Kennel Club Press Release:

As part of its commitment to the objective of 'popularising canine activities focusing on the retention of existing customers and the attraction of new', and of enabling those canine societies who wish to help in this regard to do so, the Kennel Club has decided to amend its regulations regarding spectators attending shows with their pet dogs.

At its meeting on July 5th 2005, the General Committee agreed to amendments in the Show, Agility, Obedience and Working Trial Regulations that will allow a society, at its own discretion, to admit spectators into its show/event when accompanied by their dog. This will provide an opportunity for potential exhibitors/competitors to ask questions of experienced exhibitors, breeders and competitors, and learn more about the world of showing dogs, without having to leave their dog outside the show.

For the benefit of all those attendeesing shows, owners of 'spectator dogs' will be asked to complete a short entry form which will require the owners' details, and confirmation that the dog is healthy and will be kept strictly under control.  The society will retain the discretion to refuse entry if dogs appear unhealthy or are badly controlled.

This new amendment does not affect the regulations regarding those exhibitors who have already entered and wish to bring additional dogs to a show.  These dogs must still be entered 'Not for Competition'.

A copy of the Spectator Dog Entry Acceptance book will be sent along with a covering letter to all those societies holding shows. The Regulation amendments do not apply across the board to General & Group Championship Shows. T, as these shows will still need to apply individually for permission from the Kennel Club to admit spectators' dogs.

27/7/05

ENDS
For further information please contact
Press Office
020 7518 1008 / 1020
pressoffice@the-kennel-club.org.uk

Imagine the chaos if every exhibitor's partner bought another dog with them as a spectator instead of leaving it at home!! :)  Twice the number of dogs at any show!

Imagine if Mum, Dad and 2 kids have travelled for 2 hours with Sweetie, to have a day out at a dog show and they were refused entry?

I'm all for encouraging Newbies with an interest in dogs to come and look at dog shows, as they are entitled to do at the moment, but I really can't see the point of them bringing their dogs.:(

>>I really can't see the point of them bringing their dogs

Well speaking from my point of view, i still cant leave our Kai home alone for any longer than a hour (the noise is terribly loud), so anywhere that allows me to bring my dog with me is great news for me as it means we can go out as a family. Something that happens rarely at the moment.
Having said that, we would not go to a dog show as our interests are more in the working side. But for anyone who is interested and in the same situation as myself, it would surely be good  :-)

It will be interesting to see how the KC expect canine societies to police this new 'scheme'. After all, it will be down to the canine societies to carry out the KC wishes.  As an exhibitors partner, you are hardly going to pay to enter NFC, when you can enter your 'spare' dog for free and wander around until your hearts content :rolleyes: I wonder how much they will charge for non competitors to enter the show with their dogs? How will they police problems that arise? At present if anything kicks off, you get hauled up in front of the KC disciplinary committee. So what will they do about individuals whoms dogs are not exhibiting and have caused or become involved in an incident?

On all entry forms for KC dog shows you have to sign an agreement including "....and not to bring to the show any dog which has contracted or been knowingly exposed to any infectious or contagious disease during the twenty-one days prior to the show..."

Now if JP, his wife and kids and the family dog/s have travelled for 5 or 6 hours to get to a big show how likely are they to answer that question with total honesty? - knowing that their dog will be refused entry and they will possibly have to go back home.  What will the KC do, if a dog is deliberately taken to a show who then spreads disease?  After all they can put any name and address on the forms, will proof of ID be requested?

I think this is a really bad idea, it can already be crowded at shows without adding more dogs to the mix!!  Can you imagine what shows like Crufts will be like if the public are allowed to take spectator dogs?

Do we all think though that your average Joe Public and entourage will travel 5-6 hours to a dog show in the first place ?  If they are that irresponsible an owner in not owning up to their dog being ill - if it is ill - then are these the same people who will bother to travel all that way for a dog show ?

I for one would like the opportunity to bring in my KC activity registered crossbreed dog to a champ / open show when I enter my pedigree dog and I will happily pay the fee that an NFC dog has to pay, and put him on a bench if so required, plus show proof of up to date vacination records and a statement from my vet stating that at the time of examination (preferably within a few days before the show) my dog was shown to be in perfect health.

I think the idea is aimed more at open shows, that's my understanding anyway :) But still, apart from summer all our open shows up here are held in sports halls and the like where, to be honest, there is usually not enough room ringside even for a chair for yourself and a blanket/crate for your dog/s so I can't imagine what it'd be like with extra dogs. I'm lucky as there is always some one at home to look after our non-showing older girl and our other girl who I only show occassionally but I do sometimes take them both NFC but only at open shows that are outside, or where I know there will be plenty of space around the rings. But the two I show are wll used to the atmosphere, crowding, noise etc that goes along with a show, I know a few dogs who would go to pieces ina situation like that.

I, too, would be worried about the disease aspect but we all sign the forms when we enter but how are we to know our dogs haven't been in contact with something like KC which develops a few weeks later and in the mean time have been to one or two, or even three shows.

I can see why they have come up with the idea though but I think it is flawed and can't see that many societies would be willing to admit spectators dogs, unless they benefit in some way.

JMO

Emily :)