What Would You Want To See At A Community Dog Event?

[freundhund]

I like to see lots of breed stalls, some of the breed clubs put so much time and effort into their stalll, that the stalls are almost art works themselves. I then like to see the rescue organisations and the obedience clubs as well. Particularly I feel that we need to see lots of obedience clubs so that the General Public can see that there are a lot of obedience clubs around and there is one close to them. (ie no excuse not to go and do the basic training with their dogs.)

Boutique stalls ie like Studio Sebastian, different products for dogs, even things like whelping boxes, agility equipment makers, dog pens and dog crates, car dividers and training books the harder to get ones.

I hate the commercial stalls run by the big dog food companies, and the pharmacutical companies.

Thank Dog that Studio Sebastian is coming to the Sydney Royal. Will take my pennies along to buy another bowl. (Of course the man has NO RIGHT to go and live in Tasmania, we mainlanders appreciate him .)

[Katdogs]

a free photo booth (where you got your photo taken with your dog, then logged on to the website later to collect)

Trainers and behaviourists.

Info. on laws, responsibilities and welfare.

Novelty shows ie: best trained,best looking dog,cutest pup.(for non pedigree/show dogs .....Then breed reps with info. on pure breeds and possibly breed shows.

[*]A person who makes Doggy PJ's (one of our DOLers ) and who would be happy to take the measurements on the spot and make to order, if there are no PJ's that would suit your dog at the time.

Pedigree dogs and the clubs that represent them. People who own, breed and love those dogs there to talk about them.....unhurried, unstressed (as they often are at shows) with an agenda to promote their beautiful dogs to the public.

Rescue organisations with some of their success stories.

Retaillers with something more than the run of the mill stuff - like good collars ;) , someone like Jollie treats etc - and for all dog sizes not just the SWF brigade.

I avoid the ones set up in a small space - you need to leave room for dogs to have some personal space. I also dislike stalls cramped together as it can be hard to browse, handle a dog and move around people (when you have a big dog).

On lead dogs rule - and it is enforced.

Demonstrations

Show bags!

SPACE- nothing worse than a dinky little park overcrowded with a billion dogs!!

People handing out free poo bags, and encouraging people to use them

Everyone loves a freebie!! (poo bags would be a really practical one that could be a good advertiser!)

Breed club representatives. (this would have been great when I was looking for a pup)

Training clubs representatives.

Dog sport demos.

Activities your dog can participate in (often there are the demos but it would be great if there were the simple first training steps available to do with your dog, obviously under guidance, so people can get hooked! Even if it were a limited number of spaces and you signed up on/before the day or something like that.)

Fun competitions for dogs.

Health checks.

Specialist health providers (eg massage, natropathy, osteo, eyes, ears, etc).

Kennels/dog daycare/walkers etc.

Law enforcement reps/parks reps.

Stalls with good quality collars, leashes, harnesses, coats, treats, toys - I can never walk away from one of these events without buying my girls a souvenier!!

However as an owner of shorthaired breed grooming demonstrations on various breeds would really facinate me

An engraver who will do dog/cat tags.

Good parking, ease of driving to venue, shade, not in Summer.

All of these are what I'd like to see!

The reason we usually DON'T go to a dog event are heat/lack of shade, crowding, hard to get parking, and same-old-same-old stalls.

I've been to Holroyd Pet Fest a couple of times and it would be better without the petting zoo (yuck), with more shade, and with more 'individual' stalls.

I've only seen breeders at the Royal Easter Show and it's just too stressful to get to chat and meet the dogs, mostly, and there's only one 'breed of the day' where the dogs are on display to the public, not just judges. I understand it's not the main point of the Show but it would be lovely to actually meet breeders and their dogs in a non-stressed environment.

[wagsalot]

I always like events wheres theres plenty of things to watch - flyball, GSDL, etc without massive long gaps in between.

At events we've had stalls at, one thing that I've always noticed is theres never enough shade. THeres no shaded area for people to grab some food and sit down with their dogs and eat it.

[Danois]

I've only seen breeders at the Royal Easter Show and it's just too stressful to get to chat and meet the dogs, mostly, and there's only one 'breed of the day' where the dogs are on display to the public, not just judges. I understand it's not the main point of the Show but it would be lovely to actually meet breeders and their dogs in a non-stressed environment.

