Show-Trial set-ups

[Ilovemypuppy]

In our area..most dog shows are held in arenas and are combination conformation shows and obedience trials. Usually a three ring set-up. I am told that because the comformation people are the ones who really make the shows pay becasue their entries are the largest, they are given free reign on where they set up at the shows even if that means there is no place left for the obedience handlers to set up a crate.

Now..I am new at this, but it seems to me that if you invite obedience into the show...give them their own ring...take their entry fees...that there should at least be a small area set aside for their equipment.


Is this the way show/trials are run everywhere or is this a Maritime quirk ?

[Judi W]

I've never seen set-ups specified as far as the entry area. There are specified crating areas (or rather "no crating" areas and one sets up where there is room and usually as close to their main ring as possible. Many of us show in both areas.

Did you want a special place for obedience entries?

[Miabella]

Most of the indoor shows I have attended in the Mid-Atlantic that are held in conjunction with conformation have had a separate designated area for obedience crating. Some of them even had obedience in a separate building. These are mostly shows held in fairground buildings or university athletic field houses. Outdoors, space is less of an issue.

[Ilovemypuppy]

I just feel that there should be a designated are for obedience crating near the obedience ring......as Laurie said she has seen. Obedience here appears to be treated as 'second class" ..as one of the handlers put it at the last show. The conformation folks were set up almost against the obedience ring with all their equipment and there was barely room to just set up one crate and we got there early.

If your are in two trials on the same day....you need a place to set up a crate and at least a chair to rest between.....or just to be safely out of the way of others coming and going.

It seems to me it wouldn't kill organizers to rope off a small area for obedience crates....but when I asked a member of a local club who is putting on a show/trial in two weeks..she said "No! The conformation people would get upset". It never occurred to me before that things like this would even be an issue.

She said.."You could go to the show site the night before and set up your crate..but if you come back the next morning..it could be moved if someone from conformation wants the space and your crate MIGHT not be easy to find".

Silly me...I thought it was all important..both beauty and brains.

[LynnS]

I haven't really seen that problem in our area..

Either obedience is held indoors in a different building/area than conformation rings or the shows are held outside and people migrate in and out of the space around the rings depending on class time...

I think the main complaints I hear are that the obedience rings are in the worse area or people walk through the obedience area night before show letting their dogs mark/etc...

How could they identify you as an obedience person vs conformation in the first place?

[Miabella]

Originally Posted by LynnS

How could they identify you as an obedience person vs conformation in the first place?

Probably because obedience people don't carry around grooming tables.

I rarely set up crates anyway. I don't show more than one dog in one class, and I don't get there that far ahead of when my class is going to start. I have crates in my SUV that I can use, but I like to walk my dog around a bit so they get used to the sights and sounds of the showsite.

[Judi W]

The conformation people don't have a reserved area, but you think the obedience people should? Humm .... If you need to get there earlier to pick your set up place, then get there earlier. That or you squeeze in where you can. We are often some distance from our rings at the all breed shows. I never took it as a personal affront whether conformation or obedience. Both my dogs and I have feet and can walk to the rings.

[Ilovemypuppy]

Originally Posted by LynnS

How could they identify you as an obedience person vs conformation in the first place?

I realize that some people show on both conformation and obedience..(they would likely be set up in the conformation area and slip over to the obedience ring at their class time)..but some just trial in obedience and they do need at least enough space for their crates near the obedience ring.

Part of the problem here, is, as I have said is that both the show and trials are held under one roof in arenas..but I still think it would be a courtesy to designate the small amount of space necessary.

Pretty easy to tell them apart :o)) Conformation folks have a truck load of equipment..obedience..a carrying bag and crate and their dog.