OMG how close is Crufts

Tell me about it.. Aarrgghhh :) Mixture of nerves & excitement here :)

I'm starting to get the nerves. I just want to enjoy the day. Quite a few friends are taking the day off to support me and bobs at our first Crufts which is lovely but adds to the nerves.
Just going to enjoy the day and the experience.
Good luck to everyone

Me too Karen, mixture of nerves and nerves and a lot of excitement! Love it there though, great shopping if you can get close enough to the stalls :rolleyes:
Hopefully bathing/grooming this weekend if the snow holds off for us then just have to make sure she doesn't roll in anything nasty :P
Looking forward to seeing you there :) and good luck to everyone!

Find it hard to get excited about being squashed, cramped & having to put up wth hours of idiot members of the public ether getting in my way when i am trying to work or asking ridiculous questions when I am at the benches on my showing day:rolleyes:

When you start to feel like that about it Sam you need to take some time off...miss a year and you'll love it again

chaumsong, I doubt it:rolleyes:...I missed 3 years a while back as i just hate it with a passion, all those stupid people who do not know (or want to know) one end of a dog from another....but seem to feel the need to wander about aimelssly oohing & ahing at breeds they know nothing about. The sooner they ban the public from dog shows the better!!!!! & then get cross when someone wants to get a dog or two through!!! Unfortunately missing it is no longer an option as i have to work there plus I am showing 2 of mine (albeit voluntarily!) and handling a third for another owner. This year i am on a bit of a mission so have to be there!!!

sam that is a really awful thing to say. i am a member of the public who is going to watch crufts and i dont act like that. i think you ought to take another break if you hate it that much

Unfortunately, what she says is true!   I'm fortunate that I don't have to work there like sam does, and I can chose to stay away.  It's the most awful show for the dogs, and well as the owners. :(

lolol @ ban the public......how important do you actually think you are ?   I just adore people who are so full of their own self importance

After 20 years, I've had 4 years off and still don't want to go back!

But I'm pleased that you lot are getting excited! :D

I've been going to crufts for a similar amount of time Val, I've had the last two years off now - in fact don't show at all anymore, but this year I've found myself looking at train times etc and considering going for a wander

really dont understand Sam why you bother going ????
not trying to be funny or anything but if it winds you up that much

Roni

well starri eyes, its because i feel i have to!!!Over the years there have been several reasons as to why i need to or have to exhibit some of my hounds there..... Last year we were defending top dog in breed title & this year i am defending top stud dog & top puppy in breed plus we have an intruder from over the pond who i feel I need to be up against On top of that, its my work & i have to be there working on the days i am not exhibiting. i stil hate it though regardless of whether its a show day or a work day!:rolleyes:

If you dont want to go back........ simple solution.........  DONT!

suggest you re read....have you never heard of WORK

Sorry Missie. Are you talking about Helen or the dogs? TIC

Both! LOL

I'm getting excited now! :D  Can't wait till the sunday as we have all 4 dogs going so although hard work looking after them all there will be 5, possibly 6 of us there to look after them! :D

Tell me about it. This year's Crufts has been planned for in our house for YEARS. First time with CCs for my breed, and my bitch's breeder is judging so I can not show her. So I decided to plan a litter of pups (had that plan anyway, it was just a question of changing the timing) that would be old enough to be shown this time. So first we had the timing, getting the pups born at the right time to be able to qualify (and the bitch was 2 months late coming into season!!) then we had ONE show to qualify them at (mine and two of his sisters that also are shown) -managed it all, phew. Then my pup started doing quite a bit of winning, until suddenly wham! At one show he refused to let the judge near him, terrified, and the show after same thing! Talk about panic! We had a few weeks to Crufts and had to try to sort his problem out, without knowing why he got worried in the first place. Have worked very VERY hard and had lots of help and came to the conclusion I best handle him myself as he feels more secure with me -despite hubby normally being the handler, I hate show handling and am total rubbish at it! There's been no show in between the last disaster and Crufts so I can't know for sure if he'll be okay or not (but I do think he has improved a LOT so hopefully), so I'm now not sure if I am dreading or looking forward to the day we have planned for for the past 3 years.......   Crufts has never been this much hassle before!!