That's a shame - the year I exhibited at the Royal, we were chatting constantly to people about the breed etc, bringing the dog over to the fence for pats etc.

The Royal is a bit of a full on environment for the dogs (and exhibitors!).

[Whippetsmum]

We should also have a "Meet the DOLers" stall, I'd love to meet some of the regular posters.

[mysticpaw]

I've only seen breeders at the Royal Easter Show and it's just too stressful to get to chat and meet the dogs, mostly, and there's only one 'breed of the day' where the dogs are on display to the public, not just judges. I understand it's not the main point of the Show but it would be lovely to actually meet breeders and their dogs in a non-stressed environment.

That's a shame - the year I exhibited at the Royal, we were chatting constantly to people about the breed etc, bringing the dog over to the fence for pats etc.

The Royal is a bit of a full on environment for the dogs (and exhibitors!).

A liitle OT, but there used to be two Breed Stall days at the Show.

These days are excellent to talk to the general public.

There was hardly any exhibitors last year on those days.

Our Club Stopped doing it as there were only two parking passes and two entry tickets given out.

You need at least 6-8 dogs to rotate them and give them time out throughout a very long and hot day.

Sorry Ruth, it's just a shame that one of the most popular exhibits at the show is not supported by R.A.S

Vent over.

[freundhund]

Okay, lets be frank about the RAS here at the Royal Easter Show, they don't want the dogs and haven't for years. When you look at the miserable size of the area allocated to the Dog fraternity to show dogs, do obedience, agility in etc it is very obvious they don't want us at the show.

[sas]

I went to the Lane Cove (Sydney) event yesterday and I hate to be negative about dog events but it was crap, it was nice to see the Greyhound group there though!

There were hardly any stalls and and what was in them wasn't that interesting, mainly small dog clothing.

I would want plenty of stalls to browse through and products for all breeds, I hope to see products I haven't seen before in shops.

Edited April 10, 2011 by MEH

[sas]

I get the impression you think I was having a dig.

What? I was simply disappointed that MEH's suggestion of a stripping demo was removed. I thought it was a good suggestion, especially because I have a traditionally stripped breed.

Wrong thread

http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=218353 :D

oh thanks meg. I knew I saw the stripping suggestion somewhere. It takes on a whole different meaning now

:D

[Leelaa17]

Lots of stalls- particularly with the pet expo not being on here in sydney.

Huh? It's on at Rosehill Racecourse every year.

But yep.. lots of stalls... and show bags at stalls Everyone LOVES getting showbags full of crap lol!

lol I was just about to say that? I went last year and plan on going this year - absolutely love theeee *singing* Sydney Pet and Animal Expo, Pets and Animals of Ev-er-y Kind!" ;)

[Leelaa17]

I would want free give-aways - such as treat bags and branded toys etc. (I love free stuff) - I think it would also be important to have an expert of some sort at a stall talking about different breeds of dogs and all things dogs - I have met DR Harry and interviewed him for a uni assignment and he was very helpful when I asked him things about my dogs. (this was last yr at the Easter Show).

I would love to see Dog tricks and agility stuff (I've never actually been to a dog show so please bear with me - I know pretty much NOTHING about dog shows etc - and I get upset when I see a dog lose... I actually cry - I know I am a d**khead... I just get so upset because they all are fantastic.... hahaha oh deaR)

I am actually going to my first dog championship over the easter weekend - Its the GSD Championship at Erskine Pk in NSW... I was wondering (a bit OT) if anyone could tell me what I would expect as well?

I would also love to see dogs at a dog expo! All different kinds - And I would love it if the dogs could come along too of course!

[silentchild]

Oh, and just a touch on the stalls... having them properly laid out would be nice!

I went to an expo once where they had lots of fantastic stalls and stands with dogs and their breeders, but unfortunately the strange layout of it meant that some stands were blocked off by others and in order to get to them you'd have to intrude through the stands of other breeders and possibly jump over their knees as they sip coffee!!

It made it almost impossible for me to go talk to some lovely breeders about dogs I was interested in because I felt it would be impolite to randomly cross over into the personal area of some other stands in order to get to my destination.

So... yes, lots of stalls with a good, accessible layout!

And at risk of going OT.. what are these Sebastian bowls that everyone seems to be raving about?

Edited April 11, 2011 by silentchild