in every way, who looks drop dead gorgeous (of course I'm not biased) is probably the wrong colouring :-( and one of my other girlies is probably on the small side, albeit perfectly formed and just a little stunning to look at!!

No I think I'll leave the showing to you lot. Besides which I've already got a mortgage without taking on another one for entry fees! I actually joined the breed club 'cause someone on here suggested it ... no names mentioned but not too many posts above this one :-)  Also when I got in touch with the Breed Club they very actively encouraged me to do so.

Just entered two European shows (Double UK Ch Sh prices) , ferrys/tunnel booked , hotels booked, & spends still to find ...... credit card is hot :( Still have two or three more European trips planned for 2011 plus at least one Ch / mth in UK planned for the year, looks like I am doing my bit with regards to spending the UK out of problems. Lord help me when I'm old cos there wont be owt left .. LOL

I'm cutting down on the cat shows. Last one I've just entered cost me a total of £44.50 for ONE cat when you added catalogue and an extra pass for hubby. £36 for the entry alone. Wouldn't normally bother going to any show with just one animal but I am after just one more certificate. By comparison it only cost £58.50 to enter two dogs for Crufts including catalogue and parking. Thank goodness for open shows though! 2 or 3 dogs and a catalogue and you usually get by with a tenner! Thankfully we don't live far from Newark so have plenty of opens nearby.

Oh I'd give an entry at the club show a go with the girly, no such thing as wrong colour, Tri isn't one of the less usual colours. 

Pst, and a lot of the Border collies I see at shows winning seem very small to me.

Ears with Character erm yes maybe not lol, Colour more and more interest in colour so don't see way not and as Barbara says smallish girlie give it a go. :-D

I'd say both the girlies from what I could see in the family pic with Christmas greetings.

Club shows also tend to have classes for colours in breeds where various colours are standard, as well as classes for newcomers, special beginners etc.

Diesel is £1.31 a litre here in the east of Kent


I paid the same in Bradford today...thought I was seeing things!

I paid the same in Market Rasen today too, I only looked as I was nearing the £100 mark and the van wasn't full!!!

I wish it was only £1.31 where I live (NW). Currently £1.339 here  :-O  Had previously been £1.299 for the previous three weeks.  Shows will be few and far between this year for me too.

Brainless & satincollie ... I see I'm going to have to learn some of the terminology before I think of entering a show. I note on the info I was sent (Champ Show and no wont enter that one!!:-) ) ... Special Open (Working) and Special Open (Colour) ??? Mine do work, well 3 of the 5 but how would anyone know they worked? The colour I'm guessing is self-explanatory.

To another poster, diesel only (!!) 126.9p here :-D ... for now.

For anyone who hasn't come across it you can sign up for e-mails with petrol/diesel price alerts here:  www.petrolprices.com
Very useful, even to see the range of prices in your own town but if you go onto their website you can check out the cheapest place to fill up when you're travelling.

Oooh, just spotted Brace class ... I've got a Brace, in fact of got a Thrace ...

Well the working class is a tricky one lol as it won't neccasarily be what you expect. Not what they would do for a living.
Edited to add
At  a club Champshow its SPECIAL WORKING For dogs who have gained a 1st, 2nd or 3rd in Flyball, Agility, Sheepdog Trials, Obedience or Working
Trials or Heelwork to Music.

Oooh, we can do that then (definitely not HTM though!) ... does it matter what classes? Actually, I can do that in 2 of the disciplines with my 1 up 1 down boy - he goes 2 down when slightly worried ... could try clicker training 2 down. Hmm, something to think about. Thanks.

Don't worry about entering a champ show. 

The only difference between that and any other show is that the Best of Sex are eligible for the CC.

Must be similar to obedience Champ Show then ... it's only at the top of the range there's a difference! You & satincollie have got me thinking so much I've actually asked a question on the Showing board :-O  :-O

Go for it. (except if you win your classes then you will be eligible to challenge for Best of Sex, LOL)

> Diesel is £1.31 a litre here in the east of Kent
>
>
> I paid the same in Bradford today

Yup gone up here to the same down here too :-(

Unleaded at £1.29

Diesel is £1.31 a litre here in the east of Kent


same in East Sussex, although I managed £1.29 yesterday - damn shame my dh has driven to Yorkshire & back with the bloomin' vehicle though :-( 

£1,31 AT SAINBURYS
£1,32 AT TESCO
THIS EVENING