OMG Goldmali your panic sounds worse than ours!!!  I was excited beyond belief as it's my first time ever showing or just going, we qualified last August and i've been planning since then.  The last week though has been evil it seems that we might not be meant to go what with family illness and now this snow i'll only believe i'm there when i'm in the ring.
I even dreamt that we got there and the NEC was replaced by massive fields and the grass was to long and i couldn't see where JJ was

good luck Goldmali  im petrified ill be thinking of you regards dawn

I'm getting excited! :D
I'm a bit nervous because I'm supposed to be meeting so many people. But I'm going on Thursday as well as Sunday now so I'll get my shopping over with on Thursday (Hope it's not too busy ) and hopefully I can relax a bit on Sunday.
Considering I'm so nervous around people it's surprising that I don't actually mind the crowds. Of course it's annoying when it takes ages to get anywhere, but I don't get anxious, I don't get noticed, I'm just one of a crowd!
I do dread taking dogs there in the future though, I really feel for them and their owners, it must be so stressful with all the people about.
I better order the coach tickets tonight! I hope they're not sold out!

HI Everyone I would just like to wish all you champdog members who are entered at crufts, the best of luck :) and good wishes :)
But all our dogs are winners , even if they don`t win :)
Not going myself as Samson just a baby but you never know might make it next year!

>>>But all our dogs are winners , even if they don`t win<<<<

soooo true

Oooh Bekki you'll have to come meet the dog's I'm handling (Promise you don't have to meet me!) :D LOL.

Just think you now going thursday means you can do everything then and just watch Tollers on the Sunday and give them your 100% attention! ;) :D  I'm hoping I'll be able to get over to the Tollers but didn't get a chance last year.

Fisrt year that Mals have CC's as well :D :D Can't see us doing anything or even if we will get there as Delta has NO coat and looks like she will come into season at any moment

I can,t decide what to do my girl is entered so I have a ticket and travel lodge is booked for night before as I travel with freinds who are showing in veteran dog with an eight thirty start.
However my little darling decided to come in season so of course she is staying home I,ve got three days booked of work
our day is Thursday pastoral.
Do I go anyway and spend all day thinking what a waste of money coming without a dog .:rolleyes:
Stay at home and have three days of and go shopping walk dogs do housework and other boring things
Go to work and save my holidays and sulk all day wishing I was at Crufts.
Help
Sharon

Do I go anyway and spend all day thinking what a waste of money coming without a dog .

No you go and think that at least you didn't waste the entire entry fee as you still went for some shopping and chats with friends. :) And having the bench available you can also bring a chair with you and will have somewhere to sit to rest which is a big advantage to just going as a visitor and having to stay on your feet. :)

I thought people took bitches whether they are in season or not ?

It's usually considered very unsporting to take an in-season bitch to any show, let alone a huge indoor show like Crufts. A very good way to get a bad reputation!

I have a bitch in season who has qualified this year. She will not be at Crufts. I do not think that it is fair on any other dog there, nor on the bitch herself. I have not, and do not intend to start, ever showed a bitch in season. Unlike some people who think that the next win is just round the corner, or they've paid there money so might as well get there money's worth. My bitches health comes first. I also have an entire male that would not show properly as he only wants to get to the bitch. (She is now on holiday well away from home :D ) I really wish that the powers that be would stop in-season bitches from being allowed to show. Though I would hate to have to be the one who checks each bitch as she enters the show ground ;)

Hear hear LindyLou! I would never take a bitch in season to a show - totally unfair on a lot of the dogs there, and possibly even dangerous to have a bitch exposed to all the other dogs at that time! We'll be there with my boy, and I hope we have a better day than we did at the club show yesterday!

off in the bath now..then bed..im at the excited stage but not looking forward to 4am alarm call..good luck everyone in whatever class and have a safe journeyxxpolly