Should Members Of The Public Be Allowed To Bring Their Own Dogs Along

[SwaY]

I ask this as on the weekend my dog was bitten on the face by a dog bought along to the show by a member of the public visiting friends who were showing - my dog is ok.

Should members of the public be allowed to bring their own dogs along to shows?

I have tried to add several options - hopefully I have covered it all.

Edited May 31, 2011 by SwaY

[Clyde]

I don't show but I'm going to answer anyway, and that is No. I don't believe that the average member of public realises how serious showies are about their dogs and could let their dogs get in other dogs faces etc. I think if it got too common it would be a free for all. Behaviour, disease etc etc. I think the odd instance of puppy buyers bringing their pups along when the breeder is in town but that's about it IMO.

[Guest CaptainCourageous]

Sway, you got unlucky and that's very unfortunate. Glad your dog's OK.

I think any dog that's OK to be in a local park should be welcome at any dog show.

I am sometimes concerned about the "carnival dogs" that belong to ride operators at Ag shows and are allowed to roam free.

CC

[Guest CaptainCourageous]

double post

Edited May 30, 2011 by CaptainCourageous

[Havasneeze]

Having witnessed the behaviour of some dogs and in particular their owners at the local dog park, I would say NO they should not be allowed to bring their dogs to dog shows. I am also concerned about the fact that we make sure that our dogs shots are all up to date, which I doubt many pet owners do. So a big NO from me.

[tlc]

I think this is a tough question, mainly because you never know what sort of dogs the general public are going to bring, I don't mean breed wise but temp wise.

Dog savvy people with well behaved dogs may be fine, but I'm sure not all people that attend dog shows to spectate are dog savvy.

The last show here at Warrnambool me and another DOLer both went and took our boys, They were both extremely well behaved (other DOLers there can atest to that) My boy actaully got snapped at by another dog (show dog), it rushed at him and snarked in his face and he just looked at it as if to say geez what did I do.

I don't think it is a regular occurance for show dogs to be snappy, maybe this dog knew Cooper was a cross breed but that is a risk I took taking my dog where there is a huge number of other dogs and that goes for any situation really.

We enjoyed our time at the show looking at all the beautiful dogs and to be able to have my own pet dog there was great. I would not take one of my girls as she is not a fan of strange dogs and while she wouldn't do anything she would bark and carry on, I wouldn't put her in that positon and also not fair to the people showing either. Common sense should prevail but it doesn't always!!

If the general public have to follow some guide lines for taking thier pet dogs to shows then thier shouldn't be a problem.

[stonecutter]

I'd be keen to bring my dog - she's on the main reg and I haven't decided whether to show her or not (how she got on it is another issue altogether) - but I figured going to a show with her and seeing the competition would help me decide.

Of course, that's just me - I would only show her if she had a good chance to do well!

[conztruct]

Hmmm, it is a tough question. The way I look at it, if it is a purebred dog show - those are the only dogs that should be around the show ring area. Outside of that area, I can't see that other dogs are a problem providing they are appropriately controlled and vaccinated against diseases. I feel far more strongly about banning some people from dog shows than actual dogs.

[WreckitWhippet]

I'm in two minds, partly because whenever we've shown, it usually involves a weekend away and we therefore take all of our dogs and we also meet up with people that have our retired dogs and bitches.

I don't think average Joe Public should be bringing there dogs to shows, as I've seen too many out of control dogs and idiotic behaviour from owners. BUT, I've also seen a lot of people wandering around with their well behaved dogs, that stay out of the way of others and don't cause any problems.

I went to Cowra show a couple of weeks ago and a member of the public comes waltzing down the road near the camping, with their mongrel bred "staffy" on a long lead, allowing it to run up to dogs in crates and those walking past. I had one of mine crated outside of our camping tent and she was quite happily going to let hers go and stick it's nose in. I was fortunate enough to catch her before she got close and when I said it's not a good idea, because she doesn't know how they are going to react, all I got was a blank stare and a stupid giggle.

ETA: I've also had a few run ins with the dogs owned by the side show folk at the country shows. This includes on of my dogs ( on leash ) who was bitten from behind by a carnie dog, that raced out from under a caravan, that we were not even close to.

Edited May 31, 2011 by ReadySetGo

[poodlefan]

Sway can you please add a "not applicable" answer to the third question? I'm an exhibitor but (at least at the moment) not a breeder.

[Showpony]

I'm in two minds, partly because whenever we've shown, it usually involves a weekend away and we therefore take all of our dogs and we also meet up with people that have our retired dogs and bitches.

I don't think average Joe Public should be bringing there dogs to shows, as I've seen too many out of control dogs and idiotic behaviour from owners. BUT, I've also seen a lot of people wandering around with their well behaved dogs, that stay out of the way of others and don't cause any problems.

