show and trial entries down

[frontierrots]

My friend is a show/trial chair for an upcoming breed/obed/rally show/trial.

MBF told her that ALL show and trial entries are down 20% and that is certainly reflected in the numbers for this show/trial which in the past has always been high entries

Do you think entries are down because of the economy or because fewer people are showing/trialing now a days?

I know the reason I have not entered any trials since we bought the house is because of $$ not for lack of desire to get out and show/trial that's for sure

[bigdogweilerx2]

By us I think it's the weather.Unless it's a inside show, I won't show my dogs in this heat.

[marianne]

I will say the entry fees have gone up BUT the entry DOGS have come down.
I have stopped showing because of LOW entires and miles to get to a POINTED show,

[targonrotts]

the cost of living, and trialing for that matter, has gone up.
less are showing..it gets expensive. point are harder to get, ect.

add hotel prices to gas prices...handler fees, show entry fees times how many dogs you enter...it adds up.

i am now contemplating on how many days or dogs to enter in an upcoming trial to try to keep it at about $100 in entries alone!

i just missed entering a conformation show because it has not been a major in years..and that's all i need...and guess what! entries closed and it's a major! go figure!

but yes, i see shows way smaller than when i first started 16 years ago.also less matches, weekend dog stuff. and we do not fill our agility trials.
oh, and weather does affect things too.

[fbkeays]

Showing has gotten very expensive. Cipher's AKC show career might be severely shorten just due to costs. We can enter a weekend of agility just on the entry fee for conformation. Then add on the handler fees, and it becomes no contest! Lot more fun, better chance of coming home with success and way less expensive.
I know that Cipher is a V dog and she should be a champion dog. But I just might forgo the championship for a few V ratings to prove her conformation. I hate for it to be that way, but it is looking like it from an economic standpoint.

[poohbearsmom]

For us, it's priorities right now... new business, family etc....

In addition, we really haven't had anything to show in a while, so unless I have a 'sure bet' (prospective 'sure bet' needs to grow up a bit..lol), we've pretty much stayed at home for a while.

We did take the pups to a USRC show a few weeks ago to get them out and about... but now pups are on the shelf maturing for a bit.

In addition, AKC conformation is not really my bag... I'd much rather go to the sieger shows. Better atmosphere all the way around... AKC is what I consider a 'necessary evil' for proper recognition of a dog.

I've spent my time working/training/and going through family crisis after crisis this past year. Calgon take me away.

Gasoline prices, while higher are not the mitigating factor for us.... present priorities are....

[Geri]

I also think a lot more people are beginning to own tailed dogs, and many kennels are leaving tails on pups. AKC doesn't like the tail - so those are missed entries. They havent been DQ'ing the dogs but they are always coming up last place. I think if the tail was adopted as part of the standard and they couple both be shown ( docked and natural ) there would be more rottie turn out.

[Carol Burke]

In my opinion the atmosphere at the Rottie ring has changed over the years, there is not the same comraderie or fun that it used to be and with gas prices, etc. I'd rather go to an obedience trial or herding. Plus I don't really have anything to show right now, I can't see spending the money to special a bitch and my CH dog is not specials material.

[targonrotts]

Originally Posted by Carol Burke

In my opinion the atmosphere at the Rottie ring has changed over the years, there is not the same comraderie or fun that it used to be and with gas prices, etc. I'd rather go to an obedience trial or herding. Plus I don't really have anything to show right now, I can't see spending the money to special a bitch and my CH dog is not specials material.

i couldn't agree more. with the way some people behave around the breed ring, i rather do agility and flyball. it is expensive, and if it's not fun...do what is fun.

[Geri]

I also agree the atmosphere has changed. People are very negative and almost violent around the rottie ring these days. I have much more fun doing agility and obediance with my dogs now. I go to seiger shows all the time as they are highly enjoyable and you can be friendly with everyone. In AKC there isnt really friendlyness at all. Its just so tense and political. Ill stick with sport and Seiger any day!!! I am thinking of showing my dogs UKC - I heard those shows are enjoyable and they adopted the stadnard for the tail. I own both tailed and docked rotties, and I am no means against docking - but I enjoy being places where I am not penalized for buying/breeding a dog with a tail.

[Luvtails]

Originally Posted by Geri

I also think a lot more people are beginning to own tailed dogs, and many kennels are leaving tails on pups. AKC doesn't like the tail - so those are missed entries. They havent been DQ'ing the dogs but they are always coming up last place. I think if the tail was adopted as part of the standard and they couple both be shown ( docked and natural ) there would be more rottie turn out.

I just have to say I agree with you. Many dogs that are worthy of an AKC championship just happen to have tails. why waste the money to be put last? I am going to show mainly where the dogs have a fair chance. Also the rottie ring is so political that alot depends on who shows your dog. sometimes it doesn't matter what the dog looks like. I don't have the money to hire top handlers and I like doing things with my dogs myself. I would rather spend my money on AKC obedience trials or agility.

[Cash]

Originally Posted by Carol Burke

In my opinion the atmosphere at the Rottie ring has changed over the years, there is not the same comraderie or fun that it used to be and with gas prices, etc. I'd rather go to an obedience trial or Plus I don't really have anything to show right now, I can't see spending the money to special a bitch and my CH dog is not specials material.

I couldn't agree more. What is going on in the AKC Breed Ring is ugly.
I've recently attended some major Specialties and am amazed at what is going on.

Comraderie has gone by the wayside - and much more toward divisiveness