I went to Cowra show a couple of weeks ago and a member of the public comes waltzing down the road near the camping, with their mongrel bred "staffy" on a long lead, allowing it to run up to dogs in crates and those walking past. I had one of mine crated outside of our camping tent and she was quite happily going to let hers go and stick it's nose in. I was fortunate enough to catch her before she got close and when I said it's not a good idea, because she doesn't know how they are going to react, all I got was a blank stare and a stupid giggle.

Hi,

This is a how long is a piece of string questions.........Ive seen plenty of 'show' dogs that necessarily shouldn't be around the ring. Guess it depends on how capable the owner is at reading dogs and keeping theirs under some sort of control.......though don't really know how you can keep Joe public and his dog off a public ground or away from a public exhibition.

[Guest CaptainCourageous]

The way I look at it, if it is a purebred dog show - those are the only dogs that should be around the show ring area.

I think you'd have more traction talking about dogs over 6 months having to be on an ANKC register in order to be present. I know of some mixed breed dogs who often accompany their kennel mates to shows. Those mixed breed dogs have heaps of ANKC titles.

I find the Royal Show strict requirements of only those entered being present quite repressive.

CC

[SwaY]

Sway can you please add a "not applicable" answer to the third question? I'm an exhibitor but (at least at the moment) not a breeder.

Added

[megan_]

Sorry to hear about your dog Sway - I assume that this is a rare thing to happen at a show?

I didn't realise it wasn't the done thing . I often take my two mutts for an off leash run at KCC while there is a show on. I have, on occassion, walked them around the outskirts of the show, or, if it is indoors, around the "walkway".

I do this because it is good socialisation (and no, I don't mean "making friends with other dogs", I mean walking with me, focusing on me and NOT greeting any dogs). We keep to ourselves and they remain calm. If I couldn't control them or they started making a scene we'd beat a hasty exit.

That said, I doubt most people would do that and would let their dogs say "hello" to all and sundry.

Not all show dogs seem to be as well behaved as my lot though - while most are well behaved and used to other dogs in close proximity, some of them go ballistic at the sight of another dog.

ETA: I would much rather prefer rules that say that all dogs must be under effective control, no uninvited meet and greets, if your dog is crate aggressive cover it and put it out of the walkway etc - these rules would apply to all people, showies and non-showies.

Edited May 31, 2011 by megan_

[SwaY]

I think members of the public can bring their dogs if they are going to meet a breeder etc, Not just to walk around and have a look. I say this as im hoping the breeder they are going to see has told them the rules and what is expected of them and their dogs.

I invite people to shows to meet me and other breeders when they enquire about puppies - I tell them no dogs.

I often have my puppy people come to shows for a catch up, I also take a retired show dog now and again.

[weisnjac]

It's a hard one. Most people wouldn't know that they are not allowed to bring their dogs, and if they were stopped and told they cannot bring their dog in, I doubt they would take the dog home and come back for a look without it.

I have taken dogs to shows who were not entered, many times. If I'm going away for a weekend show for example and am only showing one dog, I'll take another for company.

[Havasneeze]

Sorry to hear about your dog Sway - I assume that this is a rare thing to happen at a show?

I didn't realise it wasn't the done thing . I often take my two mutts for an off leash run at KCC while there is a show on. I have, on occassion, walked them around the outskirts of the show, or, if it is indoors, around the "walkway".

I do this because it is good socialisation (and no, I don't mean "making friends with other dogs", I mean walking with me, focusing on me and NOT greeting any dogs). We keep to ourselves and they remain calm. If I couldn't control them or they started making a scene we'd beat a hasty exit.

That said, I doubt most people would do that and would let their dogs say "hello" to all and sundry.

Not all show dogs seem to be as well behaved as my lot though - while most are well behaved and used to other dogs in close proximity, some of them go ballistic at the sight of another dog.

The difference between you and Joe Public taking his/her dogs to a show is that you are aware of the appropriate behaviour for a dog show and secondly (and more importantly) I'm positive that you make sure that ALL your dogs shots are up to date.

[Guest CaptainCourageous]

Megan,

The public can bring their dogs to any dog show in Victoria except the Royal.

I've previously been advised the public can use KCC park as an off lead area anytime the gates are open. (Obviously this is not to interfere with events).

Interstate arrangements differ.

CC

[Paptacular!]

I've ocassionaly taken a non-entered dog to a show.

One of my puppy buyers met her pup for the first time at a show. Puppy wasn't entered (too young). Also bought Mum along for the ride so they could meet her too (she also wasn't entered). Took 3 dogs to the show, showed only 1!

[Sheridan]

I have taken Grumpy to shows to visit wheaten people several times. On one occasion, a couple inquiring about getting a wheaten pointed at him and said to the breeder they were speaking to, 'Can we have one that looks like him?' I had to laugh.

I don't take him now because he can be grumpy.